Welcome To Eurabia

If it wasn’t so sad it would be hysterical. Not 24 hours have passed since the British Academics announced plans to boycott Israeli academic institutions (joining the British press, doctors and architects), Britain’s largest labor union, UNISON, announced plans to do the same. This from Haaretz;

The United Kingdom's public services union UNISON will consider a proposal for imposing a boycott on Israel during its annual conference in mid-June, in the wake of Wednesday's decision by British lecturers to boycott Israeli academic institutions.

UNISON representatives who are in contact with the Histadrut labor federation have in recent days presented the Histadrut's international activities director, Avital Shapira, with a copy of the proposal.

According to the proposal, UNISON will urge other British unions to follow its lead and cut off all economic and cultural ties with Israel.

Histadrut sources said the impression they have received is that UNISON will vote in favor of the boycott. The conference will be held June 19-22 in Brighton.

If approved, the boycott would have a significant practical, and not just symbolic, impact, given that the union enjoys large economic influence in Britain.

Histadrut sources said the boycott is likely to take the form of a consumer embargo on Israeli-made goods, as well as an instruction to UNISON's pension funds not to invest in Israel.

The UNISON boycott would be by far the most serious of them all. It could have a major impact on the Israeli economy and stock market. It’s no secret that international institutions have large holdings in Israeli equities. I know for a fact that Britain is a very big player.

I have been struggling with the obvious question; why? What has driven these British groups to take such obviously biased stances? Have they already forgotten 7/7?

If the Brit unions go ahead with their boycott, then Israel must tighten its collective belt and take a stand. It might hurt, but you got to draw the line somewhere. No more BBC, Skynews and Eurosport. No more Scotch whiskey. No more British Airways flights. No more Israeli hi-tech firms issuing IPO’s on the London Stock Exchange. Nothing. Nothing British here anymore. You ran away 60 years ago with your tail between your legs just like you did from so many other parts of the world.

Get over it England. You are nothing but a small island country dependent on almost everyone for everything. Even your once proud army is a joke. Your beloved royal family is nothing more than a dysfunctional version of the Kennedy clan.

Get over it England. Your empire is long dead and buried.

Welcome to Eurabia.

Linked to Woman Honor Thyself

You're A Spy If You Talk To Strangers

Unlike their British counterparts, Iranian academia doesn't have to waste its precious time debating whether or not to cut off ties with Israel. The Iranian Intelligence Ministry is taking care of that for them. Plus. This from Robert Tait for the Guardian;

Iran's powerful intelligence ministry has stepped up its war of nerves with the west by telling the country's academics they will be suspected of spying if they maintain contact with foreign institutions or travel abroad to international conferences.

The blunt warning has been issued by the ministry's counter-espionage director in an atmosphere of rising suspicion and paranoia as Iran claims to have cracked a CIA-backed spy ring and has charged three American citizens with spying.

"Unfortunately, our lecturers are exposed to intelligence threats," he said. "We are worried about many academic conferences which foreigners attend and establish relations [with Iranian academics]. Any foreigner who establishes relations is not trustworthy. Through their approaches, they first establish an academic relationship but this soon changes into an intelligence relationship.

"Some conversations which take place under the auspices of academic or scientific interviews are pretexts for getting close to the country's scientific figures. Unfortunately some decent individuals fall into the trap of these plots."

"I have been told that my services will not be required in the next academic year, even though I am not close to retirement age and they need lecturers in my field," one social scientist, who has taught in the US, told the Guardian. "I was told that I was in touch with quite a few foreign academics and travelled abroad quite frequently to lectures and, therefore, I was a suspicious person. They warned that if I followed it up and created publicity, they would make more trouble for me and even threatened my family. It's terrible. For the first time in my life I have the feeling I'm living in a police state. I think things will get worse before they get better."

Paranoia at it's finest.

Local Al-Qaeda Leader Mulls Run For Indonesian Presidency

Will 240 million Indonesians go the route of Sharia? This from AKI;

Jakarta, 30 May (AKI) - Abu Bakar Bashir, the radical Muslim cleric who is spiritual leader of the al-Qaeda-linked militant group, Jemaah Islamiyah, is considering running for president in the 2009 elections. Fauzan Al Anshori, the spokesperson for Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI), an organisation made up of groups fighting for Islamic law or Sharia in Indonesia, told Adnkronos International (AKI), that "Bashir is considering the possibility." "He said that he wants to see what the people say first," Al Anshori told AKI.

Bashir, who is in his late 60s, was released from prison in 2006 after serving less than 26 months in Jakarta's Cipinang penitentiary for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people and thrust Indonesia onto the front lines of the war on terror. Bashir has consistently denied any connection to that or other attacks blamed on the Southeast Asian militant group, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) whose objective is the creation of an Islamic 'caliphate' in the region.

The MMI spokesperson said that Bashir first had the idea of running in the 2009 presidential election after the scandal involving illegal funds in the 2004 electoral campaign first emerged. The scandal, which was made public a few weeks ago, appears to involve all the candidates in the election, including Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"There is so much corruption everywhere and we need clean people to lead the country," said Al Anshori.

Al Anshori said that through the election, Bashir could transform Indonesia from a secular state into an Islamic one. "The law we have was inherited from the Dutch (Indonesia's former colonial power) and is not suited to Muslims," said the MMI spokesperson.

What a guy!! He would run on an anti-corruption platform and then…..look out.

Indonesians must understand that voting for such a candidate would ensure they never vote again. The sad irony is that Bashir would destroy the very same democratic system which affords him the opportunity to run for office.

Sharia here we come.

Crossposted to Jihad Watch

And Now...British Academia

The list of professional British Dhimmis just got longer. Britain's Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) have voted to consider a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. The UCU proudly joins the British doctors, press and architects who have recently traveled down this road. This from the Jerusalem Post;

The union, which represents 120,000 university teachers, urged its members to consider the "moral implications" of links with Israeli academic institutions. It left it up to local branches to decide whether to actually boycott.

A full debate is expected in UCU branches across Britain, with the aim of a vote on an actual boycott at the union's conference next year.

Motion 30 condemns Israel for its "denial of educational rights" to the Palestinian people and calls for UCU branches to discuss an academic boycott of Israel over the next year.

"Israel's 40-year occupation has seriously damaged the fabric of Palestinian society through annexation, illegal settlement, collective punishment and restriction of movement," the motion said. "Congress deplores the denial of educational rights for Palestinians by invasions, closures, checkpoints, curfews, and shootings and arrests of teachers, lecturers and students."

"Congress condemns the complicity of Israeli academia in the occupation... Congress believes that in these circumstances passivity or neutrality is unacceptable and criticism of Israel cannot be construed as anti-Semitic," it added.

Naturally, there is no mention as to why there are "invasions, closures, checkpoints, curfews, and shootings and arrests of teachers, lecturers and students." Could it be that Israel is trying to thwart terrorist attacks? Apparently, that is no concern to the UCU if little Mohammad can't go to kindergarten and watch Jihad Mouse with his wanna be suicide bomber classmates.

Why isn't the UCU offering scholarships to these poor prodigies? Nuclear Physics would be a very popular curriculum for this bunch. How about Advanced Chemistry? Rocket Science?

I am sure to receive the same comments from the same well meaning Brits, such as; "It's not all of us, they are idiots and it's probably the Moslems in the bunch who are causing all this trouble."

Enough. Tomorrow it’s the truck drivers and next week the painters. This is a trend that is strengthening as time goes on. If you want to surrender your soul and join Eurabia, go for it. Don't take us with you.

Pics From The Homefront

The cactus is blooming



The wheat is almost ready for harvest

And the puppies are at rest

Fauxtography?

Jawa Report has an interesting piece on the possibility of more Palestinian Fauxtography. Questions abound. This was the caption from the Seattle Times:

"Palestinians run as a rocket falls at them during an Israeli air strike on the Hamas Executive Force building in Nusseirat refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza strip, Friday. Warplanes pounded the Gaza Strip for a ninth day as Palestinians continued to fire rockets into Israel despite a call from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas for a truce."

Real or fake? My call....FAKE. I might be mistaken but...check out the shadows of the people on the ground. That indicates the sun is shining from the direct left of the picture. Now check out the glint off the missile. That would indicate the sun shining from behind the back of the photographer.. a touch to the left. They don't seem to match. Am I wrong???

Iraq Wants U.S Troops To Stay

Pelosi, Reid & Co. claim to know what is best for the Iraqis; cut and run. Iraq however, has a different opinion. This from an Iran Daily interview with Iraqi Ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Majid Al-Shaikh;

Q-Do you agree with the view that Iraq would be much more unstable if US troops leave soon, which has been demanded by many Iraqi political parties and Tehran?

A-We say that the presence of the multinational forces in Iraq is to help the Iraqi armed forces to be prepared in every way to fight terrorism. At present we have a problem: if these multinational forces go out of Iraq, the security situation will be worsened because the Iraqi forces are not ready and we do not have police forces to control the borders between Iraq and the neighboring countries. Therefore, the presence of multinational forces depends on the fact that the Iraqi army and police forces become ready in the near future and we have sophisticated arms and trained forces strong enough to defend the country. Then we can ask the multinational forces to leave because the Iraqi people do not want foreign forces to stay in Iraq’s territory.

Period.

UN Group Pushes To Recognize Hamas

It didn’t take long since my previous post for the UN to prove me right. Once again, it’s the UN Human Rights investigator John Dugard providing the ammo. This from AP;

An independent human rights expert called Tuesday for the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union to fully recognize the Palestinian government - including Hamas members - as an "indispensable requirement" to peace.

"In order to prevent another season of violence and to protect human rights in the region, the Quartet must intervene immediately in a fair and evenhanded manner," said Dugard, a South African lawyer. "This means the recognition of both Hamas and non-Hamas members of the Palestinian Government of National Unity."

Dugard said Israel's response "fails to distinguish between civilians and combatants and is a disproportionate use of force."

And Israel's arrest of several Hamas legislators was a form of "collective punishment" that undermines the peace process, he said.

Dugard bashes Israel alone for not differentiating between civilians and combatants. Last I checked, it wasn’t Israel who was intentionally firing rockets into cities.

Dugard bashes Israel for collective punishment, yet has no comment on the Palestinian call for genocide.

Dugard’s anti-Israel stance is nothing new. Read more here.

Following the lead of Iran and Saudi Arabia, I say to Dugard, “Drop it…it’s an internal matter”.

Human Rights Violations? We'll Handle It

Arab nations have made a living by using international organizations to do their bidding. The UN, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are just a few of the bodies who have shown an unequivocal bias towards the Islamic bloc. The UN’s Human Rights Council is the star of the show. In its brief history, it has only found cause to condemn Israel. Many times.

What happens when the tables are turned? Here are two examples from just the past two days.

Monday in Saudi Arabia: This from Arab News;

Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Harithy, the director general of prisons, said yesterday that prisoners in the Kingdom were not tortured or beaten on a large scale, and that beatings were “individual cases,” which should not be generalized.

Al-Harithy was referring to a report released last week by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) in Saudi Arabia. “Regulations, directives and the constitution state clearly that there should not be any violations against prisoners. ... There are, however, individual mistakes, but that rarely happens. And if it does happen, then prisoner rights are fulfilled by punishing offenders,” he said.

Al-Harithy criticized visits by foreign human rights groups to the Kingdom, which recently included prison visits by Human Rights Watch. “We do not need foreign organizations to come here and teach our sons and daughters human rights. We are obliged to protect human rights by ourselves without anyone coming from outside and implying that we have to care about human rights in ‘the land of humanity’,” he said.

So much for that. Human Rights Watch is only good for condemning Israel.

Tuesday in Iran: This from Iran Daily;

The European Union should make efforts to improve its own human rights situation instead of focusing on conditions in Iran.

Reacting to recent statements of the European Union rotating president, Jose Manuel Barroso, who expressed concern over human rights conditions in Iran, Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Barroso’s remarks constitute interference in Iran’s internal affairs, Fars News Agency reported.

“Barroso should better concentrate on social maladies in EU member-states and evident cases of human rights violation in many EU countries“ he said.

Hosseini opined that the EU should focus on human rights violation in their secret prisons, the use of European airports for transferring CIA prisoners and violation of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Muslims, immigrants and asylum-seekers.

The EU can investigate others, but don’t meddle in our private affairs.

Typical.

Crossposted to Dhimmi Watch

Honor Killings Up Sharply in Gaza and the West Bank

Upbeat news from the religion of peace; "honor killings" have doubled in Gaza and the West Bank. This from Maan;

Ramallah - Ma'an - A forum of Palestinian organizations which fight anti-women violence published on Monday a report about killing Palestinian women under the guise of so-called family honour. The report covered 3 years from 2004 to 2006.

The report shows that the average number of women killed for challenging patriarchal norms increased from 14 incidents to 32 in one year. The organisation reported that the youngest case which they dealt with was that of a 12 year old girl and the oldest was that of an 85 year old woman. 32 out of 48 reported cases were documented formally as murder on the basis of family honour.

According to the report, from these 32 reported cases of 'honour killing', 30 of the murdered girls were Muslim. Of these 30 Muslim victims, 14 were unmarried, 8 were married, 6 were divorced and 2 were widows. Half of the victims were in the Gaza Strip and the rest were in the West Bank. Villages recorded the highest rate of murder of women.

The report also shows that the murder of 'dishonourable' women was committed in numerous ways ranging from stabbing to suffocating to poisoning.

In 17 cases, the perpetrators were brothers, while in 5 cases the fathers killed their own daughters.

The report also affirmed that real figures are very hard to attain for several reasons: the lack of formal statistics; the lack of reporting of such cases and the legal closure of many cases in the name of fate and destiny.

Almost makes you want to convert.

God Bless Our Troops, Past and Present

Hamas Issues New Call For Genocide

Yesterday, Hamas called on all Palestinians to grab what ever weapons they can and kill Israelis wherever they may be found in "Palestine" (Israel). This from Dalit Halevy for INN (translation from Hebrew original);

The struggle between Hamas and Israel is escalating. Hamas issued an official statement yesterday which calls on every Palestinian to grab whatever weapon they can and kill Israelis "throughout Palestine". "Whoever finds a target (Jew)," according to the Hamas statement, "must kill him".

The reasoning behind the new edict is Jihad has become an obligation for every Palestinian, and must be fulfilled as part of the "national struggle" and "armed resistance".

"The times dictate that we must fight the conqueror in every part of Palestine. Just as the Jihad will not end until the final Judgment Day; so too the struggle."

The edict calls for the Palestinians to unify to "stand against the Zionist aggression".

This is no longer (actually never was) a resistance movement. This is a genocidal movement. Period.

U.S. Backed Terror Group Strikes

Here is the return on you taxpayer dollars at work. This from Steven Erlanger for the New York Times;

Israeli security forces shot and killed two Palestinian gunmen who opened fire at them on Saturday night in Sheik Said, the Arab East Jerusalem neighborhood, near the separation barrier that Israel is building. Israeli police and ambulance services said two Israeli officers were wounded, one seriously. A Palestinian bystander was also seriously wounded and later died.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Al Aksa Martyrs’ Brigades of Fatah, according to the Palestinian news agency Maan.

Who is financing Fatah? This from Hilary Leila Krieger for the Jerusalem Post;

The State Department has in the past denied that America's non-lethal training of the presidential guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah - largely aimed at securing the Karni border crossing and protecting Abbas and other VIPs - amounted to the US taking sides in Fatah's fight with Hamas.

But at the hearing Dayton highlighted the US role in helping Fatah as it faces attacks from the Islamic radicals in Hamas.

"We are leading, through the acts of this Congress, the international effort to possibly affect this worrisome situation," he said. "The security assistance plan that you have authorized me to just begin to implement is pointing the way forward for all international and regional allies."

Dayton refers to Fatah as an ally.

Congress recently allowed $59 million to be used to further Dayton's efforts at training the presidential guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.

The money, however, didn't go through the normal appropriation process, as the White House took previously approved funds and simply reallocated them.

"We are entering a rough patch," Dayton acknowledged, "but all is not lost and our regional partners share that sentiment. However, it is critical that those who support the legitimate authority and forces represented by President Abbas receive the critical assistance they need."

In response to a question about Israel's security raised by subcommittee ranking member Mike Pence (R-Indiana), Dayton assured the members, "Nothing we do to strengthen the Palestinian's security capability will be targeted against Israel … The presidential guard will not become a threat to Israel."

Maybe the Presidential Guard won't be a threat, but everything else about Fatah is.

Simply stated, US taxpayer dollars are being funneled to Fatah (and not through "the normal appropriation process"). Fatah is an enabler of terrorists and terrorist activities. And you are supporting them.

Israel Warned on Syrian Peace Talks

Here is a wake up call to the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Ehud Olmert and all the others who have fallen into the Syrian Trap set my Bashar el-Assad; there cannot be peace with the Syrian dictator. This from Yitzhak Benhorin for YNET;

The head of the Syrian Reform Party is expected to arrive in Israel to try and dissuade officials from entering peace negotiations with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

In an interview with Ynet, Farid Ghadry, the exiled opposition leader, confirmed that he would arrive as head of a Reform Party delegation made up of three to five other exiled Syrians, and would appear before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on June 11.

The team plans to warn Israeli officials and the Israeli public not to be tempted by Assad's signals of peace, or by the visit Syrian-American businessman Ibrahim Soliman, who is closely linked to Damascus.

"We believe that we have a different message than what Assad is giving the Israeli public. Peace with Syria is important, but peace with Assad would be a disaster for Israel and for Syria. We have a message of peace, but Israel must be cautious about making peace with a dictator. Real peace is made between two peoples, not with a tyrant," Ghadry said.

In an interview to Ynet two years ago, Ghadry said that while international talks for the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon were being held, Damascus secretly sent dozens of young Palestinians, who were trained by Syrian security forces, into Lebanon in order to fan the flames and disrupt the Lebanese opposition.

In his previous interview Ghadry also addressed peace between Israel and Syria and said that Israel should wait until democracy was established in Syria before signing any agreements.

Can it be any clearer than this?

Nuclear al-Qaeda

Troubling reaffirmation that al-Qaeda is looking to go nuclear. This from YNET;

LUXEMBOURG - Al-Qaeda is searching for ways to create nuclear weapons for mass destruction, a former UN weapons inspection chief said during a press conference at an international convention ways to prevent a nuclear catastrophe being held in Luxembourg.

Rolf Ekeus, currently High Commissioner at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and formerly Director of the UN Special Commission on Iraq, told reporters that the threat of a nuclear attack on a European city by al-Qaeda was tangible, and that steps are being taken to protect nuclear facilities from which terrorists can obtain enriched uranium.

"Al-Qaeda is searching for nuclear technology," Ekeus said. "They are looking for simple weapons... for mass destruction," he added.

Ekeus said al-Qaeda members "cannot be deterred. They are willing to sacrifice themselves," adding that prevention was the only means to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism.

The war on terror is not nearly won. No time for budget cuts, troop pullouts or concessions. The war must be taken to al-Qaeda until it is utterly destroyed. Only then will our children be able to safely sleep at night.

British Architects Take Israeli Counterparts To Task

First it was the British press and then the British doctors. Now the British architects have joined the call and slammed their Israeli counterparts. This from the Guardian;

Leading British architects have accused their counterparts in Israel of complicity in schemes that contribute to the "social, political and economic oppression of Palestinians".

The architects, including Will Alsop, Terry Farrell, Richard MacCormac, Royal Institute of British Architects president Jack Pringle and president-elect Sunand Prasad, have signed a petition organised by the group Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine.

"APJP asserts that the actions of our fellow professionals working with these enterprises are clearly unethical, immoral and contravene universally recognised professional codes of conduct," a spokesman said. "We ask the Israeli Association of United Architects (IAUA) to meet their professional obligations to declare their opposition to this inhuman occupation."

Here is the cute part. In order to cover the blatant ant-Semitism, Alsop had this to say;

"This is not against Israel, it's for Palestine," he said. "I think the Palestinians are living in a prison. I'd like fellow colleagues in Israel to feel some responsibility about this shabby treatment. Architects are a fairly humanitarian lot and perhaps they could help."

This is the third English "professional" group that has rallied or boycotted against Israel. They have not called for any boycott against any other country. The record of English professionals is equal to that of the UN's Human Rights Committee. It's always about Israel.

Iranian Capital Markets Under Pressure

Iranian President Ahmadinejad continues to threaten the world while all the while his own citizens keep on footing the bill. This from the Guardian

Iran's financial system suffered a fresh jolt yesterday with panic selling on the stock market after the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, abruptly ordered banks to cut interest rates sharply, despite surging inflation.

The order, which Mr Ahmadinejad issued by telephone during a visit to Belarus and which flew in the face of expert advice - has triggered warnings of a financial crisis and spiraling corruption amid fears of a capital flight from the country's lending institutions.

Mr Ahmadinejad's decree forced all state-owned and private banks to slash borrowing rates to 12%. Inflation is officially 15% but is generally believed to be much higher. State banks had been offering rates of 14%, while those in the private sector ranged from 17% to 28%.

The decision caused panic in the Tehran stock exchange, with private banks losing much of their share value overnight.

Economist, Saeed Leylaz, claimed the move was a reward to powerful groups who had supported Mr Ahmadinejad. "I believe the president knows the consequence of this decision but he doesn't care about the future."

Dinny is no Alan Greenspan. At this rate, the Iranian economy will collapse. If the European countries who continue to support the dictatorial regime through friendly trade agreements (namely Germany, France and Russia) would tighten the noose just a little bit, the average Iranian would have that much more of a tough time making ends meet.

Many smarter than me have said that the way to effect change in Iran is from within. This is a golden opportunity.

Linked to Woman Honor Thyself Right Truth Bullwinkle Blog Perri Nelson Dumb Ox

More Outrageous Protests On Campus

In a recent protest at San Jose University, students have decided to ignore Palestinian terror attacks on Israeli civilians and focus on Israeli life saving defensive measures. This from Eyal Marcus for YNET;

US Students Set Up 'Checkpoint' On Campus

Students at San Jose University disguise as soldiers, Palestinians at improvised checkpoint to condemn Israeli army's occupation of West Bank.



On Israel's Independence Day this year, Max Grossman, an Art and Design lecturer at the University of San Jose in California, fell upon a giant wall built on campus by a student organization called Students for Change.

The wall was meant to symbolize Israel's security fence in the West Bank. Students set up a checkpoint near the wall where fifty students posed as either Kaffiyeh-clad Palestinians or armed Israeli soldiers.

"I was in shock when I saw it," Grossman said. "I am 40, I learnt at Berkley and Colombia, places where numerous public protests took place, but I never saw something like this. They pretended questioning and torturing detainee."

Students disguised as soldiers handcuffed, blindfolded and sometimes pretended to execute supposedly Palestinian civilians with their plastic rifles.

Schwartz added that some female students disguised as pregnant Palestinian women who were shot by students acting as soldiers for disobeying orders at the improvised checkpoint.

Universities around the US continue to be a breeding ground for radical left wing “activists” who have lost all sense of proportion. No matter what the facts may be, the Palestinians will always be the victim and Israel the criminal.

Crossposted to Dhimmi Watch

Linked to Woman Honor Thyself Right Truth Bullwinkle Blog Perri Nelson Dumb Ox

Hamas: Our Rockets Are But Fireworks

Hamas doesn’t seem to understand Israeli airstrikes as a response to the recent wave of Qassams. After all, the Qassams are harmless. This from Maan News;

Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israeli TV Channel Two broadcast an interview on Thursday with the Palestinian Prime Minister's advisor, Dr Ahmad Yousef, in which Yousef described the homemade projectiles launched from the Gaza Strip at Israel as "fireworks".

The advisor said that these projectiles are not causing any damage or harm to Israel. Only one Israeli has been killed, he said, while 63 Palestinians were killed in the last week alone.

Yousef added that "Israel is using these projectiles in order to kill Palestinians. "Can the stick be compared with the sword?" he asked. "These projectiles are almost like fireworks; they are not killing. Only one Israeli woman has been killed, but the Israeli military machine killed 63 [Palestinians] last week." He added, "The president described them as useless."

.
One killed recently, yes. Thousands of Sderot citizens have been evacuated and millions of dollars in damage has been incurred.

To Hamas however, it’s just another day.

Crossposted to Jihad Watch

Linked to Woman Honor Thyself Right Truth Bullwinkle Blog Perri Nelson Dumb Ox

Israel Hesitates, Iran Doesn't

In the face of an ever weakening UN, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is once again sharpening the dagger. This from the Jerusalem Post;

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday warned Israel it would be uprooted if the Jewish state attacked Lebanon in the coming summer.

"If you think that by bombing and assassinating Palestinian leaders you are preparing ground for new attacks on Lebanon in the summer, I am telling you that you are seriously wrong," Ahmadinejad told a crowd in the city of Isfahan.

"If this year you repeat the same mistake of the last year, the ocean of nations of the region will get angry and will cut the root of the Zionist regime from its stem," added Ahmadinejad, speaking live on state television.

Referring to the history of Israel, Ahmadinejad said that "60 years of invasion and assassination is enough. If you do not cease invasion and massacre, soon the hand of power of the nations of the region will rub you criminals with earth."

Not surprising to hear this kind of chatter on the back of Israel’s out and out refusal to launch a major Gaza operation. When Dinny hears Israeli politicians being quoted as saying “we don’t want to invade/capture or occupy Gaza” or “we don’t want to get stuck in the mud in Gaza” or “Gaza is another Lebanon”, he knows he’s got the advantage.

Israeli inaction is inviting disaster. The vultures are circling and no one is doing anything to chase them away. Until Israel launches a major Gaza root canal that once and for all destroys the terrorist organizations, it’s only going to get worse.

French Fried

Jacques Chirac is in a bit of hot water. This from the Telegraph;

French investigating magistrates have acquired "explosive" documents suggesting that "large sums of money" were funnelled into a secret Japanese bank account in the name of Jacques Chirac, it was claimed yesterday.

The judges have bank statements and more than a hundred notes written by a former French intelligence chief, Gen Philippe Rondot, on the subject, but were unable to consult them until Mr Chirac stepped down as president last week.

Mr Chirac took the exceptional step of denying that he had a secret bank account.

The content of the dossiers has "convinced the judges of the existence of Chirac's Japanese bank account," a judge told the newspaper.

"Once the documents are verified, there is sufficient material to open a new investigation into abuse of trust and corruption," a judge told Le Canard.

The inquiry will focus on who paid sums into the account and how - if at all - Mr Chirac benefited from it.

Mr Chirac stands to lose his presidential immunity on June 16 - one month after leaving office. He could then be brought in for questioning. He is also expected to be interviewed as a witness or "assisted witness" - one step short of being under official investigation - concerning a party funding scandal during his time as mayor of Paris.

Mr Chirac's entourage is reportedly resigned to the fact that the judges will bring him in and perhaps place him under investigation.

Nicolas Sarkozy has denied reports that he had promised to protect Mr Chirac from prosecution in return for his support in the presidential elections.

If true, it will be very interesting to hear ex-President Chirac explain how a public servant has $60 million sitting in a personal secret account. Is it from the UN oil-for–food program? Was it Saddam? Was it Arab nations looking to buy a seat in the UN Security Council? Do they have Court TV in France?

Is There Anyone Left To Stop Iran?

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed El Baradei is looking more and more like an Iran's rep to the UN. Here is El Baradei on the Iranian nuke program from the Jerusalem Post;

The US wants to lodge a formal complaint against the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency over his suggestion that Iran be allowed to keep some elements of its uranium enrichment program, diplomats said Tuesday.

They said such a concession could undermine UN Security Council attempts to pressure Teheran to fully scrap enrichment.

The diplomats, who demanded anonymity because of the delicate nature of the issue, spoke to The Associated Press before the release of a report from IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei that could act as a trigger for a third set of Security Council sanctions on Teheran over its nuclear defiance.

In remarks over the past two weeks, El Baradei has gone public with his view that it is too late to try and force Teheran to scrap its enrichment program - as demanded by the Security Council - and has argued instead for containing it with a view to preventing its further expansion.

"I believe that demand has been superseded by events," El Baradei told Spain's ABC newspaper. Instead, he reportedly said, "the important thing now is to concentrate on Iran not taking it to industrial scale."

And what about the IAEA report? This from FOX;

Iran continues to defy U.N. Security Council demands to scrap its uranium enrichment program and has instead expanded its activities, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday, in a finding that sets the stage for new council sanctions.

The report from Mohamed El Baradei, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency, also faulted Tehran for blocking IAEA efforts to probe suspicious nuclear activities, saying that meant it could not "provide assurances about ... the exclusively peaceful nature" of its atomic program.

In practically one breath, El Baradei says that "the important thing now is to concentrate on Iran not taking it to industrial scale" and then says that the IAEA could not "provide assurances about ... the exclusively peaceful nature" of its atomic program.

El Baradei admits that the Iranian nuclear program may not be peaceful in nature and still believes that it's alright to let Iran keep what nuclear capability it already has.

Is this real?

Same Old UN

The UN has a new Secretary-General but still has the same old anti-Israel slant. This from the briefing by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General;

The Secretary-General hopes that the ceasefire reached among Palestinian factions in Gaza holds, and he thanks Egypt for its vital work in brokering this agreement. He calls on the Palestinian Authority to take the necessary steps to restore law and order, and for all factions to abide by the ceasefire.

At the same time, the Secretary-General is deeply concerned that Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets at Israel, targeting civilians. These attacks are completely unacceptable and violate international law.

The Secretary-General is also deeply concerned by the mounting number of civilian casualties from Israeli military operations, especially the targeted attack on the home of a Hamas legislator in Gaza, which killed six members of one family. While recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, he calls on Israel to abide by international law and to ensure that its actions do not target civilians or put them at undue risk.

Compare and contrast. When addressing the Palestinian Authority it’s “take the necessary steps” and “deeply concerned”. When addressing Israel it’s “abide by international law”.

When addressing the Palestinians it’s “targeting civilians”. When addressing Israel it’s “mounting number of civilian casualties”.

The statement refers to a “Hamas Legislator”; as if he’s a member of the senate and not a member of a terrorist organization.

By the way, Israel doesn’t need anyone to recognize its “right to defend itself”. That is God given.

It’s the same old useless, biased and impotent UN.

Hamas Ups The Ante

Until now, the Hamas rocket attacks were, as they falsely claimed, a retaliatory tool against Israeli aggression. Now it's the economic boycott. This from Maan News Agency;

Bethlehem – Ma'an – The political advisor of the Palestinian prime minister, Ahmad Yousif, on Monday refused to halt the launching of homemade projectiles at Israeli towns.

The resumption of projectile launching was the Palestinian factions' response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Yousif depicted the projectiles being hurled at Israeli targets as "fireworks which alert the world that there can be no solution except forcing Israel to halt its hostilities."
Yousif told Ma'an that he does not expect Hamas to cease launching projectiles as long as Israeli aggression and the international embargo on the Palestinian people continue.

He considers the homemade projectiles part of the Palestinian right to self-defence. He said, "They represent a message which says 'no to siege and no hostility' and they do not contain nuclear heads."

Yousif condemned those who call for an end to the launching of projectiles, especially, he said, in light of the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. He added, "The Palestinian government exerted efforts and convinced the factions to cease fire, yet the Israelis did not stick to that and so the projectiles will continue."

As always, Israel is to blame. Despite the fact that Israel held its fire for six months in the face of waves of rocket attacks, Hamas claims that Israel broke the ceasefire.

The new caveat is the international embargo.

Hamas is pushing the envelope to the very edge of the table. Hamas is grasping for a thread to rationalize their attacks. No one is buying the "self-defense" claim this time.

Global Warming and The Cold War

From the Economist

Mecca; The Apartheid City

Discrimination against Muslims is racism. Muslim discrimination against others is religion. This from Zainy Abbas for Arab News;

MAKKAH, 21 May 2007 A Sri Lankan Christian was arrested in the holy city of Makkah, which is off-limits to non-Muslims, by the Expatriates Monitoring Committee in Makkah.

The authorities were able to verify the identity of the man, who had claimed he had overstayed his Umrah visa, by running his details through a new fingerprints system.

Nirosh Kamanda had arrived in Dammam to work as a lorry driver and had fled his sponsor to sell goods besides the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The man’s sponsor denied he knew where the man was working.

He said, “He fled six months after coming to the Kingdom. I have no idea how he reached Makkah.”

After his identity became known, the man admitted he was Christian and that he had come to Makkah to earn money. “I heard that Makkah is a safe place, where I could hide my identity,” he said.

Col. Suhail Matrafi, head of the department in charge of Expatriates Affairs in Makkah, compiled a report about the case and presented it to Col. Ayid ibn Taghalib Al-Lukmani, the head of Makkah’s Passport Department. Al-Lukmani has ordered the man be sent to Jeddah.

“The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims,” said Matrafi. “The new fingerprints system is very helpful and will help us a lot to discover the identity of a lot of criminals and overstayers,” he added.

Islam…the religion of tolerance.

No Sympathy For The Devil

The Palestinians will not be outdone by the Rolling Stones. The Stones are scheduled for a September show in Tel Aviv as part of their "A Bigger Bang" tour. No one, however, provides a "Bigger Bang" than the Palestinians. This from Haaretz;

An open letter calling on the Rolling Stones not to appear in Israel was sent to the band by a Palestinian group on Sunday.

The world's best rock and roll band

The organization, Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) "strongly urged" the group cancel to its September concert because of what it called Israel's "colonial and apartheid designs to further dispossess, oppress and ultimately ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their homeland," and to do so "until the time comes when (Israel) ends its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and respects fundamental human rights."

PACBI compared performing in Israel to performing in apartheid South Africa and noted that the Rolling Stones had supported the boycott of South Africa in the 1980s.

The letter listed groups that have blacklisted Israel and then asked, "Is it too much, then, to expect conscientious artists like the Rolling Stones to similarly uphold the values of freedom, equality and justice for all by supporting the growing boycott against Israel?"

Funny, I never thought I'd see the words Palestinian, academics and culture all in the same sentence.

Israel's Turn To Support The Terrorists: Part Two

In my previous post,Israel was named as a potential supplier of arms to the Fatah terrorists to aid them in their battle against Hamas. We now know why. This from Aluf Benn for Haaretz;

The United States is pressing Israel to help bolster security forces in the Gaza Strip that are loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Major General Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator, recently discussed the function of the pro-Abbas Presidential Guard and National Security forces with senior Israeli officials.

The Americans believe that strengthening Abbas loyalists and deploying them in friction points along the north of the strip and Philadelphi route in Rafah will eventually improve the security situation.

The defense establishment is undecided about helping to bolster the pro-Abbas forces and enabling Abbas to pay their wages. Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh is the main advocate for helping to strengthen the Abbas loyalists.

"The idea is to change the balance, which so far has leaned in Hamas' favor. Well-trained [pro-Abbas] forces could help tip the balance," Sneh told The Washington Post.

"We don't give them operative orders, that's Abbas' business," he added.

The head of the research division of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, on Friday told the diplomatic corps that the Hamas modus operandi in Gaza was identical to that developed by Hezbollah in South Lebanon. "Hamas is taking over Fatah and Abbas' properties and equipment that the international community is bringing into Gaza," he said in an intelligence briefing at the Dan Hotel.

The US continues to play a hypocritical game of fighting the war on terror while simultaneously supporting terrorists. It makes you wonder what the interests of the Bush Administration really are.

Crossposted to Dhimmi Watch

Israel's Turn To Support The Terrorists: Part One

Condi and the Europeans are not the only ones supporting terrorists. Add Israel to the list. This from the Telegraph

Israel is considering giving military support to the moderate Palestinian faction Fatah in its power struggle with radical rival Hamas.

Even though Fatah is closely connected to Palestinian militants with a long record of attacks against Israel, the Jewish state is coming round to embracing the movement as a more pragmatic bulwark against Hamas, which they believe receives military aid from Iran.

"We believe that time is working against the moderates," said a member of the Israeli cabinet yesterday.

The media continues to define Fatah as "moderate". The same Fatah that prepares "martyrs" for suicide attacks against Israel. The same Fatah that just recently approved the Independence Day rocket attack and attempted kidnapping.

Fatah is moderate in comparison to Hamas in that Fatah pretends to want peace and will not publicly state its goal to destroy Israel. Other than that, Fatah is a terrorist organization. Period. How Israel can be so short-sighted and plan to arm Fatah is astounding. The minute that the infighting in Gaza comes to any sort of break, each and every one of the Israeli sponsored guns will be pointed directly at …Israel.

Not a few military analysts have pointed out that the recent surge in the Gaza violence is nothing more than a ploy to evoke an Israeli response which will unite all Palestinian terror groups. That could very well be true. However Israel must take this opportunity to crush the enemy, not arm it. It is only a matter of time before a Lebanon style war breaks out in the Gaza Strip. The longer Israel waits, the tougher it will be. During the time that Israel restrained itself by imposing a unilateral ceasefire, Hamas and Fatah took advantage of the relative quiet to rearm and dig in.

Fatah has no chance against Hamas. Fatah is a secular group who relies on an indifferent West for support. Hamas is a fanatical Islamic cult who is backed by a very interested Syria, Iran, Hezbollah and al-Qaeda. Who wins that battle?

Israel continues its policy of appeasement; help Fatah beat Hamas and then we can make peace with Fatah. This argument is doubly wrong. Firstly, Fatah will not beat Hamas and most of the weapons that Israel does supply to Fatah will wind up in Hamas hands. Secondly, even if Fatah would defeat Hamas, Fatah will in no way, shape or form make peace with Israel.

Olmert continues to stumble down the path of disaster. Unfortunately, at this pace, he is going to take a lot of people with him.

Crossposted to Dhimmi Watch

State Department Praises Restraint In The War On Terror

I have no love lost for Condi Rice. Her role in the prosecution of the war on terror has been nothing short of abysmal. You can read about it here, here and here. Today's comments from State Department spokesman Sean McCormack further illustrate the bankrupt policy of the office. This from Haaretz;

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged restraint on all sides but said Israel had the right to respond to rocket attacks from Hamas, which he blamed for the latest upsurge in Palestinian violence.

"Israel has the right to defend itself and it has exercised great restraint in the face of these rocket attacks," McCormack told reporters.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke earlier to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as well as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about the latest violence.

"She wanted to talk to them directly and see how they saw the situation," said McCormack. "We certainly want to see a reduction or an end to the violence but let's remember how that violence started and it started with these Hamas-led forces."

McCormack places the blame squarely and rightly so, on Hamas. Yet, he praises Israel for showing restraint. Curious. Why is restraint worthy of the State Department's blessing? Hamas, a US recognized terror organization launches rockets into a civilian center and Israel is praiseworthy for showing restraint? According to the Bush Doctrine, Hamas should be unmercifully chased down to the four corners of the earth until they are destroyed.

Imagine Texas getting shelled by cross border fire for the better part of six years. Imagine that the US government elects not to respond, so as not to escalate the situation. Is this praiseworthy? This is negligence!! This is a prime example of a government failing in its primary duty of protecting the welfare of its citizens.

When the State Department praises restraint, they encourage restraint. If Israel were to hit Hamas with a couple of stiff body blows, then Condi has no real purpose in the region. She will never be able to end her career with the Nobel Peace Prize.

If only Condi understood that the only chance of attaining peace in the region lies squarely on the utter destruction of all Islamic terrorist organizations, she would be whistling a different tune. Unfortunately, like so many others, Rice believes terrorists are open to negotiations. Unfortunately, like so many others, Rice is dead wrong.

Mubarak: Hamas Will Never Make Peace

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has admitted what we have known for a long time; Hamas will never make peace with Israel. This from Barak Ravid for Haaretz;

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed great concern over the increasing strength of Hamas in talks with senior diplomatic officials on Wednesday, declaring that the organization will never sign a peace agreement with Israel, Haaretz has learned.

He said that the Egyptian government is at a loss regarding the future of the Gaza Strip. However, he also proclaimed that Egypt is making great efforts to end the Hamas government and support Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

"With Hamas no way," he reportedly said.

Mubarak painted a dark picture of the situation with Hamas and said there was no chance for peace with the organization. "Hamas will never sign a peace agreement with Israel if it stays in power," the Egyptian president said.

Mubarak also said that Egypt did not accept Hamas in power, especially in light of its growing ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, which leads the opposition in Egypt. Mubarak sees the Brotherhood, which gained considerable power in Egypt's last parliamentary elections, as a threat to secular power.

It appears that Mubarak is giving Israel the green light to take action against Hamas. Mubarak views Hamas as a threat no less than Israel does. What better than to have someone else do your dirty work for you?

Bolton: Military Force Before Iran Goes Nuclear

John Bolton's trait of never mincing words was possibly the main reason he lost his previous job. In this interview with the Telegraph, Bolton shows us that nothing has changed. Iran is in the crosshairs.

John Bolton, who still has close links to the Bush administration, told The Daily Telegraph that the European Union had to "get more serious" about Iran and recognise that its diplomatic attempts to halt Iran's enrichment programme had failed.

Iran has "clearly mastered the enrichment technology now...they're not stopping, they're making progress and our time is limited", he said. Economic sanctions "with pain" had to be the next step, followed by attempting to overthrow the theocratic regime and, ultimately, military action to destroy nuclear sites.

Mr Bolton said: "It's been conclusively proven Iran is not going to be talked out of its nuclear programme. So to stop them from doing it, we have to massively increase the pressure.

"If we can't get enough other countries to come along with us to do that, then we've got to go with regime change by bolstering opposition groups and the like, because that's the circumstance most likely for an Iranian government to decide that it's safer not to pursue nuclear weapons than to continue to do so. And if all else fails, if the choice is between a nuclear-capable Iran and the use of force, then I think we need to look at the use of force."

"If the choice is them continuing [towards a nuclear bomb] or the use of force, I think you're at a Hitler marching into the Rhineland point. If you don't stop it then, the future is in his hands, not in your hands, just as the future decisions on their nuclear programme would be in Iran's hands, not ours."

As usual, Bolton is right on; and consistent. This from a March 2 interview;

The U.S. has allowed Britain, France and Germany to “screw around” in nuclear talks with Iran, according to Bolton. The diplomacy has gone on for “three and a half years, and that allowed the Iranians to make enormous progress on their nuclear- weapons program,” he said. “Regime change in Iran or, as a last resort, military action is the only thing that will stop the Iranians from getting nuclear weapons,” Bolton said.

It is become so apparent that the efforts of the UN, EU and the IAEA have proven to be nothing less that a slow dance to hell. Solana's non stop meetings have gone nowhere. El-Baradei's enlightening observations have always come a day late. The UN's inability to level effective sanctions was predictable.

Iran has shown absolutely no intention of willfully dropping its atomic aspirations. The lack of a united front against these ambitions has only emboldened the Iranians to continue down the path of destruction.

Bolton is right; the chance of negotiations bearing any fruit is practically zero. Barring a coup, military action is just around the corner. And rightfully so.

Saudi Bust Foiled Major al-Qaeda Attack

Saudi Arabia's arrest of 172 terrorists is turning out to be a major coup. This from The Arab News;

The Al-Qaeda network had plans to carry out massive terrorist operations in the scale of 9/11 attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, according to captured militants whose confessions were published in the local media yesterday.

Abdullah Al-Muqrin, one of the militants who were involved in planning the foiled attack on the Abqaiq oil refinery on Feb. 24, 2006, said militants, on the directives of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, carried out the suicide bombing. “Targeting the main oil facilities and areas, such as Ras Tanura and Jubail, was how the idea started,” said Muqrin in confessions aired by Saudi Television late Monday night.

Ras Tanura is the Kingdom’s biggest oil export terminal and Jubail is its biggest industrial complex. Both are located on the Gulf coast. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest oil producer and exporter, supplying about seven million barrels per day.

“We started planning (the attack) but were told to wait for direct instructions from Osama Bin Laden. I asked how we would receive a signal from him; I thought he was in some mountains. They said it would take from six to seven months to get his approval,” Muqrin said.

Another suspect, identified as Khaled Al-Kurdi, said the Al-Qaeda leadership in Saudi Arabia told them that the attacks on oil facilities would be tantamount to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the US.

“They said it would be a huge operation, equal to the September strike ... and its impact would be on a global level,” Kurdi said in his statement. “They said attacks would affect oil prices,” he added.

Saudi security sources said the two men were involved in providing logistic help to the attackers who tried to storm the Abqaiq oil facility, in which two suicide bombers were killed. Saudi Arabia arrested about 170 suspects after the attacks.

The attack on oil installations was planned to lure US forces into the Kingdom. “It was all about luring in America to intervene, irrespective of the expected high loss of human life or economic damage,” Muqrin said.

The attackers sought “to hammer America,” Kurdi added.

Anyone who thinks it's time to quit better think again.

Crossposted to Jihad Watch

The Patriot's New Venture

I am pleased to announce that I have joined forces with Robert Spencer and will be periodically posting at Jihad Watch. I would like to thank Robert for giving me the opportunity to be part of the JW team.

The EU Is Desperate To Finance Terror

Now that the umpteenth ceasefire has been broken, Fatah and Hamas terrorists have continued to kidnap and murder each other. At least another five were killed today. This is troubling news for the EU. Here is EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, from Reuters;

A senior EU official on Monday urged an early review of suspended aid to the Palestinian government, saying she hoped for a decision next month.

Speaking after talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner spoke of "encouraging" signs from the Palestinians.”

"Now in the future we have to see how we can go on," she said. "We are always judging the government also on its program and its actions. We see good progress at least there."

Fererro-Waldner repeated calls on Israel to release Palestinian customs revenues it has been withholding and for Arab countries to provide funds they have promised.

I challenge Ferrero-Waldner to explain what it is that she refers to as “encouraging” and “good progress”. Is she referring to daily gunfights in the street or mass corruption? Is she referring to Jihad Mouse or repeated calls for Israel’s destruction? Is she referring to incessant rocket attacks on Israeli civilian centers?

Of course not...this is simply lip service. What really bothers the EU is that as long as turmoil reigns in Gaza, it is really difficult to find just cause to censure Israel. How can the EU push ahead with its suicidal policy of appeasement when it’s clear as day that there is no one even worth appeasing? How can the EU pressure Israel into more fraudulent “land for peace” deals when the fiasco that is Gaza is self destructing? Ferrero-Waldner is grasping at straws in order to justify financial aid to Gaza, even if it stops the fighting for a very short period of time.

The short term break in the fighting brought on by a new round of financing would give the EU a window of opportunity to press ahead with their mandate; as determined by their constituents. We saw the numbers yesterday. They look bleak.

Don't Leave -- But If You Do, Bring Islam With You

The Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine has issued a religious edict banning Palestinians from leaving PA controlled territories. Many young Palestinians are seeking greener pastures overseas. Taking into account the wanton killing and rampant corruption in the area—who can blame them? This from INN;

The latest ruling, entitled, "No permission to emigrate from the land of Palestine" reads as follows:

"There is much talk these days in our land of Palestine about emigration, and especially among the young, and this because of the difficult security and economic situation, and out of a desire to find a living in other lands. Expression of this can be found in the rush to the gates of the embassies and consulates of the Western nations with requests for visas in order to reside permanently in those countries...

"Based on [the ruling of the prophet Muhammed and his friends], emigration from the blessed lands to live permanently in other countries is not permitted in terms of religious law. The people living in these areas must remain in their places of residence, and not leave them to infiltrators and conquerors, and they will thus perform an act of honor, and will be a support for the Al-Aqsa mosque... and will merit the good tiding of the prophet...

"Regarding temporary travel to other lands for the purpose of study and work, this is permitted as long as there is a determination to return and live in the blessed lands after the stage of study and work."

INN adds that PA officials reported last November that in the preceding four months, foreign and Arab diplomats had authorized the entry of 10,000 PA residents to their countries, and that another 45,000 emigration requests were under similar consideration.

Muslims living abroad must be able to reconcile their foreign domicile with the edict. If Europe or America can ultimately be turned into a "blessed land," dar al-Islam, then nobody has to return home.

In effect, the edict has a twofold meaning: don't leave -- but if you do, bring Islam with you.

Crossposted to Jihad Watch

Same Old Europe

It's hard to believe that despite our entering into the "enlightened" 21st century, Europe has not changed very much. Here are the results from an ADL poll of 5 countries; France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland; all from the continent that brought you a Holocaust, the Crusades, Pogroms, blood libels and an Inquisition.

This from the ADL;

Findings Summary
• A majority of those surveyed across Europe, 51%, believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country, with a majority of respondents in Spain, Poland and Germany saying they believe that this statement is "probably true."

• High levels of those surveyed still believe in the traditional anti-Jewish canard that "Jews have too much power in the business world." Overall, nearly 39% of all respondents believe this stereotype to be true.

• Similarly, respondents still adhere to the notion that "Jews have too much power in international financial markets." Overall, 44% cling to the traditional stereotype.

• Large portions of the European public continue to believe that Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust. Overall, 47% of those surveyed believe it is "probably true." In fact, a plurality of respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain believe this notion to be true.

• Overall, 20% of those surveyed continue to blame Jews for the death of Jesus.

• Overall, 25% of those surveyed say that their opinion of Jews is influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel. Of those respondents whose opinions are influenced, a majority, 52%, say that their opinion of Jews is worse as a result of the actions taken by Israel.

• Nearly half of all respondents agree with the notion that "American Jews control U.S. Middle Eastern policy;" in Spain - 53%; in Poland - 56%.

These results are like something out of the Dark Ages. Not only do they expose Europe's shame, they embolden the Jihadists who want to destroy Israel. Despite the attacks in London and Madrid, Europe continues to turn a blind eye to the real threat-- the only threat.

I expect the usual emails from the usual anonymous brave hearts who accuse me of crying "anti-Semitism" any time things "don't go my way". If this isn't anti-Semitism, please enlighten me.

I propose the following questions be posed in the next "EuroPoll";

Do you think that too many Moslems have immigrated to Europe?

Do you think that Moslems who settle in Europe are more dedicated to their religion than their new country?

Are your opinions of Moslems affected by the activities of the global jihadists?

Do you think the Islamic community in general bears any responsibility for the 9/11 or 7/7 attacks? If so, why? If not, why not?

What do you think the answers will be? There will be no answers because there will be no poll. This sort of poll would set Europe ablaze. Dhimmi don't like that.

Crossposted to Dhimmi Watch

It's About Time

From the Economist

The Iron

This is what happens when Ahmed tries to do Fatima a favor and help her out with the ironing. Allah doesn't like when a man does the women's work instead of fighting in the Jihad.

Terrorism Does Pay

Something is very rotten in the State of Israel. Despite the incessant rocket attacks from post-disengagement Gaza and despite the Hezbollah attacks from post-retreat Lebanon, Israel FM Livni plans further retreats!! YNET brings us these gems from yet another sellout (Livni in bold italics);

"I believe I represent most Israelis and I can confirm that Gaza is not the last move. We are convinced that in order to establish a Palestinian state we must withdraw from additional territories."

Livni, you don't represent any Israelis. You are part of a government that recently scored a 0% approval rating. You should be counting your lucky stars that you still have a job. In a normal country, you would have been collecting unemployment a long time ago. By the way, if you want to establish a Palestinian state that will officially abandon terrorism, you will have to withdraw from the entire state. Back to Poland for you.

"The majority of Israeli people not only understand the need for peace, but also the need to reach compromises in order to reach peace."

Yes, we all understand the need for peace; but not at any price. I will not sacrifice my family on the altar of appeasement so you can rack up some political coin.

"In this context I represent the opinion of the majority, which supports a solution of two states, one for Jews and one for Palestinians, and this means that the road to a Palestinian state begins by renouncing terror – something which I believe represents not only Israel's interest, but also the Palestinians' interest."

Correct again. Two states…Israel and Jordan. And Livni, you and your type never cease to amaze me. You repeat the same old mantra that the Pals must renounce terror. They never do. They never will. Yet, you continue to make "concessions" and "good will gestures". Will you ever learn???

"Israel made a number of concessions and took some courageous steps, like in our pullout from the Gaza Strip and in the removal of all the settlements. Thus, we conveyed a message to the Palestinians that we mean what we say."

So do they. The Hamas Charter is an open book. They really do mean to kill us all, and you are enabling them by bringing them closer and closer to every single Israeli's backyard. Do you have any shame at all? Did you learn anything from the Gaza surrender? Is there any way you can justify another retreat?

"When I decide to uproot 7,000 settlers from their homes, many of whom were born in Gaza, it is untrue to say that their presence there was a burden on Israel. Believe me, this decision was a courageous, difficult and painful decision."

And obviously wrong. You have the nerve to want to displace more when you still haven't met your obligations to those you evicted from their homes in Gaza. Many are still without permanent housing and steady jobs. Many have still not received the monetary compensation due them. And you want to evict more Jews for the sake of terrorists??

It's no secret that Livni's stock crashed after she publicly called for the resignation of the Prime Minister. It's also no secret that Olmert suffers the same hallucinations that another withdrawal is the right thing to do. I am pretty certain that this most recent outburst of insanity from Livni is the price she has to pay to reaffirm her place in the corrupt and inept Olmert government.

Livni was an anonymous colorless politician whose star rose when she became one of the first Likud members to bolt the party in favor of Sharon's newly formed Kadima. The only foresight she ever had was knowing how to advance her political career. She is doing it again and the public will have to pay a very high price. She is endangering the whole country by proposing another round of insane concessions to murderers; all on the faulty pretext that the people are behind her. In that respect she is right; they are behind her, with a foot firmly on her backside.

UPDATE

It didn't take long for the reactions to come...from the right...

"Foreign Minister Tzipi already admitted that the (2005) disengagement was a mistake that increased terror. The weakness of Livni and her associates is that they learned nothing from their mistakes and refuse to acknowledge reality. This could lead to another war instead of bringing us towards peace." - MK Gideon Sa'ar, chairman of the Likud faction

"The concept of unilateral withdrawals from Lebanon and Gaza brought security tragedies in the form of rockets. Livni should learn from the mistakes of the past and not encourage a failed policy of withdrawal." - MK Effie Eitam, National Union-National Religious Party

And the left...

"The right political move will be a withdrawal only as part of a comprehensive peace agreement between both sides. The solution for the Palestinian issue is two states for two peoples, but we don't have a partner right now. Hamas is not a partner." - MK Danny Yatom, Labor

"The failure of the unilateral withdrawal form Gaza must teach us a lesson regarding the need for open talks with the Palestinians. We don't need to further withdraw from anywhere. Olmert's government has neither the political mandate, nor the moral validity for such a decision." - MK Zahava Gal-On, Meretz

Wait for the Kadima "spinmasters" tomorrow. They sure have their hands full.

Jihad Mouse Is Back

In the face major backlash and widespread revulsion, the Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said that the "Jihad Mickey Mouse" program was pulled from Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV at his ministry's request and "placed under review."



Apparently the review has been completed because Jihad Mouse made another appearance yesterday. Here are some choice quotes;

On Friday Farfur, a buffoonish figure, was seen cheating on exams. Asked why, he answered, “Because the Jews destroyed my home and I left my books and notes under the rubble.”

Another child told him this was no excuse for cheating, and after he failed the test, Farfur said, “I’m calling on all children to read more and more to prepare for exams because the Jews don’t want us to learn.”

Here are some more;

During one of the skits, Farfur told young viewers that he aspired to be like the slain spiritual leaders of Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood.

A young girl, who identified herself as Amani, called in to the show to sing a popular Hamas song."Jerusalem we are coming. We will not rest and we will not be humiliated," Amani sang as Farfour danced on a stage decorated with drawings, including one of a rocket.

Will the show continue?

Fathi Hammad, chairman of Al-Aqsa Television, defended the show: "It does not violate any moral or professional standard," he told a Hamas Web site, adding it would not be withdrawn, nor will its content be modified.

Right.

Palestinians Have Fired Rockets From The West Bank

It's official. What we all understood to just be a matter of time has actually already begun; the Palestinians are firing rockets from the West Bank. This from WND;

An Israeli military court yesterday conceded Palestinians have been firing rockets from the West Bank, which borders Jerusalem and runs alongside Tel Aviv and Israel's international airport.

WND reported exclusively terrorists in the northern West Bank fired a series of rockets in recent months toward Jewish population centers. At the time, Israeli security officials would not state on the record any rockets were launched from the territory.

Security analysts maintain publicity about terror groups' current missile capabilities in the West Bank could generate criticism of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's stated plan to withdraw from most of the West Bank.

Yesterday, an Israeli military court accused Amar Barake, a member of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, of launching rockets in 2006 from the northern West Bank town of Jenin. The court said the rockets were aimed at Israeli cities but fell short.

No one is safe…..

Abu Oudai, who was killed in an antiterror operation in September 2006, said in July the rocket infrastructure in Jenin seeks to place the entire lower Galilee region of Israel under the regular threat of rockets.
He announced the beginning of the regular firing of Palestinian rockets from the West Bank "just like we fire them from Gaza."

"Every Israeli site or city is inside our capabilities and if some sites are not yet they will be very soon. The Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, every site and city will be targeted. We are speaking about a new era in the conflict between us and the enemy," Abu Oudai said.

Israel, under Ehud Barak, retreated from Lebanon in 2000 and we got rockets in return. Israel, under Ariel Sharon retreated from Gaza in 2005 and we got rockets in return. Israel, under Ehud Olmert plans to retreat from the West Bank. The Palestinians aren't waiting this time; we are already getting rockets.Not to make light of the past or present, a withdrawal from the West Bank would be absolutely devastating. The entire country would be in range of the crudely made Palestinian rockets. You can be sure they will be coming. The damage, both psychological and physical would be so great that Israel would have no choice but to retaliate with massive force. What that would snowball into nobody knows for sure. What we do know for sure is that another retreat is the surest way to ensure the next major war.

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The White House Policy Of Appeasement

Just as I've been saying all along. White House diplomacy in general and Condi Rice diplomacy in particular has taken a turn for the worst. This from the Jerusalem Post;

The Bush administration is undertaking much of its current Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy to appease the Arabs and Europeans, a top White House official told a group of Jewish Republicans recently, according to those present.

Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams said much of the heightened State Department activity with the two parties was "process for the sake of process" and being done to "assuage the Arabs and the Europeans, who haven't been happy with the United States[and are] happy to see that there's at least an attempt or energy being put into the peace process," according to one attendee at the closed door meeting.

Abrams also told the meeting that he would guard against the bureaucrats at the State Department taking over American Middle East policy, as well as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice falling into the "Clintonian mode" of needing to point to achievements to secure her legacy as her term concludes, according to someone at the discussion.

All for the sake of personal glory. All for the sake of the appeasing Europeans. The US is throwing in the towel in the GWOT for political gain. Scary.

I thought they knew better. Appeasement will come back to haunt them. Sooner than they think.

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Fighting The Wrong Enemy

This is the crux of the problem. The government will not fight the true enemy.

Mother of six and expelled northern Shomron resident Miriam Adler has been sentenced to three months in jail or its equivalent in public service. Her crime: Attacking a policeman during a Disengagement-related protest.

Menace to society???

The incident occurred shortly before the Disengagement in August 2005, when police came to arrest her and her husband for their vocal and active opposition to the expulsion.

"Behind this seemingly fragile person hides a violent, aggressive and dangerous personality," Judge Clara Rejenino ruled Thursday. "She does not regret her crimes and she plans to commit them again... The public welfare demands that she be sent to jail, and she must be taught a lesson... " However, the judge continued, because the defendant has six children, she said that Miriam may perform public service works instead, in addition to an 11-month probationary sentence, as well as what Miriam called the "most maddening of all," a 1,000-shekel compensation to be paid to the policeman.

Israeli Jewish mother of six. Jail time. Wanted for vocal and active opposition to being evicted from her own house for the sake of terrorists.

(By the way, vocal opposition is perfectly legal if you are an Arab Member of Knesset and you call for the destruction of Israel.)

Compare the case of Miriam Adler, right wing, God fearing Zionist to this….

The commander of the Israel Defense Forces Judea battalion, Colonel Yehuda Fuchs, recommended Thursday the dismissal of the IDF reservist officer filmed the day before striking left-wing Israeli activists at a West Bank demonstration.

The officer, who holds the rank of captain, was caught on film with forcibly strangling a member of the "Anarchists against the Fence," kicking another member of the group and hitting him with his rifle butt.

The protesters had dismantled a temporary roadblock in the Hebron Hills, close to the town of Dahariyah, provoking the troops' response.

Around 10 anarchist activists and several Palestinians arrived at the site and removed cement blocks that were blocking an unpaved footpath connecting the town to Route 60, the main road in the West Bank that runs from south of the Hebron Hills to Hebron itself.

The activists then moved to the main road near the Otniel settlement and attempted to block it to traffic. The reservist soldiers who arrived at the scene tried to remove the protesters, and which point the clashes erupted.

……Jewish left wing atheists and Palestinians.

In the dreamland of the Olmert Government, policemen are compensated and protesters arrested if the protesters are religious, right wing and protecting their home and family. Protesters are protected and Army commanders are fired if the protesters are atheist, left wing or Palestinian, and they are protesting a life saving fence or roadblock. Ironically enough, the same fence or roadblock that protects the protesters themselves!!

How can any self respecting society expect to survive under such self destructive hypocrisy? If it's suicide you want, end it quick; don't make us all suffer. Ehud, have some Kool-Aid.

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Just Another Day In Pali-stan

Just when you think the Palestinians have reached the lowest rung on the ladder of social behavior, you realize that there is still another rung to go. This from the Jerusalem Post;

A local husband and his wife have been arrested by the Palestinian Authority police on charges of selling their two daughters to young men.

The two girls, aged 12 and 13, were sold for 2,700 Jordanian dinars[approximately NIS 15,000] and NIS 7,000, said Col. Issa Hijo, commander of the Ramallah District Police Force.

He said the two men who bought the girls were brothers aged 23 and 25 and that they had been arrested on charges of raping minors.

"What is astonishing about this case is the fact that the two girls were sold with the approval of their mother and the parents of the two men," Hijo said. "This incident takes us back to the period of slavery. What is even more shocking is the fact that the two men's mother argued that this was an accepted custom."

The parents agreed!! A marriage made in heaven!! The new Pal-Date. Now there's a start-up for you. An Internet dating service with prices listed for each girl. (Group rates are available, sheep are not.)

In another gruesome case, a 43-year-old Arab merchant from Jerusalem, Ibrahim Beiruti, was kidnapped and brought to Ramallah, where he was robbed and murdered. The murderers, who were later arrested, had cut the victim's body into pieces.

These are animals we are dealing with, folks.

In a separate incident, PA policemen beat doctors and nurses at the emergency room in a local hospital, witnesses said.

The assault took place late Tuesday night when a group of police officers brought one of their colleagues to the hospital.

The doctors and nurses were attacked after they decided to send the officer home because his condition did not require hospitalization. Following the attack, the emergency room was closed down until further notice.

This is something the British doctors should hear about. Remember the boycott? Don't forget that Israel is responsible for lack of medical care for the Palestinians. Listen up England: It's hard to find good medical care WHEN THE PATIENTS ARE KICKING THE S*@% OUT OF THE DOCTORS. I still haven't heard of one British doctor who is willing to donate some time and come treat the poor Palestinians.

A British doctor and a Palestinian patient... a match made in heaven.

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The Palestinians Claim Herod's Tomb

The Palestinians continue their drive to erase any connection between Jewish history and Israel. Any historical finding must be a part of "Palestinian heritage and culture". So naturally, their response to the recent archaeological breakthrough which apparently located Herod's Tomb was not long in coming. Maan provides the humor;

Palestinian director of cultural heritage in the ministry of tourism and antiquities cast doubt, on Wednesday, on the validity of the Israeli discovery of Herod's tomb at Herodion, southeast of Bethlehem.

He says "The explanations accompanying the discovery, and the announcement of the discovery in that impressive way, imply ideological motives, which lack scientific credibility."

The director warned of political motivations for the claim, saying "it is part of an Israeli settlement campaign in Bethlehem, which includes claiming the archaeological sites and material within them."

He said "these archaeological areas are an inseparable part of the Palestinian cultural heritage, which can not be divided or transferred. Whether it is Herod or otherwise, it is part of the Palestinian history and culture."

There is no Palestinian heritage in Israel just as there is no Aborigine heritage in Afghanistan. They simply weren't there. There were Jews and Romans. No mention anywhere of Palestinians. Why didn't the history books mention a Palestinian presence? Firstly, because they weren't there. Also, explosives weren't invented yet.

Don Imus Has Company

Yet another celebrity slur....will it ever end??

Islam's War Against Christianity In The Holy Land

Just this past Sunday, Palestinians opened fire on a U.N. operated school in Gaza, killing a Fatah operative and wounding seven others. It was assumed that this was another round of the Hamas/Fatah courtship. Quotes from those involved cited the "immoral values" being taught at the school. WND breaks a whole new angle to the story;

A deadly attack yesterday against a United Nations school in the Gaza Strip was carried out by an Islamist extremist group, according to a statement faxed to WND claiming the U.N. was targeted because the international body was "spreading Christian missionary activity."

"The UN is spreading Christian missionary activity. We will keep hitting them and trying to kill them. They are trying to convert our Muslims under the cover of an international organization," said the statement, signed by the group Jihadia Salafiya.

Until now, Jihadia Salafiya has operated in Gaza as an Islamic outreach movement seeking to make secular Muslims more religious, but the overall leader of the organization, Abu Saqer, confirmed to WND today his organization recently opened what it called a "military wing" to target individuals, establishments and groups it claims are "corrupting Islam."

As a principle we believe that Jews and Christians will always do everything in order to keep Muslims far from their religion," Abu Saqer said.

Folks, it's not Fatah vs. Hamas. It's not an internal power struggle. It's Islam vs. Christianity. Read on;

In September, Palestinian gunmen attacked and set fire to the Young Men's Christian Association headquarters in Qalqiliya, a large West Bank city controlled by Hamas.

Anti-Christian riots have been reported in Ramallah, Nazareth and surrounding villages, as well as in towns in Gaza. In Bethlehem, local Christians long have complained of anti-Christian violence. The city's
Christians once made up 90 percent of the population, but have declined drastically since the PA took control in December 1995. Christians now make up less than 25 percent of Bethlehem, according to Israeli surveys.

Hamas chief in Gaza and former foreign minister Mahmoud al-Zahar told WND: "I hardly understand the point of view of the West concerning these issues. The West brought all this freedom to its people but it is that freedom that has brought about the death of morality in the West. It's what led to phenomena like homosexuality, homelessness and AIDS."

Two observations. First off, global jihad is not about Israel or the occupation. It is not about Iraq and Iran. It is about Islam and its intolerance for anything that is un-Islamic. And that intolerance leads to death.

Secondly, despite many repeat performances of these acts of terror against Christians, and despite the clear statements from Hamas and friends that this terror is waged specifically against Christians for their being Christian, the left and the MSM continue to place the blame squarely on the shoulders of everyone except the culprits themselves. Here are some of their favorite rationalizations for the terror; US/UK policy in Iraq, US/UK policy in Israel, Israel's policy towards the Palestinians, Jewish control of...everything. Everyone is to blame except the Jihadists. Even when the Islamic terrorists specifically state their cause for the attack, the left refuses to accept it.

You can't win a war unless you fight, and you don't fight unless you acknowledge that you are in a war. Islam has declared war against not only the Jews and the West, but against Christianity as well. And they have no plans to let up.

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Wake Up America

Condi's Message

In an unprecedented move, US Secretary of State Condi Rice cancelled her scheduled trip to Israel. She was to arrive next week. Here is US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack explaining why;

"It's a change in plans, yes," McCormack admitted, but added that the US would "continue efforts to advance the Israeli-Palestinian track. The political situation in Israel has become a bit more complex in the near term."

This is PM Olmert's proverbial "vote of confidence". You know what usually happens after that.

The US is sending Olmert a very clear message; resign. As long as Olmert insists on retaining his position, there is nothing to be gained from high level talks. Lame ducks do not have a mandate to make any major policy decisions. Olmert never had the courage or foresight to take the bold step and declare war against Hamas anyway.

Olmert, for his part, is still living in a dream state much like his predecessor. Dov Weisglass, an old Sharon crony, actually spun the story this way;

However, Dov Weisglass, who served as an adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon, told Army Radio on Tuesday morning that Rice's decision to cancel her trip may have been connected to situation in the PA, not necessarily the Israeli government alone.

Weisglass noted that with the current anarchy in the Gaza Strip and West Bank due to the infighting between the Fatah and Hamas factions, it would be difficult to determine which officials to hold talks with.

As if the US was going to meet with Hamas. It seems like Olmert and the last scraps of Sharon continue to smoke the "peace pipe", if you get my drift.

Olmert still has time to resign and save whatever dignity he has left. After today's events, that time is clearly running out.

UPDATE: Damage Control

US State Department officials said Tuesday that America is continuing to work with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert despite citing Israel's political turmoil as the reason Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won't be traveling to the country next week as planned.

Department spokesman Sean McCormack rejected the notion that the move would undermine Olmert at a politically vulnerable time.

"We have confidence in Israel's democracy," McCormack said in response to a question from The Jerusalem Post. "We are continuing to work with Prime Minister Olmert and his government on issues of mutual concern."

Nonsense. Want proof? Read on...

A state department official, speaking on background, told the Post that Rice would be coming to the region in the near future, attributing the delay to a scheduling conflict and downplaying its significance, since the date hadn't been set in stone.

Scheduling conflict? What is this, a round of golf? Olmert, take the cue....go home.

A Groundbreaking Medical Discovery

Researchers at Israel's Technion Institute may be on the verge of a medical breakthrough in the treatment of cancer and infertility. This from the Jerusalem Post;

Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technion in Haifa are the first in the world to characterize the way the hymen membrane covering the sex organ of tiny female worms, which shows they are virgins, is produced.

According to Prof. Benjamin Podbilewicz of the Technion biology department and colleagues, who managed to make the first such discovery in any animal, the "groundbreaking" study - just published in the prestigious journal Development Cell - has major implications in a variety of fields, including better understanding cancer and treating infertile couples.

This work has led to understanding of an important stage in the fusion mechanism.

"It could also lead to new ways to restrict the development of tumors by preventing the cancer cells from fusing. Perhaps, in the distant future, deciphering the mechanism in which sperm and ova fuse will lead to a solution to the problem of infertile couples," he said.

Once again, Israel's finest lead the way.

In light of the planned boycott by British doctors of the Israel Medical Association and the call for its expulsion from the World Medical Association, in principal, the UK should not benefit or have access to this research. Let the bone heads figure it out for themselves.

More Biased Reuters Reporting

More biased and misleading reporting from Reuters;

Israel and Palestinians fire rockets

(The headline clearly equates between both sides firing rockets. No differentiation is made between Palestinian rockets being fired with the intent to kill civilians and Israeli guided rockets specifically aimed at terrorists caught “in the act”)

May 7 - An Israeli missile hit a car in northern Gaza hours after a makeshift Palestinian rocket scored a rare hit on a target in southern Israel.

(No mention is made of what was in the car. AP reported as follows;

"The IDF said the vehicle was filled with Kassams and was carrying terrorists preparing to fire the rockets at Israel. The army said there were several secondary explosions after the missile hit the car."

The mention that the Palestinian rocket scored a “rare hit” downplays the number of rockets that are fired on a daily basis. If they only score rare hits…how dangerous are they?)

The violence came as militant groups urged the Palestinian Prime Minister to reject a U.S. plan which would see President Abbas's Fatah dominated forces deployed to stop rockets being fired at Israel.

(Another false implication. According to Reuters, the violence is intended to force Abbas’ hand. The violence is intended to force the Israeli hand. Violence forced Sharon to disengage from Gaza. They are hoping violence will force Olmert to disengage from Israel.)

Another fine performance from Reuters.

Ransom Demands For Alan Johnston

London based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi has released what it claims are the list of demands handed to the Hamas led government in exchange for the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston. Maan reports;

Sources, which the London-based newspaper, Al-Quds Al-Arabi, described as "knowledgeable", revealed on Monday the three demands presented to Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, by the captors of the BBC reporter, Alan Johnston.

The first demand is to be fulfilled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and is for the captors to be illegally given an area of land. The sources gave no further details about this demand.

The second demand is to be met by the Jordanian authorities and is the release of the Iraqi female captive, Sajida Rishawi, who is accused of planning the explosions in the Jordanian capital of Amman on the 9th of November 2006.

The third demand is for the BBC to pay a ransom of $5 million.

A couple of observations. If the BBC pays, it will be a very long time before any clear thinking foreigner steps foot in Gaza again. Everyone will be fair game.

If these really are the demands, it will be very interesting to see how quick the Jordanians are to release a Palestinian prisoner. They are quick to pressure Israel to do so. Let's see what Abdullah does.

As far as the parcel of land they are demanding; if it really is illegal, then all the liberal action groups and the UN should have them evicted. Illegal settlement, right? Where is Sharon would you need him. He would have them disengage.

Another Proxy War?

Palestinian infighting in Lebanon; Xinhua reports on the gunshots;

At least one Palestinian shot dead on Monday in a clash between rival factions at a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, security sources said.

The sources said that the clashes erupted at Ein el-Hilweh camp, which is located in Sidon, the provincial capital of southern Lebanon, after two groups of the Muslim militants opened fire, leaving at least one dead and another wounded.

The dead Palestinian is a militant from Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He was ambushed after he arrived to pick up his motorcycle at the scene, the sources added.

Other media reported that the attackers belonged to Jund al-Sham, an Islamic militant group based in the refugee camp in southern Lebanon.

According to other media report, two Fatah militants were killed in the clashes, one was instantly killed and the other was seriously wounded and later died in hospital. But the motive for the clashes was not immediately clear at the moment.

Ein el-Hilweh camp is the largest of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps, home to some 400,000 Palestinian refugees. There are frequently gunfights between armed groups in the camp.

Important to note that according to both reports quoted above, the shooters were Islamic militants, and a Fatah member caught the bullets. This activity mirrors the events in Gaza. What remains to be seen is if the Lebanese Government or Hezbollah try to use the situation to gain political capital. The sides are clear. The "Western" Siniora Government is a natural backer for Fatah while Hezbollah sides with the Islamic militants.

Is this a proxy's proxy battle?

Dead Silence

Another day… another rocket attack…no Israeli response. Who is watching the shop? This from YNET;

A Qassam rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip landed Monday morning near a private house in the southern town of Sderot, causing damage to the building.

(Damage from Saturday's rocket attack)

A number of people suffered from shock, including a woman who lost her consciousness.

A kindergarten is located not far from the landing site. Sderot residents said that the fact that no one was physically hurt was a miracle, as children were making their way to the kindergarten.

The al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for firing the rocket. According to the Jihad, they fired a medium-range 'Quds' rocket.

Seven rockets launched from the Strip landed in the western Negev on Sunday – six in open fields, and one nearby an industrial area, meters away from a gas station. One man was moderately injured from shrapnel, and four others were treated for shock.

Israeli Defense Minister and ironically enough a Sderot resident, Amir Peretz had this to say…again;

“Before any Israeli official gives the command to go to war or execute an operation, we must be very sure that we did everything we could to avoid it. We are doing everything we can to keep the calm and prevent escalation. Let me make myself very clear; let no terror organization have any misconceptions. We will select the appropriate time and operation against these terrorists.”

How many times have we heard this nonsense? How many times has Israel threatened retaliation? Has anything changed?

Peretz claims he is worried about escalation, and therefore is restraining the Army from going about its business. If this keeps up, maybe someone else will take the battle to the Pals. A Stderot resident speaks to YNET after the attack;

"Our life is at stake, while the leaders are fighting whether to remain in office or not. Which other country would allow its city to be bombed like this? Are we no longer important? Where is the solidarity? Where is the State? People are already talking about an underground organization which will rise and bomb them back. Gaza should be erased. If they are crazy, we shall also act crazy."

Finally. A breaking point. The primary responsibility of any government is to protect its citizens. It has become clear, that ever since the Israeli retreat from Gaza, Olmert, Peretz and Co. have been negligent in fulfilling their duties. Personal priorities, impending lawsuits and political survival have placed citizen safety in the back seat.

If the government is either unwilling or enable to protect the citizens, then the citizen himself becomes obligated to protect himself and his family. For years, Sderot has been under rocket attack. Nothing of any substance has been done to stop it.

Now it’s the citizens turn.

A Bridge Too Far

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are to be linked by a causeway which is expected to be completed by 2012. This from The Times;

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are putting the final touches to an ambitious transcontinental project to span the Gulf of Aqaba, creating a direct link between Africa and Arabia.

King Abdullah, the Saudi monarch, is expected to lay the foundation stone for the causeway when he visits the northern province of Tabuk next week. The project, which has been discussed for the past 20 years but never acted on, would involve the construction of two bridges across the Tiran Strait spanning a total distance of about 15 miles (25km).

The first, from the Saudi mainland at Ras el-Sheikh Humayd, would cross to Tiran island. The second, more challenging leg, would span the wider and deeper mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba and join the Sinai Peninsula at Sharm el-Sheikh. A consortium of Saudi, Kuwaiti and Egyptian partners is involved in the project, which would cost £1.5 billion and could be completed by 2012.

The Gulf of Aqaba is home to unspoilt coral reefs and some of the best scuba diving waters in the world. Any big construction project in the area could seriously damage the delicate maritime environment. Shipping could also pose a problem. The bridge would cut across a busy channel through which commercial shipping passes to Eilat, in Israel, and Aqaba, in Jordan.

Israel may have strong objections to the causeway if it were not satisfied that the security of its ships could be guaranteed by the Saudis and Egyptians. Saudi Arabia still does not have any formal ties with the Jewish State. Attempts by Egypt to ban Israeli shipping from the Gulf of Aqaba were one of the reasons for the outbreak of the Six-Day War 40 years ago.

This development should be of concern to the Israelis on a few fronts. The southern Israeli port of Eilat which is situated on the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, is Israel's sea connection to South Asia and the Far East. Eilat is one of the hubs in Israel's 254 km oil pipeline. Eilat is a main driver of the Israeli economy. One wonders how this causeway will affect shipping in the area.

The causeway also gives the Saudi military land access to Israel's southern border.

Although completion is not expected for another five years, this project could have a larger geopolitical effect that any other water crossing in history.

This Is Hezbollah

Hezbollah is ready for another go at it. Here is what Naim Kassem, the Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah told Al Jazeera TV on Saturday;

"Hezbollah has rebuilt itself and is prepared for another Israeli strike. We have completed the groundwork necessary and we have new battle plans."

The Jerusalem Post adds these quotes from a high ranking Lebanese official;

"All that Hezbollah had achieved in six years, since Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon, it has now managed to gain in only six months. Hezbollah renewed its rocket arsenal and built new concrete bunkers north of the Litany River and in the Eastern border of Lebanon."

UNSCR 1701?? Forget about it.

This from Lebanese President Emile Lahoud who was interviewed Saturday on a Cuban television show covering the seventh anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon (YNET);

"The national resistance's weapons (Hezbollah) are Lebanon's primary source of power. We adhere to Lebanon's right to stay powerful until a comprehensive and just peace is achieved. When that happens, there will be no need for the resistance and its weapons."

I wonder if Condi has any meetings planned.

In order to dispel any illusions you might have as to Hezbollah's being a "national resistance", I bring you some photos depicting Hezbollah's glorious past;

Hezbollah Swearing In...Hand salute look familiar???


US Embassy Bombing, Beirut 1983. 63 dead.


US Marine Barracks Bombing, Beirut 1983. 241 dead.


AIMA Bombing, Buenos Aires 1994. 85 dead.

Katyusha Attack On Civilians, Haifa 2006.

This...is Hezbollah.

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Condi Demands Weapons For Terrorists Threatening The US

US policy in the Middle East has taken a curious turn under the guidance of Condi Rice. Once a loyal partner in the GWOT; Rice has taken a 180 degree turn. Her recent conduct on Turkey and Syria has raised not just a few eyebrows. Her newest proposal for Israel and the Palestinians is just another step to the total bankruptcy of the State Department. This from the BBC;

The US has issued a plan to Israel and the Palestinians for improving security and easing restriction on movement in the Palestinian territories.

The document, which was published in an Israeli newspaper, sets out a strict timetable for implementing the plan.

It requires the Israelis to dismantle a series of checkpoints near Bethlehem, Hebron and Nablus. And it demands that the Palestinians establish, by the end of June, a plan to stop rocket fire from Gaza.

Reports say it was approved by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is expected in the region again around 15 May.

The document demands that Israel approve requests by Gen Dayton for the provision of weapons, ammunition and equipment for security forces under the control of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

Note that glaring differences. Israel is "required" to dismantle checkpoints while the Palestinians must establish a plan to stop the rocket attacks. Israel is once again "required" to give more ground in exchange for nothing more than a plan. A plan which has no chance of becoming a reality. How many times has Abbas said he can't totally stop the rockets? What's his plan going to be worth? Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader hiding out in Damascus had this to say about the US plan;

"I swear it's a joke ... the equation has now become: dismantling the checkpoints, in exchange for (giving up) resistance. This has become the Palestinian cause. Resistance is our choice. We will not live in illusions. Israel is not thinking of peace nor considering a settlement and it is bracing itself for aggression. We in Hamas are also preparing ourselves for battle, and we expect hot months."

Abbas can plan all he wants. Hamas sets the rules. There will be no cessation of rocket attacks. Does that change anything on Condi's agenda? Probably not.

Israel will be "required" to dismantle checkpoints which restrict the movement of terrorists. After observing how well the current US government has been guarding its southern border, it s comes as no surprise that Rice does not understand the importance of the life saving checkpoints.

Israel is under demand to approve the transfer of more weapons to Fatah. Be sure that the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (a branch of Fatah) will be getting US subsidized weapons. And they just threatened terror attacks against the US.

Condi is demanding that Israel approves a transfer of weapons to a terrorist group who has threatened attacks against the US. I challenge anyone to explain the difference between Condi arming Fatah and Iran arming Iraqi terrorists. Both will fight the US. Again, Condi is arming terrorists at US taxpayer expense. Not just any terrorists but terrorists that will attack the US.

Is Condi sacrificing Israel on the Iraqi altar? Is Condi sacrificing Israel to appease the Democrats? Is Condi aware of the consequences of her actions? Is Condi competent to continue in her current position? I am afraid that the answer to the last question is a resounding no.

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Fatah Splinter Group Threatens U.S. Attacks

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an affiliate of PA Chairman Abbas’ Fatah Group is threatening terror attacks outside of Israel. That’s right folks, while Abbas tours Europe talking peace and raising money, his hoods are planning to bomb your neighborhood. That’s right folks, the $59m that Congress allocated to Fatah just last month is going to be returned to you in the form of shrapnel. This from INN (translation is mine);

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade issued a statement on Thursday threatening “To take the fight outside of Palestine if the financial embargo and policy if starvation continues. This has already been going on for more than a year.”

The Brigade primarily blames Israel and the US, and they warn they will not sit by idly. They called for all Palestinians to unite and for Arab states to send substantial help.

Condi; now that you’ve met the Syrians, Abbas really seems like a moderate, huh?

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British Doctors Call To Boycott Israel

It wasn’t enough that British journalists voted to boycott Israel so the British doctors decided to embarrass themselves as well. This from In The Days;

A group of 130 British doctors have called for a boycott of the Israel Medical Association and its expulsion from the World Medical Association.

In a letter to The Guardian newspaper in England last week the physicians, headed by the notoriously anti-Israel Dr Derek Summerfield and Professor Colin Green claimed “Persistent violations of medical ethics have accompanied Israel’s occupation.”

Outlining how they believe the Israeli Defence Force has “systematically flouted the fourth Geneva convention guaranteeing a civilian population unfettered access to medical services and immunity for medical staff”, the letter blamed Israel for destroying “any coherence in the (Palestinian) primary health system”.

IMA chairman Dr. Yoram Blachar, who also acts as the council chair of the WMA, rejected all the claims, noting that the Palestinian Authority refused to accept from Israel drugs and dialysis solutions that it was ready to transfer.

Martin Sugarman, the head of a twinning group between Homerton Hospital in London and Haifa’s Rambam Hospital in Israel, said he was shocked by the call.

“If suicide bombers from Gaza and the West Bank never dressed as pregnant or sick patients trying to reach and blow up Israeli hospitals, if PLO ambulances did not transport terrorists and arms, then maybe there would be no need for the security fence, check points and free access to medical care by peaceful citizens,” he told London’s Jewish News. “Despite all this, Israeli hospitals still treat free, Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and Gaza, with severe illnesses and conditions.”

The British, like so many others, spin outlandish tales in order to create an outlet for their anti-Semitic/Israel doctrine. Israeli hospitals admit and give free medical care to unsuccessful suicide bombers!! That’s right. If you are a Palestinian who just did not die from the explosion, you get a free bed in an Israeli hospital and world class medical treatment.

Go ahead you ungrateful Brits. But don’t only boycott the doctors; boycott anything medical that comes from Israel, such as drugs and technology. Here is a very short list:

Israeli medical and biotechnological firsts include state-of-the-art surgical lasers; fully computerized no-radiation diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer; an intelligent medical sensor that can be used to track and direct instruments to an exact three-dimensional location in the heart or other organs via a real-time virtual image; the fully flexible waveguide fiber for endoscopic surgery; unique computerized monitoring systems for critical care patients; pain-relieving transcutaneous devices; a revolutionary autoclave design to combat AIDS and other infectious diseases; and many more.

At this pace, it’s only a matter of time before your lovely Queen is replaced by a Caliph.

Thanks to our good friend Nanc at Long Range and It's Curtains For You.

Linked to Woman Honor Thyself Right Truth Bullwinkle Blog Right Wing Nation

South Africa's Jewish Minister Invites Hamas

You would have though that South Africa had learned the Apartheid lesson the hard way. Apparently not. South Africa has officially invited Hamas leader Haniyeh for a visit; his first ever to a non Moslem country. Haniyeh has his own special Apartheid Plan; the Arabs stay in Israel and the Jews go to the sea.

According to my count, South Africa joins the exclusive club of the EU, England, Switzerland and Norway as either having met Hamas members or invited them for a visit. There will be more.

Sadly enough, the invitation was delivered by non other than South African Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, a Jew. See here for a background on this traitor to the Jewish Nation.

Here's what Kasrils had to say today;

"We stand by you and support you. We in South Africa look forward to you being able to lead a delegation to our country. The people of Palestine are facing a collective punishment by those who were not happy with the result of a democratic election."

"The South African government believes that the government of Mr. Haniyeh and PA Chairman Abbas have gone a long way to meeting those requirements (Quartet) as we understand them."

Imagine…a Jew supporting Hamas. Outrageous. I can honestly say that in this case I would have no problem pulling the trigger myself. This individual is destined to be damned in eternal hell.

Olmert's Response? Evict More Jews

Israeli PM Olmert is done. Finally. The leader of his coalition has resigned in protest. His Foreign Minister called for his resignation. So has just about everyone else in the country. In a poll taken two days ago, zero percent responded that they would vote for Olmert for PM. ZERO PERCENT. Even his mother didn't vote for him.

Olmert's response? No resignation or remorse; I'll fix everything he claims. Thanks, but no thanks. Go back under the rock you came from.

Olmert's response? Evict more Jews in favor of Palestinians. Here is INN;

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has asked Defense Minister Amir Peretz - both of whom are under heavy pressure to resign - to prepare an organized plan to destroy small Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

News of Olmert's request was included in a State response submitted to the Supreme Court Tuesday regarding an appeal from last year. The suit in question, submitted by Peace Now and a group of Arabs, charges that the town of Migron is illegal and must be destroyed.

Olmert has asked that the plan to destroy Jewish homes be ready within two months. He has thus apparently changed his policy regarding the destruction of unauthorized outposts. In the past, he has frozen plans to do so, explaining that the timing was not right in light of the diplomatic situation with the Palestinian Authority.

Situated atop a strategic hill, 6 miles north of Jerusalem, between Beit El, Psagot, and Michmash, Migron is included in Olmert's demolition request. Peace Now, the radical left-wing organization dedicated to destroying the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria [Yesha], claims that most of land on which Migron was built belongs to Arabs.

Migron residents, however, say Peace Now worked hard to find the Arabs in question and convinced them to file the suit against the Jewish town.

The man has no mandate to evict Jews from Israel. Nobody does. The man has no mandate to appease the Palestinians in the midst of genocidal threats towards the Jews. Nobody does. The man has no mandate to do anything. He has a popularity rating of zero. Taking into the plus/minus factor of polling; his rating may actually be negative.

Olmert, save whatever pride you have left and get lost. You have caused serious harm to all of us. Enough is enough. My parting wish is that the Attorney General finds the courage to indict you for so many of the criminal charges against you and the court convicts and sentences you. You always liked a pin striped suit.

Lawsuit Filed To Block Relocation Of Mosque

Can you say precedent? Great news out of the Sunshine State. One Pompano Beach resident has had enough with Islam and is suing in order to block the relocation of a mosque to his neighborhood. This from FOX;

Rodney Wright, who is Christian, claims the relocation of the Islamic Center of South Florida to a new, larger building in his Pompano Beach neighborhood "presents a substantial harm to the well-being, safety and health" of the community.

The lawsuit claims the leader of the mosque, Imam Hassan Sabri, has repeatedly been associated with others who are tied to terrorist groups including Hamas, Al Qaeda and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The connections outlined in the filing appear loose and there is no accusation of direct wrongdoing.

Larry Klayman, the attorney for Wright, said the filing does not amount to an anti-Muslim action but maintained that the mosque sacrificed public safety.

"The mosque is radical, the imam is radical," Klayman said. "We believe they will go out and recruit people in the African-American community to do their bidding."

CAIR's response?

"I'm very much disturbed that in this day and age you'd find people going to such extreme measures to prevent a house of worship from being built in any American city," said Altaf Ali, executive director of the South Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. "I look at this as an act of religious intimidation."

I'm not a legal expert and I don't play one on TV, however this lawsuit seems crucial in the war against terror. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiff, a precedent would be set which could severely restrict the spread of Jihad. More than once we have seen how Islam's hate is nurtured and spread through the mosque network. Maybe the legal system will put an end to the abuse that is heaped upon the Bill of Rights by the Jihad community.

"Islamic World, Victim Of Terrorism" Conference Underway In Tehran

The “Islamic World, a Victim of Terrorism” conference is underway in Teheran. As always, Iranian leader Ahmadinejad and friends did not miss an opportunity to spew their propaganda. Here are the best of the best (from The Tehran Times);

Here is Ahmadinejad;

“Now the nightmare of war disturbs all of humanity. Nowadays, the Islamic world is the victim of organized terrorism, and Iran is the symbol of this victimization. The Zionist regime’s attempt to destroy Lebanon in last summer’s war is another example of terrorism.”

Manuchehr Mohammadi, the director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Research and Educational Affairs, said since there is “no comprehensive definition of terrorism, the United Nations is unable to fight terrorists.” He called for a new definition of terrorism in which the use of force by certain countries, which is called state terrorism, would be considered terrorism, and liberation struggles would not be labeled as terrorism. He said, “Today, Iran is more sensitive toward terrorism than others and strongly condemns it because it has suffered from it more than others.”

Unbelievable.

EU Rep: I'd Strangle The Israeli Ambassador

Europe never ceases to embarrass itself. A contingent of EU reps is currently in “Palestine”, meeting with the officially off limits Hamas leader. The EU is currently bending over backwards to pander to Iran. Every day a new surprise; every day a new low. Here is today’s shocker from INN;

Member of the European Parliament for Belgium Véronique De Keyser told a group of her peers that she would like to “strangle” Israel's ambassador if he discussed Israel’s security with her.

Addressing an organization called the European Left Group last Wednesday, De Keyser opined that the European Parliament was showing “passivity” on the issue of "Palestinian prisoners" (a reference to convicted Arab terrorists from Judea, Samaria and Gaza being held in Israeli jails), and complimented the Palestinian Authority Arabs for their “moderation and maturity."

“I wonder how they are able to limit violence in the territories given the background,” she said. “If the Israeli ambassador comes in the future to speak of Israel’s security, I feel like I want to strangle him.”

MEP De Keyser called on the German EU presidency “to differentiate between its positions on the Holocaust against the Jews and the current policy of the State of Israel.” Apparently trying to compare Israel with Nazi Germany while showing her supposed evenhandedness with regard to neck-wringing, she also said "one must wring the neck of the European and German culpability [sic] on the Shoah."

No comment from the EU on this latest disgrace. No coverage in the MSM.

European diplomacy at its finest. I can just imagine what the response would be if a similarly hostile comment was made towards Iran or Islam.

Europe hates the Jews. They killed 6 million last century. They still want to strangle them today.

Putin Defined

This cartoon from The Economist says it all;

All Choked Up

The Winograd Committee released its preliminary findings after investigating Israel's failures during the last summer's war. Read the comprehensive summary here. Hopefully, this will hasten the exit of the corrupt and incompetent Olmert Government. Israel TV Channel 2 polled potential voters and asked who would you elect as Prime Minister. Olmert received 0%. Zero percent. That's hard to get even if you try. As far as how Olmert feels about the report, a picture is worth a thousand words.