Dear Family & Friends, I love Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis! Two stories about Meir Ettinger – accused without trial sent to almost 8 months in solitary – called Duma 1. Two stories about the Hevron Soldier – finally his description of what happened – called Duma 2. No one is writing about the second video which includes the audio of people there asking someone to stop the subdued Terrorist who was moving his hand & head from blowing up a bomb vest. See story #5.

So on into the other very interesting news of the day.

Cool weather & rain which we need. It washes & polishes the new green of Spring.

Have a darling night, a cute day. All the very best, Gail/Geula/Savta/Savta Raba x 2/Mom

1.Words From The Heart by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis 2.Ya’alon Pre-empted Court Ruling on Kahane’s Grandson Release 3.Kahane’s Jailed Grandson: Prison Guard Abusing Me
4.&##39;I’m only on trial because Israeli leaders fear the world’ 5.’If he had an explosive belt I could be dead right now’ 6.Clinton Campaign Panel Includes Controversial Muslim Leader Who Fingered Israel for 9/11 Attacks

7.Act Now to Preserve Our Strategic Deterrent

8.Erdogan raises price tag for normal ties with Israel: Cairo amity first

9.Guardian Removes Statements Questioning Jewish Responsibility For Fire

10. 600 BCE inscriptions prove widespread literacy in ancient Israel 11.Iran backtracks on S-300 missile reception

12.Free Speech on Trial: What Message Is Being Sent?

1.Words From The Heart by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis JewishPress.com Published: April 7th, 2016

Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis

Every Jew if approached with the right attitude – i.e. with love and sincerity rather than judgmentally and condescendingly – can be touched and inspired. This is not magic, but rather an eternal truth based on the Divine revelation at Sinai, when for all eternity the voice of G-d penetrated every Jewish neshamah.

Many years ago I was on a flight home from Portland, Oregon. My children were still small, and whenever I accepted an out-of town speaking engagement I made certain to catch a “red-eye” flight so that I could make it back in time to give them breakfast and see them off to school.

I always found those out-of-town talks exhilarating. To see people who were alienated and assimilated become involved and committed has always been to me the most electrifying and awesome experience. That night in Portland was no exception. There were many questions and I tried to stay as long as I could before dashing off to the airport. By the time I boarded the plane, I felt drained and exhausted. I just wanted to close my eyes and catch some sleep. Luckily, the plane was half empty, so I asked the stewardess for an extra pillow and blanket.

I was on the verge of dozing off when a young man approached. I was really too tired to talk to anyone, but then again, maybe he was someone who had to be reached.

“Are you from Portland?” he asked.

“No, I’m from New York,” I replied, “ but I was speaking there.”

“Where were you speaking?”

“In a local synagogue.”

“I don’t get involved in any of that stuff.”

“Are you Jewish?”

“I guess I am.”

“You only guess?”

“It’s an accident of birth. Doesn’t affect my life one way or another.”

Our conversation was interrupted by a stewardess who was distributing the midnight snacks.

“Jungreis,” she said, reading the label. “I have you down for kosher. And what would you like to have?” she asked, turning to him.

“I’ll take ham and cheese,” was his answer.

“You can’t have that,” I interrupted.

“What do you mean, I can’t have it? It’s my favorite sandwich.”

“But you told me you’re Jewish.”

“So what!”

“So what? You must be kidding. You signed a contract – you sealed a covenant at Mount Sinai that you wouldn’t eat that stuff. You were there. All Jewish souls that were ever to be born were there. As a matter of fact, looking at you now, I think I remember you. We all pledged to uphold the covenant.”

He looked at me in disbelief. “Lady, you know something? You need help, and I mean serious help!”

And with that he picked himself up, walked back toward his seat and told the stewardess as he passed her in the aisle, “That woman is off the wall!”

For the remainder of the flight, he didn’t look my way.

At JFK we met once again at the baggage carousel and he said to me, “You know, what you said is nuts!”

“Listen,” I told him. “My name is Esther Jungreis. Here is my card. I have an organization called Hineni, which means ‘Here I am,’ ready to serve my people and my G-d. We remind people of that covenant sealed at Sinai. You can check it out. It’s all documented in a Book called the Torah. The whole story can be found there. You will see. You really were there. If you need help in your search, let me know. I’d be more than happy to show you.”

“I bet you would! But I’m running from you as fast as possible!” And with that, he turned his back and went to find his suitcase.

I returned my home and daily routine. The children were waiting. My husband had just returned from the synagogue, and we caught up on the latest events. The phone rang. I had classes to prepare, the house had to be put in order and I completely forgot that chance encounter in the sky.

Several years later, I was teaching my class at Hineni when in walked a man wearing a black rabbinic hat and coat.

“Rebbetzin,” he said, “do you recognize me?”

“You look familiar” (my stock answer for anyone I don’t really recognize and don’t want to offend).

“We go back a long way,” he said. “How about Portland, Oregon – the ‘red eye’?”

It all came back to me. “You can’t be that guy!”

“I am,” he said, smiling. “I never forgot your words. As much as I wanted to dismiss them as pure insanity, they bothered me. It took me a while to work it out, but eventually I did check out the Torah, and you were right. I was there. I signed a contract, I sealed a covenant, and now I’ve come to you because I’d like you to find me a girl who was also there.”

Today, my friend from the “red eye” is the proud father and grandfather of children who live by our Torah and mitzvos.

What is the secret behind this transformation? How does it all happen?

The answer is simple. It can be found in the eternal promise of G-d: “Zos Brisi” – “This is My covenant with them,” said Hashem, “My spirit that is upon you, and My words that I have placed upon your lips, shall not depart from your lips, nor from the lips of your children or your children’s children from this moment and forevermore.”

Thousands of years have passed since that promise was made. During that time, we have traversed the four corners of the world. We have experienced every form of oppression, torture, and slaughter. Many of us saw sons and daughters disappear through assimilation. Many of us forgot our past. But the covenant of G-d was more powerful than any material forces. Not only are we here, it can take just a second for the promise of G-d to transform us – and overnight our neshamahs soar to the loftiest heights.

So never remain silent. Reach out to your brothers and sisters, kindle the spark in their souls, and bring them home to our Heavenly Father.

2.Ya’alon Pre-empted Court Ruling on Kahane’s Grandson Release
It’s a minor victory for a prisoner who has been branded public enemy number one largely for running a blog that vehemently disagrees with the government by: David Israel JewishPress.com Published: April 8th, 2016

Apparently, the very idea that Meir Ettinger, the young grandson of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, is still alive and kicking and creating some media noise is driving the Israeli defense apparatus bonkers. On Monday, the system formed a united front to prevent this mega-dangerous prisoner — detained without an indictment or any proof of wrongdoing, other than being born into the Kahane clan — from attending the bris of his firstborn son.

Then we reported here about a complaint Ettinger’s attorney filed on his behalf, demanding that a prison guard who had been abusing her client be investigated. It turned out the abuse began when Ettinger, who was refused his call to his wife by the guard in question, went over his head and received his call. That didn’t go over well with the guard. The next day, Ettinger refused to respond to the same guard’s call because he, Ettinger, was praying.

But those were small issues in comparison with the apparent plot on the part of Ya’alon et al to keep Ettinger in prison without charges for the rest of the defense minister’s stay in office.

The original detention order, signed by Ya’alon, was for the maximum time allowed by law — six months. Then Ya’alon added four months, again without showing rhyme or reason. At some point during his detention, the Israel Prison Authority placed Ettinger in solitary confinement. Except that the law regarding solitary confinement says you can’t keep a prisoner isolated for more than six months without a court hearing.

So Ettinger and his attorney were taken to see a judge and hear the arguments on the part of the IPA why he should not see another human face other than his guards, while being confined without charges.

Suddenly, according to a Kol Hayehudi report, a representative of the secret police, Shabak, stood up in court and showed the judge an administrative decree signed by Defense Minister Ya’alon saying Ettinger should be kept in solitary confinement during his administrative detention.

Ettinger and his attorney asked to see the document, and the prisoner without cause noticed that the date on the decree was for one day prior to the court hearing. Why then was the prison authority asking to see the judge when there already was a decree that took them off the hook?

The judge, too, was wondering, what would have happened had he ruled in favor of the prisoner? What’s the meaning of a ruling when there’s already an administrative decree that annuls it?

The embarrassed folks from Shabak and IPA told the judge they wanted to make sure Ettinger’s isolation continued, no matter how. The judge did not accept their answer and ordered them to come up with a well-reasoned response in another hearing in two weeks.

It’s a minor victory for a prisoner who has been branded public enemy number one largely for running a blog that vehemently disagrees with the government on its defense and legal policy.

About the Author: David writes news at JewishPress.com.

3.Kahane’s Jailed Grandson: Prison Guard Abusing Me
Attorney Sima Kochav sent an urgent request for an intervention to the Prison Authority. by: David Israel Published: April 7th, 2016

Meir Ettinger being arrested. – Photo Credit: Tazpit News Agency

Meir Ettinger, detained for eight months by an administrative order of Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon without indictment or proof of wrongdoing, sent an urgent request for intervention through his attorney to the Prison Authority, asking for the suspension of a prison guard named Sagi Cohen whom he claims has been abusing him for no known reason, Honenu legal aid society said in a statement Thursday. People in Ettinger’s circle are saying the abuse began on Monday, the day Ettinger’s firstborn son had his bris, which the courts would not permit Ettinger to attend.

According to Honenu, the first abuse was when Cohen refused to allow Ettinger to have his sanctioned phone call to his wife on the day of the bris. He followed this bit of nastiness with a trumped-up complaint against Ettinger, and then confiscated all the electronic equipment in his cell.

Attorney Sima Kochav sent an urgent request for an intervention to the Prison Authority, accusing Cohen of making up charges against her client and depriving him of his rightful privileges.

“My client has been a positive prisoner who fulfills all his duties, obeys the prison rules and follows orders,” Kochav wrote. “In addition may I note that for his good behavior my client has received a good and respectful treatment from the staff and officers in the prison.”

Kochav pointed out that Cohen’s abusive manner is an exception, and that for some unfathomable reason he has made it his mission to abuse Ettinger. She demanded that an an investigation be launched at once against the officer by the prison’s internal affairs unit. She recommended that until the complaint is reviewed the officer be suspended so that he won’t take his rage out on her client.

Kochav sent copies of her complaint to Lieutenant Ofra Klinger, chief of Israel Prison Service; Warden Asher Shriki, Southern District Commander; Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud); and to MK David Amsalem, Interior Committee chairman.

About the Author: David writes news at JewishPress.com.

4.’I’m only on trial because Israeli leaders fear the world’

Full testimony of soldier who shot wounded terrorist revealed, in which he explains why exactly he shot and responds to criticism. By Arutz Sheva Staff First Publish: 4/11/2016, 9:31 PM

The soldier – Flash 90

The full testimony of the IDF soldier who last month shot dead a wounded Arab terrorist in Hevron reveals the reasons he decided to shoot the attacker, who mere minutes earlier together with an accomplice stabbed and wounded a soldier.

On Monday night Channel 2 published the transcription of the soldier’s testimony, which details his concerns that the terrorist was moving to detonate a hidden bomb belt – other soldiers at the scene, a Magen David Adom (MDA) investigative committee and a CID officer have all confirmed that concerns of a bomb belt had not been ruled out.

The soldier, who is facing manslaughter charges, spoke about the moment when he shot, saying, “at that second someone, I think one of the civilians, shouted ‘watch out, he might have an explosive on him,’ like a bomb belt.”

“I saw him with a large black coat, I think it was closed. The videos of Hamas cells telling us that they’re planning to do quality terror attacks, maybe suicide (attacks), started to rise up (in my mind).”

In his testimony the soldier went on to describe that the terrorist’s “coat was fur-lined and large, on a really hot sunny day, 30° C (86° F – ed.). …All those (Hamas) videos caused me to make a decision that really wasn’t easy in a split second, I cocked my gun, told people to move and shot him once in the head.”

“I was pretty shaken, maybe (it was) because of that and that my hands were covered in blood (of the soldier’s comrade who was wounded in the attack – ed.), and in any case I am not used to arriving at the scene and seeing a terrorist dead like that, I’m not used to seeing dead people, terrorists.”

The soldier rejected the immediate criticism that he received from senior IDF brass and leading politicians, including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (Likud).

“If he actually had a bomb belt and he detonated, what would have happened? How many would have been killed? They would have asked why no one thought to confirm that he was neutralized. And that’s what I did, I confirmed he was neutralized.”

The combat soldier questioned those who condemned him, saying, “The Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Chief of Staff say they need to cut off the hands of the terror, how do they want to do that?”

“In the end I do that in the way they outlined, to destroy the terror, and they put me on trial for doing my job which is to defend myself, my comrades and the state of Israel,” he continued.

“Only because they’re afraid maybe of the papers and what the world will say (they act) to clean the hands of the IDF, (and say) that the soldier didn’t act properly.”

5.’If he had an explosive belt I could be dead right now’ Soldier who shot wounded terrorist finally testifies to military court, emphasizes the ‘split second’ decisions made in the field. Arutz Sheva IsraelNationalNews.com By Uzi Baruch 4/5/2016, 3:41 PM

Soldier who killed wounded terrorist appears in court – Flash 90

A military court has heard testimony for the first time from the soldier who shot dead a wounded terrorist in Hevron, sparking an ongoing controversy and triggering a manslaughter suit against him.

Defense Attorney Eyal Baserglick presented the testimony on behalf of the soldier, who remains under arrest on base pending the verdict.

In his statement the soldier, whose identity is the subject of a gag-order, reiterated his claim that he only shot the terrorist because he feared he had a bomb concealed under his coat.

Prosecutors claim, however, that the terrorist posed no threat – having been shot and severely wounded after stabbing another soldier – and that the accused merely shot him to “confirm the kill” against army regulations.

Not so, the soldier insisted.

“I wouldn’t just shoot at him (for no reason) – only if I felt a real threat,” the soldier said. “I saw him moving his hand and his head – I didn’t just fire.”

In footage from the event released – and heavily edited – by the far-left NGO B’Tselem, the terrorist can indeed be seen moving before the soldier cocks his weapon and fires, striking him in the head and killing him.

He further noted on the difficult emotional and psychological conditions under which soldiers operate, and urged the court to take that into consideration.

“My hands were covered with the blood of my wounded comrade, I was upset. In that split second, I decided to shoot.

“You CID investigators are here in an office, not in the field – there, they can shoot at you or throw a firebomb at you.”

“If he had an explosive belt I would be in a grave – not a court,” the soldier emphasized, explaining that was the reason he fired at the terrorist’s head. “If I would have fired at his hand or his body the explosive belt could have been activated.”

“His coat seemed inflated, as if he had something underneath it,” he added, explaining why his suspicions had seemed so real at the time.

In the coming hours, the military court will decide whether to accept the prosecution’s petition to return the soldier to full arrest in a military prison, as opposed to remaining effectively under a form of house arrest at his base.

Earlier Tuesday, prosecutor’s had insisted the soldier’s testimony was unreliable, and urged the judge not to believe his claims.

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6.Clinton Campaign Panel Includes Controversial Muslim Leader Who Fingered Israel for 9/11 Attacks

BY PATRICK POOLE APRIL 10, 2016

A highly controversial Muslim leader appeared on a panel with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Los Angeles last month. Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), was kicked off of a congressional terrorism commission in 1999 when his organization’s open support for terrorist organizations was brought to light.

Marayati came under fire again just a few years later when on the day of the 9/11 attacks he fingered Israel as the culprit in a radio interview on a Los Angeles radio station.

Under his continued leadership, MPAC continues to promote extremist conspiracy theories, including accusations published on the group’s website in 2010 that Israel was harvesting the organs of Palestinians — a claim that was denounced by the Anti-Defamation League as a blood libel.

But Marayati’s appearance with Hillary Clinton is hardly unusual, as the relationship with the Clinton family goes back to 1996 — when he served as a delegate for Bill Clinton during the Democratic National Convention that year.

Waves of controversy have not stopped Hillary Clinton from continuing to promote Marayati, including appointing him to positions during her tenure as Obama’s secretary of State. So his appearance at the March 24th campaign panel held at the University of Southern California is no surprise.

Marayati first came to public attention in 1999, when his appointment by then-House Democratic Minority Leader Dick Gephardt to a congressional terrorism commission was opposed by Jewish groups outraged by MPAC’s open defense of terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah. A summary of MPAC’s extremist views was later published in a press release by the Journal of Counterterrorism and Security International.

Amidst this controversy over his appointment, MPAC published a policy paper that defended the Hezbollah terror attack on U.S. peacekeepers in Beirut that killed 241 as legitimate resistance and not really a terror attack:

After his appointment was withdrawn by Rep. Gephardt, just a few months later he appeared on PBS NewsHour (as noted by my PJ Media colleague Andrew McCarthy) saying that Hezbollah’s terrorism was “legitimate resistance.”

Controversy continued to follow Marayati, including his statements made on the day of the 9/11 attack. As reported by theLos Angeles Times, Marayati appeared on a Los Angeles radio show where he identified Israel, and not Islamic terrorists, as the true culprit behind the terror attack:

If we’re going to look at suspects, we should look to the groups that benefit the most from these kinds of incidents, and I think we should put the state of Israel on the suspect list because I think this diverts attention from what’s happening in the Palestinian territories so that they can go on with their aggression and occupation and apartheid policies. Why not put all the suspects on the list, instead of going ahead and shooting from the hip and saying those people did it and bombing the cornfields of Afghanistan and pharmaceutical factories of Sudan. . . .

Two weeks later, after fingering Israel for being behind the attacks, Marayati was invited to the White House as part of a delegation of Muslim leaders to meet with President George W. Bush, though he was hardly the only leader at that meeting who had expressed support for Islamic terrorism.

MPAC’s extremism under Marayati has continued into the Obama administration.

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A February 2010 report by the Anti-Defamation League noted that MPAC had published on their website a claim — later widely debunked — that Israel was harvesting the organs of Palestinians, which ADL termed “a new blood libel”:

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), a Los Angeles-based group that presents itself as a moderate voice of Islam in the U.S., called for an international investigation for alleged war crimes based on the original allegations in the Swedish newspaper. MPAC also suggested that Israel’s efforts to defend itself from the organ trafficking claims illustrated its tendency to bully critics of Israel with charges of anti-Semitism.

Despite those blood libel claims and Marayati’s long history of extremist statements, Marayati has been a regular visitor to the White House. This includes Obama’s Ramadan Iftar dinners, though in 2014 MPAC denounced the president’s support for Israel, which was under attack from rockets fired by Palestinian terror groups during the Iftar dinner that year.

In 2012, Marayati was selected by Hillary Clinton’s State Department to represent the United States at a 10-day Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) human rights conference in Warsaw, Poland.

When protests predictably arose from Marayati’s appointment to the U.S. OSCE delegation to Warsaw — the site of one of the largest Jewish ghettos during the Holocaust — the State Department, under the leadership of Hillary Clinton, defended Marayati as “valued and highly credible.”

That response from the State Department prompted Rep. Jim Jordan, then head of the U.S. House Republican Study Committee, to send a letter to Hillary Clinton, calling the defense of Marayati “outlandish.”

Last year, MPAC touted its inclusion in the three-day White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, where Vice President Joe Biden gave MPAC and its “Safe Spaces Initiative” a shout-out during the meeting.

MPAC’s “Safe Spaces Initiative” was included in the White House-backed Los Angeles Framework for Countering Violent Extremism; Los Angeles is one of three cities receiving Obama administration support to “counter violent extremism.”

As I noted here at PJ Media just a few days ago, these local CVE programs have thus far been largely unsuccessful, and even the supporters of these CVE programs are reduced to defending these programs by saying that even if they don’t work they are still helpful.

With the advice and direction of Muslim leaders like Salam al-Marayati, is it any wonder then that the Obama administration’s counterterrorism efforts have been a complete disaster? And yet by virtue of Marayati’s presence on her campaign panel, it seems that if elected president, Hillary Clinton will continue her embrace of extremists and extend the failed policies of her predecessor.

Clinton Campaign Panel Includes Controversial Muslim Leader Who Fingered Israel for 9/11 Attacks

JINSA’s Gemunde Center Iran Strategy Council Member VADM John Bird, USN (ret.) & Associate Director Jonathan Ruhe Article in RealClearDefense 7.Act Now to Preserve Our Strategic Deterrent By VADM John Bird, USN (ret.) and Jonathan Ruhe – 4/11/16 Walking through our nation’s two Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) bases, it is easy to become awestruck and overwhelmed by everything that goes into keeping our nuclear deterrent forces ready around the globe. Unlike our Navy’s surface ships, each submarine (affectionately called a “boat”) rotates two crews: one at sea and the other training for its next patrol. This high operations tempo turns the quays into hives of highly efficient activity during the short periods these boats are at home port for top-to-bottom refitting. All this energy is devoted to maintaining our country’s most survivable nuclear forces. Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which must be launched from known locations in the American heartland, our ballistic missile submarines operate stealthily undersea at closer range to their targets. Each SSBN is capable of launching 24 Trident nuclear missiles – each with multiple warheads – in mere minutes. As a result, the missiles from these boomers will always get through, giving the United States its assured second-strike capability. Such a robust force is in large part the primary reason for the absence of great-power conflict for more than 70 years – the longest such period in the history of the modern state system. Fully leveraging our SSBNs’ unequaled strategic deterrence requires having enough platforms to execute this critical mission, especially as they account for fully 70 percent of all U.S. strategic nuclear warheads. Unfortunately, the available number of SSBNs is set to decrease, even as the challenges to global security and proliferation of nuclear-capable actors will increase the demands placed upon them. Nuclear weapons are increasingly important to our adversaries, many of whom are becoming more emboldened and risk-acceptant as the United States draws down its global force presence and leadership. In its drive to become a superpower, China is projected to more than double the number of warheads on missiles capable of reaching the United States over the next decade. Russia views its nuclear arsenal as the sine qua non for returning to superpower status, and talks openly about first-use of nuclear weapons to “de-escalate” conflicts. North Korea routinely tests new nuclear weapons and longer-range delivery vehicles, and the nuclear agreement with Iran opens its path to nuclear weapons capability over the medium term. Meanwhile, our Ohio-class SSBN fleet is approaching the end of its service life. Conceived in the 1950s, designed in the 1960s and first procured in the 1970s, most boats are already past or nearing their initial 30-year lifespan. Even with service-life extension to 42 years, the number of serviceable Ohio-class boats will begin declining in a decade. Furthermore, thanks to sequestration, progress on the replacement class is already two years delayed. To meet the U.S. military’s nuclear deterrent force requirements, it is critical to begin advanced procurement of the Ohio-class replacement starting this year; there is no room left for delay. This will enable construction of the lead ship beginning 2021, and the first strategic patrol in 2030 – coincidentally, the year before all meaningful restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program expire. This necessitates top-line relief today, in the form of a $5-7 billion increase in shipbuilding funds similar to that provided for Ohio-class procurement in the 1980s. Otherwise the Navy will have to rob Peter to pay Paul, sloughing resources from other programs that will adversely affect overall Navy readiness. This top-line relief represents less than one percent of the Defense Department’s budget, at a time when defense spending as a share of national wealth is low compared to when the Ohio class was procured. This is a practical long-term investment. The new SSBNs’ mission will remain of critical importance to national security, and will continue to form the most important leg of our nuclear triad into the 2080s. The Navy has already shown itself to be a good steward for procurement under sequestration, as it is currently producing Virginia-class fast attack submarines ahead of schedule and under budget. The burden of procurement cannot be allowed yet again to fall on the next generation. Our country’s handful of SSBNs, and the two bustling bases they call home, represent a unique capability at the core of our national defenses. We must act now to preserve our best guarantor of peace, not only for that next generation, but also for our own. VADM (ret.) John Bird is a former career submarine officer in the U.S. Navy and a member of the Board of Advisors to the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA). Jonathan Ruhe is Associate Director of JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy. Act Now to Preserve Our Strategic Deterrent 8.Erdogan raises price tag for normal ties with Israel: Cairo amity first DEBKA Turkish president Tayyip Recep Erdogan has raised another large obstacle on the road to Turkish-Israeli reconciliation and normal ties. Saudi King Salman, who is visiting Cairo, confided to his host Egyptian president Abdel-Fatteh El-Sisi that Erdogan had made it clear that he would not finally repair Ankara’s ties with Israel until Sisi came forward to shake his hand, stopped being hostile and turned a new page in their relations. This is revealed exclusively by DEBKAfile’s Middle East and Cairo sources. The king sad that by burying the hatchet with Erdogan, Sisi would pave the way to an accord between Ankara and Jerusalem, on which progress has been made in bilateral negotiations. Members of the royal Saudi entourage in Cairo confirmed the threat from Ankara, that if the Egyptian president continues to disapprove of the Turkish ruler and give him a hard time, Ankara would retaliate by raising more impediments to a rapprochement with Israel. In this regard, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Sunday cabinet meeting on April 10, “Peace with Egypt is stronger than ever before, standing firm against very tough challenges to both nations.” He went on to say, “The ties between Egypt and Israel provide an important buttress for the national security of both nations.” Netanyahu did not itemize those “challenges,” but DEBKAfile’s sources were informed that he was beaming a message to the Saudi king and Turkish president, that Israel had every confidence in its strategic pact with President El-Sisi holding up against attempts by Erdogan to drive a wedge between Cairo and Jerusalem. His comments were also meant to encourage the Egyptian leader to withstand undue pressure coming from King Salman and extortions by the Turkish president. On one of the issues clouding relations between Cairo and Riyadh, the king denied wholehearted Saudi support for the El-Sisi’s archenemy, the Muslim Brotherhood, ousted from power three years ago in a military coup. The Israeli question came up in relation to the Egyptian presidential decree ceding ownership to Saudi Arabia of the disputed Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir. These islands are of high strategic value because they control shipping traffic through the Gulf of Aqaba to and from the Israeli port of Eilat and the Jordanian port of Aqaba. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters Sunday night, April 10, that his government would not hold negotiations with Israel on those islands. The Kingdom’s commitment included accepting the presence of international forces on the islands under the peace treaty of Egypt and Israel, he said. He was referring to the Multinational Force Observers – mostly Americans – which have maintained a presence on Tiran to monitor Egypt’s commitment to the freedom of Israeli shipping through the Strait of Tiran under their 1979 peace accords. By this commitment to the international force’s presence “under the peace treaty of Israel and Egypt,” Saudi Arabia publicly extended implicit endorsement for Israel’s first peace treaty with an Arab state 37 years ago. Erdogan raises price tag for normal ties with Israel: Cairo amity first UPDATE The Guardian has responded in an email to HonestReporting by stating that it published the original AFP story that, at that point in time, did not include any comment from the Israeli security services. Pointedly, The Guardian also acknowledges that it received an updated AFP copy some hours later. This update, however, was neither published nor added to the original. Granted, The Guardian’s article was correct at the time that it originally published. Yet, the editors, despite receiving the AFP update, did not amend the story. Plenty of time has passed and other media outlets have included the most up-to-date information so why not The Guardian? Having been called on this, will The Guardian take the appropriate action? UPDATE – SUCCESS We are glad to say that The Guardian has now updated its article with the relevant information as a result of correspondence with HonestReporting. UPDATE – SUCCESS 2 The Independent has also responded positively to our request, adding the following to its story: “Israeli police reportedly said they did not believe the attack had been carried out by Jewish extremists.” A fire at the home of a key Palestinian witness in the case against the Jewish terrorists responsible for the deaths of a Palestinian toddler and his parents last year is being treated as suspicious. Unsurprisingly, Palestinians have blamed “Jewish settlers” for this latest incident. According to Israeli media, however: But the Israel Police and Shin Bet, in a joint statement Sunday night, said mounting evidence indicated it was not a nationalistic attack. “The findings thus far at the scene are not consistent with the characteristics of a deliberate arson attack by Jews,” it said. A number of media outlets, including the LA Times and Wall Street Journal included this piece of important information. So did the AFP in its wire report, which was also picked up by The Guardian. But a comparison between the two articles reveals that The Guardian has edited out parts of the original AFP copy. The Guardian’s story no longer contains any reference to the statements of Israeli authorities calling into question the assumption that Jewish extremists were responsible. This is a serious case of selective omission where it appears that a copy editor has deliberately removed entire paragraphs of the original piece, thereby skewing the story against Israel. The Guardian wasn’t the only media outlet to omit this information. The Independent also failed while NBC News published an AP report and failed to amend it after the AP updated its own copy. A request from HonestReporting that the relevant sections of the AFP story are restored by The Guardian has been sent, while The Independent and NBC News have also been contacted. Watch this space Guardian Removes Statements Questioning Jewish Responsibility For Fire 10.600 BCE inscriptions prove widespread literacy in ancient Israel: Arad fort inscriptions reveal remarkable levels of Jewish literacy in Kingdom of Judah, shedding light on the Bible’s ancient roots. By Arutz Sheva Staff Publish: 4/11/2016, 10:00 PM Inscriptions from Arad fort Courtesy of Tel Aviv University (Michael Kordonsky) and the Antiquities Authority Academia has long debated how much of the Tanakh (Torah, Prophets and Writings) was written before the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE and the Babylonian exile, with exact dates of the compilation remaining a serious question for academic scholars. However, a new Tel Aviv University (TAU) study published inPNAS suggests that widespread literacy was required for the compilation of the texts, and provides evidence showing that this literacy already existed in the final days of the Kingdom of Judah before the destruction. The researchers claim that this large number of literate Jews set the stage for the compilation of biblical works, such as the books of the Tanakh from Deuteronomy to Second Kings. “There’s a heated discussion regarding the timing of the composition of a critical mass of biblical texts,” said Prof. Israel Finkelstein of TAU’s Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, who led the research together with Prof. Eliezer Piasetzky of TAU’s School of Physics and Astronomy. “But to answer this, one must ask a broader question: What were the literacy rates in Judah at the end of the First Temple period? And what were the literacy rates later on, under Persian rule?” The interdisciplinary study was conducted by Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin, Arie Shaus, and Barak Sober, under the supervision of Prof. Eli Turkel and Prof. David Levin, all of TAU’s Department of Applied Mathematics. Also collaborating in the research was Prof. Nadav Na’aman of TAU’s Department of Jewish History and Prof. Benjamin Sass of TAU’s Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations. Findings at Arad Using advanced computerized image processing and machine learning tools, the researchers analyzed 16 inscriptions which were discovered in the remote fort of Arad in the northern Negev. They reasoned that the texts were written by at least six authors. In the analysis the TAU team showed that the military chain of command, from the highest echelon down to the deputy quartermaster of the fort, all were able to read and write. “We designed an algorithm to distinguish between different authors, then composed a statistical mechanism to assess our findings,” said Sober. “Through probability analysis, we eliminated the likelihood that the texts were written by a single author.” The Arad fortress inscriptions consisted of instructions for troop movements, as well as the registration of food expenses. The researchers were able to rule out the notion that professional scribes wrote the inscriptions based on the tone and nature of the commands. Given the remoteness of Arad, the small garrison that was stationed there, and the narrow time period of the inscriptions, the researchers argue their findings show a high literacy rate among the administrative apparatus of the Kingdom of Judah, which they say gives a suitable background for the compilation of many biblical texts. “We found indirect evidence of the existence of an educational infrastructure, which could have enabled the composition of biblical texts,” said Prof. Piasetzky. “Literacy existed at all levels of the administrative, military and priestly systems of Judah. Reading and writing were not limited to a tiny elite.” “Now our job is to extrapolate from Arad to a broader area,” said Prof. Finkelstein. “Adding what we know about Arad to other forts and administrative localities across ancient Judah, we can estimate that many people could read and write during the last phase of the First Temple period. We assume that in a kingdom of some 100,000 people, at least several hundred were literate.” “Following the fall of Judah, there was a large gap in production of Hebrew inscriptions until the second century BCE, the next period with evidence for widespread literacy. This reduces the odds for a compilation of substantial Biblical literature in Jerusalem between ca. 586 and 200 BCE.” The inscriptions from Arad fort Courtesy of Tel Aviv University (Michael Kordonsky) & the Antiquities Authority Arad fortress Creative Commons 600 BCE inscriptions prove widespread literacy in ancient Israel 11.Iran backtracks on S-300 missile reception Foreign Ministry’s statement amended to omit notice of delivery of the missiles, says instead ‘first phase’ of agreement was implemented. By Tova Dvorin A7 INN 4/11/16 Tehran has yet to receive a shipment of S-300 missiles from Moscow, Iran’s official Mehr news agency amended Monday – after it rephrased a statement from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jaberi Ansari. The original Mehr report includes a statement from Ansari that “the first part of this equipment has arrived in Iran and delivery of other parts will continue.” Hours later, that statement was amended to read that “we had already announced that despite several times of change in time of delivery, the deal is on its path of implementation and today I should announce that the first phase of the agreement is implemented and the process will continue.” The sale of the S-300, originally conducted in 2007, has been repeatedly delayed due to Western pressure given that UN nuclear sanctions ban the delivery to Iran. But in April 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting a ban on the delivery of the S-300 systems to Iran, explaining that his decision was motivated by Iran’s drive to find a solution in talks over its nuclear program, which led to a controversial nuclear deal last July. There is great concern over the shipment of the S-300 to the leading state sponsor of terror, given the advanced system’s ability to shoot down missiles as well as jets, further defending Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. Iran backtracks on S-300 missile reception § This miscarriage of justice being orchestrated against Geert Wilders is merely one aspect of the many prosecutions being carried out under laws less about prevention and punishment of actual crimes, and more about criminalizing dissent against the demographic transformation of Europe. § After terror outrages in the name of Islam, its apologists perform defensive operations that try to render Islamic doctrine immune from scrutiny. § The eagerness with which social media giants, such as Facebook and Twitter, have imposed a policy of enforced silence — in concert with Europe’s leaders — is a further irony that will not be lost on future historians. § If the criminal justice systems of European nations continue to pursue charges against whoever questions or criticizes Islam, what hope is there then for the silent members of the Muslim community who might wish to speak out? The spread of jihad is irreparably undermining Europe’s post-War reputation as a continent of security and peace. In addition, free speech seems increasingly regarded by mainstream politicians mainstream as dangerous and archaic. Diversity of opinion often appears seen as an obstacle to multiculturalism, the objective of which, ironically, is diversity. These dual trends are set to come to a head in the Netherlands next year, in elections set to follow the conclusion of the trial of Dutch MP Geert Wilders this November. Wilders is the leader the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid, or PVV), which currently tops the country’s polls. He faces imprisonment on a charge of hate speech, for saying that the Netherlands could use “fewer Moroccans.” As Wilders outlined in his opening statement to the court on March 18, the politically-motivated bias against him of one of the judges is a matter of public record. Moreover, despite ample demonstration by Wilders’s defense of the forgery of a group of the criminal complaints that initiated his prosecution, his trial nevertheless continues. This miscarriage of justice being orchestrated against Wilders is merely one aspect of the many prosecutions being carried out under laws less about prevention and punishment of actual crimes, and more about criminalizing dissent against the demographic transformation of Europe. The miscarriage of justice being orchestrated against Dutch MP Geert Wilders is merely one aspect of the many prosecutions being carried out under laws less about prevention and punishment of actual crimes, and more about criminalizing dissent against the demographic transformation of Europe. (Source of Wilders photo: Flickr/Metropolico) The link between the erosion of freedom of speech and the speed of the Islamic colonization of Europe is rarely addressed. One would think that every terrorist attack would prompt serious questions among Europe’s leaders over the wisdom of continuing mass immigration of Muslims. In fact, the opposite is taking place. Apologists for Muslims, apparently respected by the media, have been instrumental in shifting focus away from the victims of terror attacks, onto objections to the “rhetoric” used by non-Muslims in the wake of every atrocity. This maneuver appears driven by the apologists’ and the media’s desire to prevent alleged “Islamophobic” attacks on Muslims, which they blame on the “far-right.” After terror outrages in the name of Islam, its apologists arguably perform defensive operations that try to render Islamic doctrine immune from scrutiny. That apologists for Muslims have internalized such a rationale comes as no surprise to any reader of the Koran, in which vitriol directed against non-Muslims for their faith precedes divine commands for their slaughter. The passive cooperation of most media interviewers, however, reveals just how sharia-compliant Europe has now become. Ironically, the very fact that European nations have freedom of religion, a principle which fundamentalists so keenly exploit, helps explain why the continent has gradually drifted towards secularism and atheism. Christians and Jews are not told they will be killed if they leave their religion. As the leading Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi admitted on television, if it were not for the threat of death under Islam’s apostasy laws — “Muhammad said: ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him’ (Bukhari 9.84.57)” — the religion would not today exist. Freedom of religion begins with being able to choose whatever belief — or non-belief — you wish, rather than adhering to theological claims of authority. The mere threat of prosecution is usually sufficient to silence those who express public opposition to mass Muslim immigration, and is also being exploited by many to silence any questioning of Islam. Dutchmen who tweet their opposition to the construction of “refugee” centers in their towns receive visits from police who threaten them with charges of sedition. A Belgian who spoke out about Muslim children in the city’s schools cheering the recent Brussels attacks welcomed three policemen to his door. And a London man who tweeted about his decision to confront a Muslim over her views on the Brussels attacks was arrested, had his home raided, and all his computer equipment seized. More well-known, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel was caught on an open microphone asking Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to curtail speech critical of “the wave of Syrian refugees entering Germany.” With democratic avenues for opposing mass Islamic immigration branded as “extremist” – an allegation leveled at any political party seeking to address the matter — citizens might be forgiven for using social media to vent their anger at the consequences of this migration. The eagerness with which social media giants, such as Facebook and Twitter, have imposed a policy of enforced silence — in close concert with Europe’s leaders — is a further irony that will not be lost on future historians. Lutz Bachmann, for instance, who in 2014 founded the now Europe-wide PEGIDA protest movement, has since been drawn into 288 separate criminal investigations by police, later dropped by prosecutors for lack of evidence.[1] After a photograph of Bachmann sporting a Hitler moustache was circulated, controversy over his character reached an understandable crescendo. Regardless of whether or not one agrees with him or his views, the “example” being made of Bachmann reveals how anyone not toeing the party line is subjected to relentless prosecution on virtually any pretext, as a new form of punishment. Bachmann is nevertheless still subject to 14 ongoing prosecutions and faces a trial aimed at his imprisonment, scheduled to start in Dresden on April 19, for allegedly using a single derogatory word “Viehzeug” [“animals, creatures, insects”] in describing last year’s illegal migrant influx. Bachmann’s defense attorney maintains there is no evidence that his client actually posted this entry. PEGIDA’s deputy leader, Tatjana Festerling, also faces jail in April for saying, “If we don’t grab our pitchforks and fight the Islamization of Europe, we are lost.” Her lawyer says he is flabbergasted that Festerling’s description, in a speech, of how European serfs once stood up to their undemocratic masters, has resulted in her trial for incitement to hatred against Muslims.[2] In February, Edwin Wagensveld, the head of PEGIDA’s Dutch branch, was also taken into custody. Video footage shows his crime: wearing a furry pig hat. If one tenth of this accusatory effort had been spent to pursue imams using European mosques to preach actual violent sedition, the terrorist threat Europe now faces might now be negligible. Considerable light is shed on how such prosecutions are possible by the recently published autobiography of Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League. In Enemy of the State, Robinson recounts his family’s desperate struggle in 2013 to have him released from an illegal five-month long period in solitary confinement, which was imposed for using a false name on a passport. Law firms ostensibly concerned with civil liberties, Robinson claims, have become so accustomed to enriching themselves at state expense — as a result of bringing spurious human rights cases on behalf of Muslims — that supporting Europe’s genuine political dissidents becomes just bad business.[3] Robinson again faces incarceration on April 14, and has frequently stated his belief that the ultimate objective of his incarceration is to facilitate his murder in British prisons. Enemy of the State also recounts Robinson’s repeated previous attempts, in writing, to plead with prison governors to have him segregated.[4] These requests are always ignored, as his injury record corroborates. Instead, he was placed in prison wingswith high jihadist populations. On April 3, the UK’s shadow Justice Secretary, Lord Falconer, said that British prisons are becoming “terrorist academies.” No doubt conscious of President John F. Kennedy’s words that, “those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable,” social media companies were proud to trumpet their role in galvanizing and providing a platform for the spread of democratic opposition during the Arab Spring of 2011.[5] However, as theocrats took charge within the Arab world, Cairo’s Tahrir Square descended into a site of mass violence against women. By the turn of the year 2016, thanks to decisions made by Chancellor Merkel, a disregard for women’s rights had been imported into the heart of Europe in such demographic concentrations, that its street-level consequences finally became undeniable. Events in Cologne quieted many who for years had ridiculed the very concept of ‘so-called Islamization.’ In just one evening, New Year’s Eve 2015, the precincts of Cologne Cathedral witnessed hundreds of sexual assaults committed by young Muslim men. News of the sex attacks, thanks to both social media and alternative media, stunned the world, and overturned the cover-up by both the authorities and the press. That such Muslim criminality remained largely unchallenged by police, would have come as no surprise to the original inhabitants of Islamic enclaves across Europe, such as Molenbeek, Neukölln, Malmö, Luton, or Seine-Saint-Denis, in which terrorists can apparently now roam at leisure. Social scientists have derided native Europeans escaping such unreported realities for decades, with the term “white flight,” ascribing to them coded accusations of racism. Despite this, a recent announcement by the Hungarian government, that there are at least 900 Islamic no-go zones spread across Europe, was predictably met with cries of “conspiracy theories” by the mainstream press. It is impossible even to imagine a scenario of German men cheerily celebrating the New Year by shooting fireworks directly at the Cologne Central Mosque, as a precursor to against hundreds of Muslim women. Such a parallel imagining of that night’s events illustrates the enormity of the ethical gulf between European society and a significant number of the Muslims who now call Europe home. There are many Muslims who say that the only credible means of ensuring that these realities do not worsen is for Islam to reform itself. At the same time, however, many also say that non-Muslims should tread carefully regarding Islamic sensibilities, for example, in referencing startling acts in the recorded life and character of their prophet. Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League, alleges in his book that the staff at the respected Quilliam Foundation think-tank were more interested in policing his Twitter posts than in publicizing their own data on how 90% of Britain’s mosques preach fundamentalist Islam.[6] Many Muslims, rather than questioning their own faith’s scripturally-mandated traditions of taking up arms, evidently prefer telling non-Muslims to lay down their words. With Islamic ideologues on one side, and genuine progressives on the other, religious reform will depend on adherents separating themselves away from the extremists. As Martin Luther demonstrated within the Ninety-Five Theses he nailed to the church door — the event which sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1517 — there is no more effective non-violent weapon for reforming a doctrine than questioning the tenets being preached in the name of that faith. Rare public figures such as Geert Wilders, Lutz Bachmann and Tommy Robinson perpetually risk prosecution, and even death, for daring to state that the mass migration of Muslims into Europe has been a disaster. Before such immigration, the religiously sanctioned butchery of female genital mutilation, suicide bombers attacking airports and public transport networks, the disfigurement of women with acid attacks, sharia courts, organized mass child-rape grooming gangs, exponentially increased incidence of stranger-rape in countries such as Finland, Norway, Sweden, & Germany, were all unheard of in modern Europe. The vast majority of the continent’s continuing arrivals remain military-aged Muslim males, exactly the demographic against which, should there be mass outbreaks of lawlessness, the use of physical force might be necessary. Yet within sharia-ruled enclaves, the rule of law and government authority are already ceasing to exist. In the absence of the ability to present the truth without fear of prosecution, it is becoming increasingly impossible to detail how certain criminal acts are often derived from the founding religious texts of Islamic doctrine, and preached in mosques throughout Europe and the Middle East. In view of this, we may end up with a Balkanized Europe, if not an Islamized one. Any religion whose principles mandate death for those who leave or criticize it, can only be moderated by its adherents if they do not face even more obstacles. If the criminal justice systems of European nations continue to pursue charges against whoever questions or criticizes Islam, what hope is there then for the silentmembers of the Muslim community who might wish to speak out? What message is being sent? George Igler, a political analyst based in London, is the Director of the Discourse Institute. [1] Interview conducted on April 2, 2016. [2] Interview conducted on January 30, 2016. [3] Robinson, T. (2015) Enemy of the State, The Press News, pp. 223-226. [4] Ibid., pp. 293-294, p. 297, p. 304. [5] Rushkoff, D. (2013) Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now, Current, p. 55. [6] Robinson, T. (2015) op.cit., pp. 255-260. Free Speech on Trial: What Message Is Being Sent? The preachers, who belong to the Hamas-controlled Wakf (Islamic trust) Ministry in the Gaza Strip, enter schools and ensure, through the exorcism rite, that the children are repentant and faithful to Islam. § These are the children who are later recruited as “warriors” in the jihad against Israel and the “infidels.” § The Gaza City school video captures on camera the Palestinian leaders’ brainwashing and abuse of their own children. § Now the peace process in the Middle East awaits an exorcism of its own. Hamas has spent years poisoning the hearts and minds of Palestinian children. The Islamist movement is now trying a new brainwashing tactic: exorcism. The practice, which aims to cast out “demons” that might have wormed their way into the children’s souls, has shocked many Palestinians. This newest Hamas-perpetrated child abuse was exposed in a video that was leaked to Palestinian social media. The cruelty of the behavior has caused an uproar among Palestinians. The video shows hysterical children in the company of exorcising preachers belonging to the Hamas-controlled Wakf (Islamic trust) Ministry in the Gaza Strip. This humiliating and invasive rite is being practiced at the Al-Nil School in Gaza City. Three boys cry as they undergo an exorcism ritual at the Al-Nil School in Gaza City, performed by preachers belonging to the Hamas-controlled Wakf (Islamic trust) Ministry. The preachers belong to a group called The Ship of Missionary Salvation. They enter schools in the Gaza Strip and ensure, through the exorcism rite, that the children are repentant and faithful to Islam. The group is managed by the Wakf Ministry’s General Administration for Preaching and Guidance. Thriller movies come to mind as the video unfolds, shedding light on the nature of religious indoctrination performed by Hamas on schoolchildren in the Gaza Strip. One of the Hamas preachers is heard in the video declaring that, “We did not come to enact a theater scene, but to expel the devil from the hearts and minds and enter the satisfaction of Allah into hearts.” The video features terrified teenagers kneeling in the school yard, while others are crying out loudly. At the same time, the Hamas preachers hold microphones and shout the Islamic battle cry, “Allahu Akbar!” [“Allah is Great!”].” The Hamas abuse of schoolchildren is far from new, and far from a surprise to those who have long been following the Islamist movement in Gaza. These are the children who are later recruited as “warriors” in the jihad (holy war) against Israel and the “infidels.” Since its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas has been using children as human shields and “soldiers” in the fight against Israel. Children dressed in military uniforms and brandishing automatic rifles and knives have become an integral part of Hamas’s military parades and rallies. Caught on camera, Palestinian children are taught to hate those who are perceived as enemies of Islam. This is how new generations of Palestinians are raised on the glorification of suicide bombers and jihadists. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi expressed revulsion over the video, noting that the preachers’ sermons were full of intimidation and horror. This behavior, Ashrawi, stated, demonstrates the “reactionary nature” of the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip, which would have a negative impact on the development of society and the values of Palestinians. Ashrawi also denounced the practice as a blatant violation of conventions protecting children rights. Even the Marxist terrorist group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), has come out against the video. The group voiced outrage at the “inhumane practices” against the children and called for an immediate inquiry into this form of mental torture and degradation. The group also warned against brainwashing the children and indoctrinating them through religious bigotry. The Gaza City school video captures on camera the Palestinian leaders’ brainwashing and abuse of their own children. It also captures the march of Palestinian society towards endorsing the tactics and ideology of radical Islam and groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Now the peace process in the Middle East awaits an exorcism of its own. Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in Jerusalem. Hamas’s New Way of Poisoning the Minds of Palestinian Children 14.Feiglin agrees with Arab MK, calls to ‘stop the occupation’ Zehut party leader notes Israel does ‘occupy’ Judea-Samaria in the literal sense – and says it’s time to establish full sovereignty. By Benny Toker Arutz Sheva First Publish: 4/12/2016, 3:41 Moshe Feiglin – Flash 90 An Arab MK who compared Palestinian Arab terrorists to Jews fighting the British for Israel’s independence is “correct,” Former Likud MK and Zehut party leader Moshe Feiglin opined Tuesday. “We must thank (MK) Zouheir Bahloul,” Feiglin stated, in a special interview with Arutz Sheva. “He held up a mirror to us and challenged us.” “We can no longer avoid it, because he essentially asked – and he’s right – what’s the difference between Etzel fighters who killed British officers [in British mandate ‘Palestine’, before Israel’s independence – ed.], and terrorists who aim to injure soldiers?” he continued. Feiglin noted that both the Left, which condemned Bahloul’s remarks, and the Right, which currently run the government, do not have a clear answer for Bahloul. “According to the Left’s perspective, we are the occupiers, and anyone who tries to harm a soldier is a true freedom fighter,” he said. “But the Right, too, has a problem: he who rules over [Judea-Samaria] is a military commander, not the State of Israel.” “Terrorists are born into the reality that he who is sovereign over the area is the military – which means it’s ‘occupied,’ thus making him a true freedom fighter.” The only true answer to Bahloul, he insisted, is to establish full Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. “The ideological Right says: this is our land – Hevron is ours, and not terrorists’,” he said. “We have to enact sovereignty in every area [of the Land of Israel – ed.], and the only [party] which says this is the Zehut party – to establish sovereignty over every last blade of grass.” Only then, Feiglin maintained, can the Right “tell Bahloul that he is lying and that a terrorist is not a freedom fighter.” Dangerous equivalencies Bahloul raised an uproar earlier this week, when he claimed that Israel is not Israeli Arabs’ country, and claimed attackers who kill soldiers are not terrorists. “I want to remind you that, before 1948, the British Mandate was here,” he said, during an event in Acre (Akko) discussing the terrorist controversially shot dead in Hevron. “The Etzel (also known as the Irgun), the Lehi, the Hagana and all the Jewish organizations took to the streets against the Mandate in order to bring about your state. Are the Palestinians not allowed to do so?” Bahloul further added that he makes a distinction between soldiers and civilians. “I have said that anyone who attacks innocents, who enters a house where children and women are sleeping, and cut short their lives can be described in any terms, including terrorist,” he said. “But soldiers? They are the symbol of the occupation.” “What should Palestinians do after suffering under the occupation for 49 years, after losing their lives, after searching for their freedom and independence and not receiving anything? They see the soldiers are symbols of the occupation.” Feiglin agrees with Arab MK, calls to ‘stop the occupation’