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Commentary: The Livni-Rice Meeting and More
I have a dream: That a government of Israel will tell it like it is -- speaking out at every turn to expose the hypocrisy of the PA and insisting on our right to refuse to deal with them. A government of Israel that will put the onus on the Palestinians. But, alas, it is no more than a dream. ~~~~~~~~~~ Aaron Lerner writes today (http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=30925) about a live interview that Livni gave from Washington that was broadcast here in Israel this morning. When asked about Israel's 14 Road Map conditions, she conceded that this was not an essential part of the dialogue with the Americans. But it should be. On May 23, 2003, when the Israeli Cabinet accepted the Road Map, it was only conditionally, with the addition of these qualifications. You can access the full text of the conditions on IMRA, but, briefly, let me note here that the conditions including calm from the start of the process, collection of all illegal weapons, cessation of weapons smuggling, complete cessation of terror and incitement, clear declaration of Israel's right to exist and waiver of all claims of Palestinian "right of return. You know, and I know, that these conditions will not be met. But how does the Olmert government proceed while ignoring them? ~~~~~~~~~~ Remember the Arab members of Knesset who took themselves to Syria illegally? They've now gone to Lebanon to express solidarity with the victims of the war. If they don't get theirs when they return, something is very very wrong indeed. ~~~~~~~~~~ Families of terror victims are upset by, and protesting, reports that Israel is about to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. Meir Eindor, director of Almagor Terror Victims Association, made this statement: "We are very worried by the Arab media reports, and especially by Olmert's statements that he wants to release prisoners in any case in order to 'strengthen Mahmoud Abbas'. His statements reveal that he is planning on preparing the public opinion for the terrorists' release. "Olmert is kicking dirt in the public's eyes, because the whole public, aside from Olmert and including the Palestinians, knows that it is a Hamas victory. First, Hamas kidnaps, then it is rewarded by our government for it. The attempt to represent this to the public as a release of terrorists into the hands of Mahmoud Abbas is a way of masquerading a bad act as being good, and not only as a farce that makes the other side laugh." Indeed. On a relevant note: There has been a delay in the release of the Hamas ministers. ~~~~~~~~~~ At the annual conference of the Counter-Terrorism Institute in Herzliya today, Islamic History Professor Moshe Sharon declared that "There is no possibility of peace between Israel and the Palestinians whatsoever - ever." This is because the Islamic world sees the creation of the State of Israel as a "reversal of history." From the Islamic perspective "Islamic territory was taken away from Islam by Jews. You know by now that this can never be accepted, not even one meter." As to various treaties with Islamic/Arab nations, he referred to them as "pieces of paper, parts of tactics and strategies…with no meaning." see my website www.ArlenefromIsrael.info
ISRAEL TARGETS JIHAD CHARITIES Israel has targeted Islamic charities . . . in an effort to block financing to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Officials said the intelligence community has been identifying and tracking Islamic charities, known as Dawa, in the West Bank for their links to insurgency groups. They said several of the charities, which receive money from the West and the Arab world, have been shut down in 2006. "Dawa charity institutes actively promote terrorism in Palestinian schools and communities," a military statement said. Officials said the charities, which receive millions of dollars annually, have financed and distributed audio-visual material that promote attacks against Israel and Jews. They said documents seized from some of the targeted charities outline their ties to insurgency activity. "In recent months, Israeli security forces have been operating against the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror infrastructures throughout the West Bank," the statement said. "During this time, forces have confiscated material from dozens of structures and offices used by Dawa charity institutes affiliated with terror organizations. These materials -- video footage, photographs and countless documents -- show how these institutes disguise terror activity as charity work." Officials said the charities focus on funding the families of suicide bombers and detained insurgents. They said the financial support increases the incentive for Palestinians to join insurgency cells. "The Dawa infrastructure is being used to transfer funds under the guise of charity to be used for terrorism, thus serving as a convenient apparatus for these purposes," the military said. Officials said the charities, buoyed by funding from Britain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, play a major role in recruitment for such groups as Hamas and Jihad. They said the charities organize kindergartens in which children are taught to hate Americans and Israelis. Many of these charities also provide university scholarships to Hamas operatives. The funding also facilitated summer camps for Hamas and Jihad supporters. Officials said the major charities in the West Bank include the Islamic Federation in Tubas. The organization was described as a Hamas front and supported by the Palestinian Authority as well as Israeli and foreign Islamic groups. A major Hamas front in the southern West Bank was the Islamic Charity Association in Hebron. Officials said the group, funded mostly by Saudi Arabia, provides welfare and educational services to Hamas insurgents and their families. The charities have also financed Hamas's propaganda arm. The Mass Press Publicity Center, was said to have helped Hamas candidates for municipal and legislative elections over the last year. The center, which plans to establish a Hamas television station, also offers to train Palestinians in journalism and send students to study in Yemen. =
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