(Israel Government Press Office)
Yediot Aharonot argues that “We are at the height of a war, and we are losing. Not because we are weak, stupid or unjustified. Rather because we are unable, mentally and organizationally, to adjust ourselves to the new rules of the game. As long as the army is the leading factor in this war – we have failed. In operations which the IDF is preparing for these days, against the flotilla for example, the media and public diplomacy do not have to be an item in the operation. They have to be the heart, the essence, of the operational plan.”
Ma’ariv opines that in Israel’s “Arab society, as well as in its ultra-orthodox society, the socio-economic situations are much better than is commonly thought.” The author professes that “In both a significant process is underway, which is foremost cultural, and, therefore, in the long term political.” The author argues that we should “stop being hysterical over the demographic situation…Not only is it not a smoking gun, it might even be only a water pistol.”
Yisrael Hayom contends that “Only the commission headed by retired judge Terkel can act as a protective wall, however weak, against the international flotilla committees that are coming.” The author notes that “The other investigation, regarding internal Israeli decision-making, will be run by the State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who will ultimately hand his report on the flotilla operation to the Knesset State Control Committee. What the Terkel Commission, intended for the international community, does not do, the State Control Committee will: Decide, based on the Comptroller’s report’s findings if they are severe, to establish a State Commission of Inquiry, with all its consequences.”
The Jerusalem Post discusses the report presented last week by the state commission of inquiry entrusted with investigating the plight of the settlers uprooted from their homes in Gush Katif in 2005, which concluded that the state had turned the evacuees into “refugees in their homeland.” The editor declares that “The question now is whether the commission’s exhaustive investigation and its resultant findings can improve matters,” and adds: “Disengagement was implemented in the name of the entire nation. We owe it to those whose lives were turned upside down to give them the appropriate opportunities to recover.”
Haaretz contends that “At the root of the struggle in Immanuel lies the issue that, on the face of it, has already been decided: Can a sector, community or group, in the name of its own private constitution, discriminate contrary to the laws of the state?” The editor states that “In the 21st century, Israel needs to decide where it belongs: in the OECD or in Immanuel. It is imperative to bolster the court and remind the ministers, MKs and parties of their responsibility and obligation to preserve the rules of the democratic game and back the Supreme Court’s rulings.”
[Alex Fishman, Udi Manor and Yaakov Achimeir wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]
What about the heredi community of approximately 1 million?. They don’t accept the legitimacy of the present Israeli goverment which they regard as a sacrilige. A secular Israel founded largely by non believing socialists are to them a repugnant concept.The Israeli court system is not respected, neither are the laws of the land which run counter to their own sharia like judiciary. They expect full funding for their education but do not allow any interference in the establisment of the curiculum. As an example, any courses involving practical livelihood earning content is unacceptable. For them their point of reference is not the founding of the state or the destruction of the Temple but but rather some time in mideaval Europe when their movement began. The heredi community is the largest recipient of social welfare assistance and the least productive segment of society, and the most demanding of other services. As we know they don’t serve in the military and are not involved in any hard manual work. Prayer is their main pursuit. All of this breeds resentment, on a massive scale on the part of the mainstream population. As a small minority, they represent no great threat, but in truth the Heredi are one of the most prolific sects anywhere. It is not at all uncommon for a couple to have 8-10 children. If this trend continues Israel will be faced with two great risks. An enlarged, largely disloyal Heredi population and a larger Palestinian group who see themselves as belonging to the external Arab world.
Insofar as a loyalty oath, you can safely forget it
I read this and thought today Fathers Day in America that it has meaning relevancy to all of us.
Father’s Day: I’m One of the Lucky Ones
Me and My Dad
My father loved me and my siblings, he cared, and he taught us right and wrong. My father instilled in us the importance of patriotism and love for America. He taught us the courage of our convictions and the importance of being a good dad. Even though he was a medical doctor, he was not wealthy. He sacrificed making a lot of money to be ever involved in our lives. Woven into his great sense of humor and occasional pranks he played on us, my dad taught us to be proud Jews and never take crap from anyone.
I once had a boss who told me, “principle is expensive,” and discouraged me from having any. But it fell on deaf ears. My father taught us that principle was the most valuable commodity, the most worthy treasure we could possess. As kids, he took us to protests he organized–for example, when the Detroit Jewish community invited anti-Semite and Israel-hater James Zogby to the Jewish Book Fair to promote his hateful book. Later on, my Dad helped me spy on Islamic charities and organizations in town and tips he gave to federal law enforcement led to raids, arrests, and shut-downs of funding, including the freezing of bank accounts that funded HAMAS terrorist attacks through the Holy Land Foundation.
My father always told me about how, as an Army doctor in induction centers during Vietnam, he was offered money by various parents to rule their kids ineligible. But he never took these bribes. He was drafted and served and was ready to serve on the front lines. He felt everyone should serve America and do their duty when called. My father made sure we knew the story when his friend, Dr. Isaac Poltinnikov, an eye doctor, was fired from his job by the Soviet Union, for the “crime” of trying to emigrate from Soviet anti-Semitism and persecution to a life in Israel. Since Soviet parasitism laws forbade donations to the doctor, my father made up elaborate problems of the eye and sent them to Dr. Poltinnikov for his fictional consultations, so that Dr. Poltinnikov would survive. But he also showed us the tragedy, when Dr. Poltinnikov finally succeeded in leaving for Israel, without his wife and daughter, who respectively starved to death and committed suicide, because they could no longer take the KGB spying and oppression.
Lieberman has two maybe three sides to his public persona. He lives in (West Bank) his daughter became religious.
He has advocated in the past giving up most of the West Bank including the territories and Jerusalem except the area of the wall. Part of his exchange of populations by readjusting the borders. This is certainly not a right wing position but appeals to his Russian constituency.
He is in favor of civil marriage. Again this appeals primarily to his Russian constituency and the extreme left.
He has been involved with the shadiest of Russian Crooks, and has made millions in dealing with them. We know what Lieberman got we don’t know yet the full details of what he gave or promised to give in the future.
Lieberman got where he is by appealing to the lowest common denominator populism knowing full well he didn’t or wouldn’t have enough power to have these positions passed into law and implemented. Pure unadulterated demagoguery.
If you look at all of his hand picked party MK’s I can only define may 2-3 of the 15 who might be considered right wing according to Israeli norms. Most are political leftist opportunists.
The only positive thing I can find about Lieberman is the rest of the world has bought his public persona and would have a mass nervous Breakdown were he ever to become PM of Israel.
Loyalty oath: Everyone serving in the IDF and police swear a loyalty oath. So that leaves mostly extreme left wingers who won’t serve, the Haredim, and the Arabs but not all the Arabs many will swear or sign such an oath. Don’t think the Haredim would though. All would challenge such a law in the courts and with our courts….?
How about this?
I think Avigdor Lieberman is the best thing that has happened to Israel in a long time.
When he advocated having everyone in Israel take a loyalty oath, I stood up and cheered.
Outside of Israel, this statement divided the world into two camps…those that would take the same oath for their country and the those that would not.
In Israel, it seemed to me, looking from the outside in, that most Israelis would sign such an oath. Only the muslins and some of the left would balk.
Do you agree?
I belong to Immanuel and Eretz Yisrael, while the OECD and the whole decadent West will leck our shoes very soon….
the same said Honecker a week before he started at midnight his Odysee to Moscow and then South America where he finally died of cancer…. 🙂
I didn’t say I disagreed with you Sarahle, I just pointed out what any normal navy is trained to do under these circumstances.
As always I agree with you.
That’s no fun say something I disagree with so we can fight.
NO! I am serious. 🙂
BB will replace her with another leftist like Oren. Maybe his brother in law. That way he can please his domineering wife and put an ex Israeli leftist in another key post.
so, with Shalev’s resignation, will Israel send Avigdor Lieberman to the UN? Please? I am serious.
All good ideas, but I like sinking better. Also the ‘humanitarians’ in the other boats should do the rescuing.
Normal SOP in every Navy except one is: World navies know of a single way to stop a hostile ship: boarding it. Which is nonsense. The range of options includes warning shots, shooting the ship above the waterline, moderate damage below waterline, and damaging the ship’s controls. Roof-knocking is another option, dropping dud bombs on the ship as a warning, the technique used extensively in the Gaza war.
How many times have you heard people say, ‘the muslims need to do this’, ‘the muslims need to do that’. They never take any western advice because it does not advance their goals.
These boats will not stop at Israel’s command, they will push for a confrontation.
First, Israel needs to block all transmissions from the boats. Then sink the first one in line. Then ask ‘who want to be next?’
Works for me.
The Israeli leftist supreme court and prosecution has castrated our politicians.
Here is the source of what
drivesinfluences our amoebas, That some call Israeli leaders.Destroy the hegemony of our courts and free our political leaders.
I think the Israeli government is making things too hard on herself by trying to accomplish too many goals. Not giving the media something to complain about, appeasing the unappeasable Obama, not using too much force etc.
If she goes back to basics, then she will accomplish the most important goal, keeping her sovereignty intact.
If the media insist on calling it a ‘deadly’ raid, show them what ‘deadly’ really means.
If Turkey wants to call nine dead terrorist their 9/11, then give them a real 9/11.
Right now, the terrorists have no reason to be afraid. Israel needs to give them a reason.
What a crock of Chicken dung.
There was a time when we did what needed to be done even and including knocking off the Spy Ship Liberty.
It was a long time afterwords that America would repeat that error in Judgment.
Obama betrayed Kurds
The turks struck PKK bases in Iraq yesterday but I’ll bet few are aware of that since the international community of hypocrites only get in an uproar when Israel uses military force.