The 700 rockets indiscriminately fired into Israeli population centres have presented Trump with an opportunity to do something before his “Deal of the Century.”
The barrage of more than 700 rockets fired into Israel from Gaza this past weekend and the “pay for slay” policy pursued by the PLO to reward those Palestinian Arabs who murder and maim Jews cannot continue to be met by only pious condemnations from the United Nations or even from President Trump himself.
The fact that such evil practices violate international law and constitute war crimes are of little consequence as Hamas and the PLO continue merrily on their way to repeat these crimes with impunity over and over again.
The United Nations – ruled by a majority of 134 nations comprising the G77 – are impervious to ending the suffering being visited on Israeli civilians whilst condemning Israel’s responses to end these inhumane practices.
President Trump can do a lot to halt these “cycles of violence” by making it clear that there are political and financial consequences that America will unilaterally implement – including:
- Denying recognition of PLO and Hamas claims to represent the ‘West Bank’ and Gazan Arab populations
- Ending all overt and covert contact with the PLO and Hamas
- Withholding all financial and other aid still being made by America to the Palestinian Arabs
- Demanding free and fair elections are held in both Gaza and the ‘West Bank’ under international supervision.
- Supporting the right of Israel to close all entry and exit points to and from Gaza and Areas A and B in the ‘West Bank’.
- Recognising that Israel has valid territorial claims to sovereignty in Gaza and the ‘West Bank’
- Refusing to support the creation of a second Arab State – in addition to Jordan – in the territory once comprised in the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine
- Backing Israel’s right to self-defence in taking whatever action it deems necessary to stop the flow of rockets and payment of blood money to the murderers or attempted murderers of Israeli civilians
- Withholding all American voluntary contributions presently being made to United Nations programs.
Gaza and ‘West Bank’ Arabs have been denied the right to have any say in their own future since elections held in 2006. They have been subjected to the will of Hamas and the PLO in their blind pursuit to eliminate the State of Israel.They have paid a high price for the intransigence of both Hamas and the PLO. They have been sandwiched between the bitter internecine struggle being waged between Hamas and the PLO to rule their lives.
The United Nations stands idly by and allows the Gazan and ‘West Bank’ Arabs to remain so shackled and without any any expectation of a brighter future for themselves.
President Trump has the political strength to forge a peaceful path forward for the ‘West Bank’ and Gazan Arabs that must see free elections held as soon as possible in Gaza and the ‘West Bank.’
Let Hamas and the PLO stand their candidates in those elections along with any other groups. At the very least those elections will show the level of support for the policies of Hamas or the PLO and the preparedness of those voting to continue to accept the consequences following from either’s agenda in relation to Israel.
The current situation cannot be allowed to continue.
The 700 rockets indiscriminately fired into Israeli population centres have presented Trump with an opportunity to at least end the suffering of both the Israeli and Palestinian Arab civilian populations and give the Palestinian Arabs a say in their own future.
Trump should be seriously contemplating achieving these twin milestones before releasing his long-awaited deal of the century.
Dry Bones 8.5.19 Message from Trump
Author’s note: The cartoon—commissioned exclusively for this article—is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones”- one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators—whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog
New Immigrants in Israel receive lots of help.
Edgar we had a lot of help including a free apartment in an absorption center in Ramat Aviv, we used as we traveled around the country deciding where to live being interviewed.
The Schaliach had put me in touch with someone in a government position in Jerusalem, while I was in the states (he was an American ex-pat). This person invited my wife and I to stay at his house for a week while he took me to work everyday for a week and showed me the ministry were he worked. He offered me a job as his understudy. However he was good to me and showed all the political headaches and some of the problems there would be. I decided not to take the job.
The place we chose to live at did not work out but Israeli friends convinced us to move to their kibbutz. This was the second time I was in Israel and I already knew Hebrew and had married an Israeli girl. I felt like I fit in Israel.
We made friends with both Israelis and a few “Anglos” from Australia, an Oxford educated Kenyan, Canadians. So we had a core group of friends we would hang around with. If something went wrong our Israeli friends always helped out. The one Australian had a horrible accident in which he lost use of his legs.
The Kibbutz made sure he got all the best treatment. He was then able to work permanently in the office. This worked because he had learned fluent Hebrew. The people who did not learn Hebrew well had a much harder time adapting. What they could do and the opportunities that came there way was much more limited.
@ Edgar G.:
It is sad you had such a bad experience. I had some challenges adapting at first but had made Israeli friends who helped us. I learned Hebrew fairly quickly and that helped.
Israel was not a rich place in the 1970s as you know. Today the standard of living is much higher.
BEAR- Of the 31 persons at our Ulpan (we just went there for classes) I later heard that 19 had left for home within about 18-20 months. Our total benefit was a tiny kerosene stove (which we never used..just kept as a souvenir. I still have it somewhere) about the size of a box of cereal. You will undoubtedly have received the same item .
@ Bear Klein:
“Western” includes all the civilised countries not just the US and Canada. and it still comes to just under an average of 3500 a year.
As I’ve said we stayed there nearly 14 years had 4 children etc etc. If I wrote a book on our arrival and life there, it would be a Best Seller and potential Olim wouldn’t even chance going there for 14 days -free or not..
Listen to this.. After arrival.. we were to go to see an official called Moshe at an address. We finally got there walking and sweating…It was a long office with a counter and a few rows of desks behind it. A woman told us we had the wrong address, so we went tramping again. All told we were directed to 4 different places.. the very last being the same first place we’d gone to. This time we got a different counter person.We asked for Moshe and he pointed to an empty desk just beside his and said. “Moshe is in Jerusalem today”… That was the FIRST day . The night before we got to a skid row (rent by the hour) “hotel” about midnight after coming from Ben Gurion..where the mattress was so rotten, tattered, sunken and filthy that I slept on the floor. I’d forgotten all about that…
And again in another office where we were supposed to get apartments.(we’d been cabled that our apartments were available, which is why we travelled there when we did.)
The woman..Sara Ya’ari I remember her WELL- she and my incompetent Ishaliach” sued me later, and were part of the centre double-page of L’Isha of which my 2 cousins were art editors under the names of Jackie- and Jacksie…
Anyway she stared at us and said…”there is no apartment for you… I showed her the cable..she said Oh.. “available” doesn’t mean that they are there…… She showed me the area map and said they hadn’t been built yet… And that was only the Beginning ….of which there was far far worse to come. Indescribably worse. BUT WE STAYED FOR NEARLY 14 YEARS…
A more recent article from 2018 showed the positive impact of Aliyah from North America via Nfesh b Nfesh.
By 2019 About 60,000 Jews made aliyah via this organization.
@ Edgar G.:
I was not searching for this and is from the past decade but Nfesh bNfesh Olim are a financial positive for Israel and not a negative. Bringing in families and educated Olim from North America. This data would indicate your theory about wasted money is not valid. If you have data contradicting this and not negative theories I would be interested in seeing them.
“The economic impact of Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah on the State of Israel
>6. Net fiscal and economic impact of NBN Olim Table 4 provides details of the net fiscal impact of Nefesh B’Nefesh Olim from 2002 to 2008. As we can see from the table, the net fiscal impact of Nefesh B’Nefesh Olim from 2002 to 2008 is NIS 461 million. Therefore, the impact of Nefesh B’Nefesh Olim to Israel is remarkable and represents a significant source of revenue to the government. The net impact of an average Nefesh B’Nefesh Oleh on Israel’s economy upon arrival is a NIS 4,000 infusion per Oleh, which, for 2008, represents a total of more than NIS 7 million. Although marginal, this figure shows that already within the first year, the contribution of each Oleh to the Israeli economy returns the government’s investment in him/her. This result is exceptional and is correlated to the high education level of Olim, the low unemployment rate and the type of employment they obtain (see section two for details). Another relevant factor in this analysis is the high net worth brought by Olim when they make Aliyah (see section 4 for details).”
@ Edgar G – Some of the improvements for Olim (immigrants) come via new organizations and groups helping each other online. This did not exist in the past. I always see people helping each other via Facebook pages.
@ Edgar G.: You sound very negative and bitter, that is actually sad.
Again what you see or believe is real to you. We looked at the same numbers on aliyah and you saw black only. I did not focus on the little specs of black but focused on some of the bright lights.
I am not searching for numbers to try and convince you on Nfesh bNfesh success rates which I have seen in the past. It would not make an iota of difference to your viewpoint. I believed the numbers and think the investment is well worthwhile as do the families and individuals I have met who moved to Israel via Nfesh bNfesh.
Israel has not done as good a job with the French Aliyah of recent years. Credentials from France are not as easily accepted for some professions in Israel as from some other countries. It is harder for French speakers in Israel than English speakers (as so many many people now speak very good English). Obviously learning Hebrew is still the most important. The French immigrants I knew from long ago that were successful all learned Hebrew fluently. Again those that did not had a harder time.
Again you have complete right to be negative, bitter……….etc.
I perceive things as good, improved from the past but with more room for improvement.
BEAR-I had also included a response to your comment about the IDF moving to the Negev…. but some PC convulsion seemingly erased it. It was as follows…..;
I wonder how long it will be before home prices in the Negev start going up .(I think they already have)..and up…Construction companies are too used to getting plums ….perhaps from judiciously dispensed “basheesh”….and squeezing the humble home-seeker. They won’t give that “tradition” up so easily…-If at all.
@ Bear Klein:
Everything you say s merely anecdotal…not good “evidence”. Your comment that the Nefesh B’Nefesh alumni mostly stay is womderful….Marvellous…until you realise that the amount is from a miniscule total for US and Canada… of 3500. And the millions of money spent of hand-feeding them all along the way…
,AND….. Although I have asked and asked in several quarters, no information as to what is happening to the PRIME….. massively expensive land vacated by the IDF when they moved to the Negev…
Which oligarchs have their sticky fingers sunk deep into this “pie”….??? A scandal in the making… the results of which will only come out after we are all long gone….????
I am a “romantic” with a very practical mind, who sees facts and projects likely outcomes. Even in such a place as the upside-down Israel where government seems to suddenly get collective fits of madness, and commit themselves to agreeing to the most objectionable and stupid deals…Like releasing over 1000 terrorists and murderers for one neglectful half-soldier and total idiot Shalit.. How many extra lives has that cost us …so far.(plus the huge moral boost to Hamas and Arabs around the world) .A lot more than it would have cost to just go in….hammer Hamas -hold their feet to a fire..literally- and take him back..
{And not to forget OSLO… …… Dayan and the Har Habayit and more. All literally doomed to abysmal failure and known even to half-wits with little understanding of anything.}
Every one of the resulting dead was far more valuable than the nebuchel who was freed..
@ Edgar G.:
Land Management in Israel for real estate is counter productive to the logic of supply and demand adding to the high cost of real estate.
The new roads and trains into the periphery will help though plus the move of the Zahal (IDF) into the Negev is opening jobs there. This will help populate the Negev and allow people to move to cheaper homes.
N’fesh bNefesh has been consistently getting these type of numbers annually. Also the aliyah they assist in tends to stay in Israel in large numbers as it is prepared and assisted ahead and while in Israel. This is different than Olim from the USA in the 70s.
You are really viewing cup half full. I know I will not change your view. Many who left Israel (NOT ALL) also focus on the negative. This Israeli lady I know would constantly tell me about a certain tax that irritated the hell out of her. She moved back to Israel for years after leaving and then left again. She has now moved back again because she got tired of the imperfect USA, which she now claims has changed for the worse.
I find people who are successful in their home countries and prepare to come Israel have a much better chance. Those who learn Hebrew fluently have a much much better chance. Naturally moving is difficult and learning new languages especially one as different as Hebrew requires a serious effort. Israel though has serious programs for Hebrew Study) (Ulpan) that they make available to immigrants. I immediately went to a Kibbutz Ulpan when I first moved to Israel. Many people make great friends at the Ulpan meeting people from all over the world.
Israel is not for everyone. Many Jews have zero interest (also know nothing of Israel) and would come only if they had no other choice and then reluctantly. Then many have come for all sorts of reasons and made a real successful home of it. Some people are happy nowhere nor successful.
@ Bear Klein:
I think those figures and numbers… AND the places from “whence they came” speak for themselves and support my comments. From the wealthier countries… even where there is the most danger,,the numbers have decreased. That the US amount stayed the same, was due ONLY to the strenuous and VERY expensive Nefesh B’Nefesh contribution.
We came to Israel about the same time as yourself. My fiance and I were married in Givatayim Israel, as a special token. I love the country as you do. My 4 children were born there. We stayed for nearly 14 years, although my multi-millionaire in-laws offered us everything under the sun to return. But I’m not blinded by hyperbolic statements from such as Herzog…
And Israel is already “bursting at the seams”… with much open land the govt. has stubbornly-for reasons we have not been given- refused to release, even when the numbers of Yordim were increasing noticeably… It’s probably the most bureaucratically-bound place in the world to get anything built.
Is THAT going to change…???
ANY country with such a high IQ capacity population, and with the work ethic and Yiddishe Kop…. must increase -even by natural means, both population and GDP.. The amount of Olim is negligible by comparison. I ‘ve pointed out many times that the several pools of large Jewish populations have dried up. The Russian was the last. There is still the US of course….. but with a supposed +- 6 million Jews ….a paltry combined Nth. American contingent was 3500… And the Orthodox and Chasidim cling to “the fleshpots”..and won’t budge…
Bear …out of a supposed 6 mill…there has to have been about 50,000 deaths annually.
It’s always been like that as far as American Jews are concerned as well as those from the other advanced countries. They are even emigrating INTO countries where Jew-Hatred has always been endemic…. like Spain, Portugal, Poland,and Germany..
Even Greece -officially a close ally of Israel– was polled 2 years ago as 70% Anti-Semitic ( I recall being held up in Athens for 10 days in 1977 and needed to get a flight back to Israel- I only found the Israeli contacts in a tiny office, in a dim, dark street -hidden away. They were not officially supposed to be in the country at that time. The place was over-run by Arabs. going to the airport the smell from about 100 yards away was awful. The halls, seats and benches were full of (some sleeping) Arab herdsmen…. each dressed in a single long nondescript robe and holding a 6-7 ft. staff. like sheepherders. and there was MORE…….
Some Jews are meshugga. That small Spanish town refused to change it’s name from “Kill the Jews”…They liked to sound of it…???
I need say nothing else.
@ Edgar G.:You just wrote to me in another post that you are usually a cup 1/2 full person except for Arabs.
Anyway on this discussion I will be the cup half full person. Will not debate you. Minor point or not minor Israel is now 9 million people and nearly 7 million Jews. Israel was 650,000 Jews started when the state re-started in 1948.
When I first moved to Israel right after the Yom Kipper war it was about 3.3 million people. Aliyah and good birth rates over time have worked well. Not perfect as we both know Israel is far from perfect. I personally love Israel warts and all.
Jewish Agency figures reveal 5% rise in Aliyah during 2018, including 45% increase from Russia*
@ Bear Klein:
Why do you feel you have to say that Israel remains “supportive of Aliyah” etc…… It has been the cornerstone of the State since the very first day and untold billions have been spent -mostly wasted- on it’s support.
I disagree with you entirely about your opinion that the figures are “encouraging”. They are extremely negative n MY opinion. Just consider…..The Jew-Hate situation has never been so universal and open. Far far worse than the 1930s which even had centuries of Ant=-Semtism to bolster it.
Today Jews are not safe ANYWHERE…even in Israel but far safer there.
I consider the meagre number increase, considering the bubbling situation of open Jew hate…extremely low. The Jews WON’T come to Israel unless there is rampant murder on the streets …and the axe is poised to fall. And then ….most of them will go to the US, Canada, Australia and other civilised places…NOT ISRAEL. Only the financially poor groups (and “some” ideological) will come here. Why don’t the hundreds of thousands of extremely religious American and U.K. Jews arrive here…??
We’ve seen this happening for many years. only a tiny %age come to Israel .. And after struggling with the “regulations” not to mention the unhelpfulness and language….and NO homes to live in….. many return to their place of departure or move on elsewhere.
My suggestion, made many times over the years, has been that much of that money wasted on Aliyah should be diverted to trying to lessen the over 40,000 needless abortions yearly-which already would have more than equalled over 50% of the present Jewish population……….
Edgar the numbers are not massive but steady. Israel remains supportive of aliyah and Diaspora Jews in the majority remain supportive of Israel and the Zionist believe in a State of Jews for Jews.
Israel remains open to those Jews needing a home. 66% of Israelis are now born in Israel. So there has been for quite a while now a distinctive Israeli culture which is different than any place in the world.
What I found interesting recently is that some Israelis who had moved to the USA and have tried hard to keep their culture alive, such as speaking Hebrew at home and taking many vacations in Israel. Some have been moving back. More interesting was that in many cases the children when they graduated from high school unlike their American peers went back to Israel and enlisted in the IDF. Their American peers going to college.
@ Bear Klein: Wonderful news, Bear.
@ Bear Klein:
The total number and the %age rise are both insignificant. Don’t know why they bothered to make a headline….Short of good news ….maybe…??
I have known many different types of people all my life. This being Christians, Muslims, Agnostics, Atheists, Zoroastrians, fellow Jews both secular and religious and all shades in between. This includes people from many countries all over the world.
I have found those who listen with an open heart and mind can get along with different peoples. Those who look for things in common and not differences.
Those who overtly look for differences and need to express them never find common ground and get frustrated. They tend to make big generalizations and do not see people as individuals. Generalizing myself the smarter people are the easier time they have accepting differences and looking for common ground. The more insecure they are the harder it is for them in being able to look beyond the differences.
@ Adam Dalgliesh:
Hi, Adam
My underlying point is that neither Trump, Kushner nor anyone else can accomplish much with a people who are so actively opposing themselves at every turn. It seems that anyone wanting to deal with Jews in any meaningful way has to be first and foremost a referee; and no matter what he does, he will ultimately only unite them against himself. It’s like a policeman responding to a domestic volence call — perhaps the most dangerous part for a law officer.
That’s the downside of what’s going on. The “upside”, as I pointed out, is only that for all its disunity and eternal grudges, Israel is starting to fare better, by comparison, with the rest of the world. In the US, once-civil people have begun attacking one another over media-generated fantasies. In the UK, national leaders from around the world are interfering and conspiring in what ought to be a straightforward matter: the people’s desire to be a free and sovereign nation. China likewise is on a rapid downward slide; Europe is ready for an obituary, and the Arabs are cousins of the Jews by temperament.
To sum up what I see happening in the world, I would literally not be surprized in the least, to pick up the morning newspaper and learn that everyone had declared all-out war on everyone else.
To expect the US President to take responsibility for all this, is to exalt him to the status of a deity.
@ Adam Dalgliesh:
Jewish Agency as it says
Significant Rise in Aliyah During 2018 | The Jewish Agency
http://www.jewishagency.org/news/significant-rise-aliyah-during-2018
Dec 31, 2018 – Jewish Agency figures reveal 5% rise in Aliyah during 2018, including 45% increase from Russia*. Jerusalem, December 27, 2018 — The …
Aliyah Statistics – 2018 | The Jewish Agency
http://www.jewishagency.org/news/aliyah-statistics-–-2018
Mar 14, 2019 – During 2018, 30,124 people made Aliyah, 2% more than during … During 2018, 19,305 Olim arrived from the FSU, 64% of the total number of …
@ Michael S: Good point about Israeli stupidity, Michael. But I don’t know of any Israelis who blame their problems on “Jesus and the Bible.” Some think that the Catholic Church, historically, (not today)bears some share of the blame for contributing to the climate of antisemitism that still exists in Europe, even though the Church no longer affirms antisemitic doctrines. But the Catholic Church is not the same thing as Jesus and the Bible, and there are very few if any Israelis who think it is.
@ Bear Klein: A very good point, Bear. Where is this quotation from? I would like to read the whole article.
The ultimate Zionists and true living Zionists are those that make aliyah (going up to Israel literally or immigrating).
7000 Lone Soldiers are in Israel those that emigrated without their families to serve in the IDF from around the world.
Jews in the Diaspora have supported Israel historically and many many are Zionists. There are left wing Jews in the USA who do not support the government of Israel or their policies (some of these are also not Israel supporters). Some of these people are also Trump haters.
Israelis by and large love Trump or appreciate him at least. Petah Tikvah (medium sized city near Tel Aviv) is naming a town square after Trump (Kikar Trump).
Israel has one thing going for it: They are no longer ruled by the UK. If they were, Theresa May would be their PM.
Yikes!
@ Michael S:
Israel has one thing going for it: It’s no longer ruled by the Brits. If it were, Theresa May would be their PM
:-0
Trump can’t help Israel. International Jews are too anti-Israel, and Israel is too stupid — giving the Jihadis time-outs to re-arm and collect their pay, evicting Jews from their homes, giving away land, you name it.
— and Israpundit blames it all on Jesus and the Bible. Duh!