Dear Family & Friends,

Remember, Sunday Feb. 12^th is the Fourth Sovereignty Conference held by the Women-in-Green at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem at 6 PM. Call for reservations:

03-918-5554. Spectacular program of great & inspiring speakers!!!

Hurray for the white blossoming almond trees of Aviv: Spring! Tonight after candle-lighting & flowing into Tomorrow – Shabbat for the next 26 hours, is also Tu B’Shevat, the Birthday of the Trees. This is when the sap of the trees begins to rise from its winter slumber. This year it seems quite early – Spring? In the middle of February? Yes, because last year was a Leap Year with an extra month.

We will have a Tu B’Shevat Seder with as many tree fruits & nuts as we could find in the stores. We create a beautiful table, full of G-d’s bounty, say blessings over each type of fruit or nut & enjoy.

Still, many issues await your Shabbat reading:

All the very best, Gail/Geula/Savta/Savta Raba x 2/Mom

3.Donald Trump will understand MidEast real estate in 5 minutes by Mark Langfan

4.Donald Trump & Charles “The Hammer” Martel

Women in Green org cites poll showing wide support for annexation ahead of PM’s planned meeting with Trump. ‘These are very crucial days’. By Ido Ben Porat, 27/01/17 14:47

Advocates for the Land of Israel are lobbying the Likud party ahead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s February 15^th trip to Washington DC to meet with newly inaugurated President Donald J. Trump.

Activists from the Women In Green, a pro-Israel organization which supports the application of Israeli law over Judea & Samaria, canvassed among lawmakers & party leaders at last week’s conference of Likud members in Eilat, dubbed the “Likudiada”.

Women in Green co-chair Nadia Matar spoke with Arutz Sheva at the Likudiada regarding the Prime Minister’s upcoming trip to Washington, & the growing movement to apply Israeli sovereignty over Judea & Samaria.

“These are very crucial days,” said Matar. “We have the new Trump administration; we have, unfortunately, Amona & Ofra, which are God forbid, [slated to be] destroyed… [&] we must have the Prime Minister get his strength before his [planned February 15] trip that the people of Israel want Sovereignty. The people of Israel expect our Prime Minister not to ask for a little bit, for a few crumbs, but to ask and say what Israel wants. Israel wants to dream big. Israel wants Eretz Yisrael.”

Earlier in Jauuary, Land of Israel Lobby Chairman Yoav Kish (Likud) proposed a bill to annex Ma’aleh Adumim, the third largest Israeli community in Judea & Samaria.

While the Women In Green endorsed the application of Israeli law to the city, they warned against partial annexation.

“Let us not be satisfied with partial sovereignty,” wrote Women in Green leaders Yehudit Katsover & Nadia Matar. Narrow applications of Israeli Sovereignty would, they warn, “make us lose sight of the living & breathing connection between the people of Israel & all of the areas of its land, a connection of which Sovereignty is an essential & required part.”

During the Likudiada, Matar highlighted a recent poll commissioned by the Women in Green, suggesting strong support for annexation – and shrinking support among Israelis for Palestinian statehood.

“Seventy-five percent of the people of Israel voted in favor of sovereignty,” said Matar. “Only 7% voted for a Palestinian state. So only 7% of the Israeli public still favor a Palestinian state. All the rest, 75% – & probably also those who said they don’t know yet, 18% – know that the one & only Zionist plan that can be implemented here is the application of Israeli sovereignty over Judea & Samaria.”

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2.Hebrew Origins of Pal Arab Towns in Judea-Samaria

By Lee Bender, Arutz Sheva 09/02/17 01:02

Lee Bender co-authored a book, “Pressing Israel: Media Bias Exposed From A-Z” (Pavilion Press) with Jerome Verlin & has been speaking about anti-Israel bias & activities to numerous schools, synagogues, churches & civic groups & written dozens of articles published in local & national media. He is Co-President of the Zionist Organization of America-Greater Philadelphia District, a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia, Israel Advocacy Committee of Jewish Federation among other organizations. A former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney, he has been in private practice as a trial attorney in Pennsylvania & New Jersey since 1995. twitter: LeeB@emet6md

“Occupied Territories?”: Hebrew Origins of Palestinian Arab Towns in Judea-Samaria

With the passing of the latest UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which considers any Israeli presence beyond the 1967 green lines as illegal, & the UNESCO resolution disassociating Jewish connection to Jerusalem, it is instructive to review composition of the actual landscape wherein the international community now considers Jews as colonizers, strangers to & “occupiers of”. The absurdity of these positions is, however, immediately evident. Virtually all the place names used by local Arabs are non-Arabic in origin, deriving either from Biblical Hebrew names, or later Greek or Roman names.

The region that the international community commonly & reflexively refer to as the “West Bank” was known for 3 millennia as Judea & Samaria, both Hebrew names. Indeed, Jews derive the very name of their religion & peoplehood from the name Yehuda, who was the fourth son of Jacob. Yet, these ancient names have not been exclusively used by Jewish “settlers”. In fact, the UN itself, General Assembly Resolution 181 of 1947, referred to the region as Judea & Samaria, as well as all maps published before 1948.

It was only in 1950 that Jordan, who illegally occupied the area after the 1948 War of Independence until they were ejected by Israel in 1967, renamed it “West Bank” to divorce its Jewish connection. The Romans similarly renamed the entire region “Palestine” (named for the Philistines) after they destroyed the Second Temple to detach its Jewish roots.

As historian Daniel Pipes points out in his “Is There A Palestinian People? Can It Be Defeated?” (1-10-17, Middle East Forum blog): “Palestine” (Arabic: “Filastin”) as a political unit only came into use as a Zionist triumph when imposed by the British occupiers following the issuance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917. Palestinians (Arabic: “Filastiniyun”) also came into use only in the twentieth century.”

Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, who later became Israel’s second president, was a scholar who wrote a book in 1932, entitled, “The Peoples of Our Land”. He stated that west of the Jordan River, 277 villages & sites- almost 2/3^rds – had names that were similar to or the same as Jewish villages on the same sites during Second Temple times.

According to Tsvi Misinai, author of “Brother Shall Not Lift Sword Against Brother”, many of the villages & towns have names that are not only NOT Arabic, but also rarely appear in other Arab lands. Among such names are Kafr Yasif, Kafr Kana, Kafr yatta, Kafr Manda, Kaft Samia & others.

Moreover, one-quarter of the 584 Arab localities in Israel & the territories have ancient Biblical names. For example, Sakhnin was a Jewish town during the Talmudic era & Beit Lehem is the Biblical city of Bethlehem.

This is in addition to 36% of 174 Jewish localities established in this region containing Biblical, Mishnaic & Talmudic names. (See “Ancient Place Names in Israel,” by Daniela Santus, in Proceedings of the Conference, The Cultural Turn in Geography, 18-20th of September 2003 – Gorizia Campus, Part II: Landscape Construction and Cultural Identity).

Other examples of Arab towns with names derived from the Hebrew Bible: Anata was Anatot (the Prophet Jeremiah’s hometown), Batir was Beitar, Beit Jalla is the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, Beitin was Beit El (as named by Jacob himself), Mukhmas is Michmash (King Saul’s fortress), El-Jib was Giv’on (where the sun stood still), Jaba was Geva, Jenin was Ein Ganim, Silwan was Shiloach, Selum was Shilo (one of the first capitals of ancient Israel) & Tequa is Tekoa (the Prophet Amos’s hometown). Nablus (whose prior Hebrew name was Shechem, is derived from the Greek, Neopolis.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Expanding the viewpoint outward reveals ever further irony: every Arab country bordering Israel derives its name from the Hebrew Bible. Lebanon: Levanon, means white in Hebrew, referring to the snow cover of the surrounding mountains. Syria: Siryon, in the Bible, is the alternate name for Mount Hermon. The River Jordan (Yarden in Hebrew) takes its name from the Israelite tribe of Dan, and means “descends from Dan.” Egypt: called Mizr in Arabic, is derived from Mitzrayim, which appears almost 300 times in the Torah, the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible. Gaza, too, is mentioned in Genesis & the Book of Judges with the Samson story.

Mark Langfan, is Chairman of Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI) & specializes in security issues, has created an original educational 3d Topographic Map System of Israel to facilitate clear understanding of the dangers facing Israel, her water supply, including our vulnerability to lack of geographic depth. It has been studied by US lawmakers & can be seen at www.marklangfan.com.

8 months ago, in September 2015, when every pundit opined that Donald Trump was a laughable candidate, I wrote that: “In short, get ready for a President Trump. But, more importantly, Trump & only Trump, has the guts to erase Obama, & the vestiges of Obama’s traitorous Iran-First policies, like Obama never existed. Just call Trump the “Eraser-Man”. America will elect Trump because they want to erase Obama & all of his domestic & national security policies. After 1 year of President Trump, Obama & his policies will be just a bad dream.”

Now, get ready for action by United States President Donald Trump who was installed in January 20, 2017. Secretary of State Clinton has already fatally “bitten” into Trump’s “women’s card” baited-trap, hook, line & sinker.

Imagine Trump in the soon-in-coming nationalized TV debate retorting to Clinton, “Where was your ‘women’s card’ for Paula Jones or Monica Lewinsky, or for all of Bill Clinton’s other victims?”

As for the Middle East, real estate mogul Trump will quickly understand the topography, demography & resource aspects of the Middle East real estate map.

Here’s a quick guide to the 6 keys of the Middle Eastern Real Estate’s topographic, demographic & asset-rich terrain.

1.Iran is shooting to steal, for itself, the Black Gold Triangle, taking it from the Sunni Kingdoms. The Black Gold Triangle holds 56% of the world’s oil. With a Middle East topographic map one quickly sees that the “fertile crescent” which lies between the Tigris [West river] & Euphrates [East river] Rivers topographically traces out what I have dubbed the “Black Gold Triangle.” This north-southward topographic triangle is essentially the demographic dividing line between the Sunnis to the west and the Shias to the east.

2.So, on the face of it, the MidEast is a Sunni-Shiite fight over the fertile crescent’s oil riches.

The Black Gold Triangle INN:ML

The triangle ln INN:ML

3) Trump will notice that topographically the 4,000 meter-high Zagros Mountains that form Iran’s western border are the dividing line between Persia to the east & the Arabs to the West & that all the oil is on the Arab’s Western side. Therefore, Iran has really engaged in a Persian divide-and-conquer campaign to divide the Arabs among themselves & to foment an intra-Arab genocide by inciting the Sunni-Shiite internecine hostilities. Iran’s goal is to instigate Arab auto-genocide so that Iran can walk into the Black Gold Triangle without anyone stopping them.

Trump will see the current MidEast turmoil NOT as a Sunni-Shiite battle to the death, but as a Persian plan to steal Arab oil resources. Once Trump exposes this fact, the entire Sunni Muslim American community will vote for him in droves. Sunnis are 90% of the world’s Muslims & a similarly huge percentage of American Muslims.

Zagros Mountains INN: ML

4) Once Iran is seen as the ultimate fomenter of the horrific violence, mass-murder & world terrorism, President Trump will quickly see Israel as the key to forming a sustainable, local, regional Sunni defense alliance that will stop the Iranian hegemonic land-grab in its tracks. A lucky fall-out will be that the Sunnis want to eradicate ISIS as much as they want to eject Iran out of the Arab lands.

The key is the fact that the Middle East doesn’t need American troops. The Middle East needs an American President who does not act like an Iranian stooge & is not threatened by the Syrian-America dual-national Tony Rezko who is said to have engineered Obama’s allegedly fraudulent purchase of his Hyde Park home while Obama was a sitting US Senator.

Obama has done everything in his power to kill an Israeli-Sunni alliance. An informed Trump will encourage & facilitate an Israeli-Sunni entente. That means no US troops in the Middle East & a well-earned Nobel Peace Prize for Trump.

Once Trump understands the intersection between dual-national Syria-American Tony Rezko, Obama, Valerie Jarrett. the Mukhabarat & the Iran-Nuclear Deal, the FBI will be called in to effect order.

Shamshir of Mahdi INN:ML

5) Next, Trump will see that only thing that stands between Greece, a NATO member with 11 million Christians (that America is sworn to defend) & 370 million Muslims of the Middle East – is the safe and strong fortress of Eretz Israel including the entire ‘West Bank’. Without Israel, the Islamists would bring their Kalashnikovs instead of their suitcases to Greece.

Without Israel, the United States would have to spend hundreds of Billions of dollars a year & lose many thousands of our precious soldiers defending Europe from an Islamo-Fascist invasion from the South-East. He will understand that control of the physical territory of Israel forms the key strategic European defense hub of the entire Middle East.

For, as Alexander the Great schooled his generals in 333 B.C.E. after he rejected their urgent advice to immediately chase east after the Persian/Iranian Darius III after Alexander defeated Darius III at Battle of Issus, “Friends and fellow soldiers, I do not see how we safely advance . . . to pursue [the Iranian] Darius with the neutral city of Tyre in our rear, Egypt & Cyprus still in enemy hands would be a serious risk. . .. But, with all Phoenicia [Israel] . . . ours . . . we shall be able to march on Babylon [Iraq] with security at home, with enhanced prestige & with Persia [Iran] excluded not only from the [Mediterranean] Sea but from the whole [Middle East] continent up to the Euphrates.”

With a safe & secure Israel, there will be peace. With a defeated Israel, the Iranian Pandora’s evil box will become unstoppable.

Israel’s strategic value

INN: ML

6) Finally, in seconds, President Trump will understand that the West Bank is the topographic mountains that tower over the low lands of the Sharon Plain which hold 70% of Israel’s Jewish population & industry. Any “West Bank ‘Demilitarized’ PA States will smuggle rockets into the territory & will rain Sarin-tipped rockets into Tel Aviv five minutes after Israel withdrew to the “2-State Solution” just like Gaza has rained rockets on Israel’s south. Trump will see the “2-State Solution” is the “Establishment’s” prescription for an American catastrophic loss of its key geo-strategic asset in the region.

Israel’s enemies INN:ML

It’s over a thousand years since Charles Martel understood what he was up against & did what had to be done. It has happened again. By Mark Langfan

In 732 A.C.E., the Umayyad Islamic Terror Caliphate in occupied Spain, or what was then al-Andulus, invaded the Duchy of Aquitane or what is now south-western France & ransacked the French city Bordeaux. Seeing the grave threat of the ravaging Islamic forces to Christianity & his Frankish Kingdom, Charles Martel marshaled his forces & defeated the radical Islamic General Abdul Rahman Al Gahafiqi in the battle of Tours-Poitiers (France – a little east of Normandy).

In 732, in the face of massive Islamic victories, Martel’s Christian victory gave hope to the Christians & they renamed him Charles “The Hammer” Martel. (For an excellent video of the Tours Battle see Tours Battle Video here.) Martel’s victory steeled the arc of Christian Europeans & enabled them to defeat the rampaging radical Islamic terrorists of that day.

Today in 2017, US President Donald J. Trump sees the same existential threat of radical Islamic terror to the United States & the Free World. We must all support him & pray for his absolute success: Failure is not an option.

Just as Charles Martel did in 732CE, President Trump sees the waxing Islamic terror & calls it like he sees it. In President Trump’s inauguration speech he stated, “We will reinforce old alliances, form new ones & unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth.” If you can’t name your enemy, you certainly can’t fight your enemy. President Trump has named his enemy.

In naming the Free world’s enemy, President Trump has named his allies, principally Israel.
In fact, one of the reasons President Obama would never name radical Islam as the enemy is because he knew that by naming Islam as an enemy he was naming Israel as an ally. With President Trump, the world has gone from Obama’s Orwellian fake world, to Trump’s true world.

Just as Charles Martel had to fight a radical Islamic terror that had already occupied significant beachheads in Europe, so too must President Trump begin the fight where radical Islam has already intellectually & geographically occupied the European continent. These European “no-go” zones not only threaten the countries that have allowed them to form, but have eliminated the various countries’ ability to admit they are essentially “occupied.” This harms their ability to effectively mobilize and destroy the waxing radical Islamic terror threat.

Just as Charles Martel had to completely reformulate his military, President Trump is rebuilding an American army that will be able to “eradicate” “radical Muslim extremism” off the “face of the earth.” Such a military reorganization will require a complete re-think of our military force structure. The threat is not a 20th century tank battle, but a 24/7, 365/365 day battle against “radical Muslim extremism” on all fronts: the Homeland, the Cyber-space, the Intellectual Battle Space.

Additionally, just as Charles Martel had to break up the Frankish establishment of Churches, President Trump is going to have to break up the American political elite establishment. America’s establishment has been intellectually occupied by a politically correct mindset that has paralyzed its ability to effectively defend itself against “radical Islamic terror.” As proof of their dystopic inverted worldview, instead of seeing President Trump as a modern-day Churchill defending the Free World against a neo-Nazi Fascist Radical Islamic terror wave, these crazies see Trump as a “Hitler”.

Instead of their writing articles for the Wall Street Journal & New York Times, these “fake news” writers & pundits should be shown up for what they are.

Finally, just as Charles Martel found the right topographically advantaged battlefield on which to take on the radical Islamic terrorist cavalry of 732C.E. President Trump will find the right battlefield to eradicate the radical Islamic terrorists of 2017.

For while there are many fronts in which we face today’s radical Islamic terrorists, President Trump has hired the right man in General Mattis to lead those battles. General Mattis will leverage America’s advantage & begin to turn back the terrible radical Islamic terror scourge that Obama encouraged & allowed to run rampant over the Free World in the last 8 years.

In sum, we all must pray every minute of every day for President Trump’s absolute & unalloyed success. Hopefully, we will be able to crown President Trump, Donald “The Hammer” Trump. Our every freedom & hope rides on his & hence our, success.

President Trump praises Netanyahu but says ‘settlements won’t advance peace’. By David Rosenberg, Arutz Sheva 10/02/17 10:28 | updated: 11:09

Donald Trump – Reuters

On Friday, Israel Hayom published an interview with President Donald Trump, the first he has granted to an Israeli media outlet since taking office in January.

The interview was released just hours after President Trump dined with Israel Hayom owner & GOP donor Sheldon Adelson at the White House Thursday evening.

In the interview, the president, who is slated to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu next week, praised the Israeli premier, but said he felt the recent announcements of housing projects in Judea & Samaria did not improve the prospects for peace in the region.

“I know Israel very well,” said Trump, “and I respect it; I want to get peace between Israel and the Palestinians and even more than that.”

President Trump said on his relationship with Netanyahu: “We’ve always had [a good chemistry]. The Prime Minister is a good man who wants to do the right thing for Israel & he wants peace. He wants it fully. I’ve always liked him.”

But, Trump continued, he did not understand how expansion of Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria would promote peace.

“There is limited land left & every time you take land for settlements, there’s less land left. I’m not someone who believes that advancing the settlements is good for peace. But we’re checking all the possibilities.”

Regarding America’s relationship with Israel, the president predicted that ties between the two countries would strengthen, claiming that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama White House had brought relations with Israel to a nadir.

“We’ll have better relations with Israel. The agreement with Iran was a disaster for Israel, it’s unbelievable, both in terms of how it was negotiated & the way it was implemented. Everything about this deal is terrible. As a businessman I know how to tell a bad deal from a good deal. This deal is impossible to understand. I can’t understand it. You can see how Iran is behaving: instead of thanking Obama, who was so biased in their favor, they acted arrogantly even before he left the White House. It’s a shame this deal was made.”

Trump also said despite his disagreement with Israel over the expansion of Jewish towns in Judea & Samaria, he would not condemn Israel.

“I don’t want to condemn Israel. Israel has a long history of condemnations and challenges. I don’t want to condemn Israel during my administration. I understand Israel very well & respect it very much. Israelis have gone through very difficult periods. I want peace between Israelis & Palestinians & even more than that. I think peace for Israel would be great for Israel, not just good.”

When asked whether he planned to fulfill his campaign pledge to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem, the president said he was still considering the issue.

“I want Israel to behave sensibly during the peace process, that it should come after so many years. Maybe there will even be the chance for a bigger peace than just an Israeli-Palestinian [deal]. I want both sides to behave reasonably & we’ll have better chances that way.

“I’m thinking about it. I’m learning the subject & we’ll see what happens. It’s not an easy decision. It’s already been debated for years. No one…want(ed) to make the decisions & I’m thinking very seriously about it.”

President Trump reiterated his optimism regarding the prospects for a comprehensive Middle East peace, though he acknowledged that many of his own advisers have suggested such an achievement is impossible.

“No deal is good if it’s not good for both sides. Right now we’re in a process that’s lasted for years, decades. A lot of people think that it is impossible to do this [to reach a final status agreement]; a lot of smart people around me say it is impossible to reach an agreement. I don’t agree with them. I think that it is possible to reach an agreement & we need to reach an agreement.”

State could face lawsuits from thousands of people who would lose their homes if the Regulation Law is overturned. By Uzi Baruch, 10/02/17 12:25

Nili – Regavim

With challenges to the recently passed law already being presented, the right-wing response to one planned appeal by Leftist organizations to the Supreme Court to strike down the Regulation Law was not long in coming.

A family from the town of Nili filed a civil damages suit against the Civil Administration for one million shekels ($270,000). Several months ago the family was shocked to discover that the house which they had legally constructed was declared illegal overnight.

The couple had moved from Tel Aviv to Nili, an upper-middle class, secular town in the Binyamin region of Samaria. In 2013 they were given the rights to use a lot located within the boundaries of the town & constructed a house at a cost of 2 million shekels ($540,000).

But in March 2015, the Civil Administration used the “Blue Line” procedure on Nili, in which old maps demarcating state land in Judea & Samaria are redrawn with the precision of modern computers. The step was taken without prior notice & without contacting the families affected. The ‘computer’ left the street on which the family’s house had been legally constructed outside the boundaries of the state land, retroactively making the house illegal.

The value of the house dropped accordingly.

The family’s attorney, Dr. Harel Arnon, emphasized in the suit that the Supreme Court has stated clearly in a number of prior judgments that the director of the state land administration in Judea & Samaria is liable & must take special precautions for the public regarding the allocation of land.

The suit could also have repercussions for the fate of the Regulation Law, which was passed by the Knesset this week.

The Regulation Law would allow homes allegedly constructed on private Arab land to remain & the owner to be compensated with either another plot of land or monetary compensation equalling 125% of the land’s value.

Should the Supreme Court strike down the Regulation Law, the Regavim legal organization has threatened that the thousands of Israeli citizens who stand to lose their homes would bring lawsuits similar to the suit of the family from Nili against the State.

“In recent years, legal advisers & officials of the Civil Administration, have been removing land & houses in settlements which were established decades ago [from their original places within the boundaries of state lands],” Regavim said in a statement. “These measures have severely harmed the communities & the basic human rights [of the residents] & have caused tremendous economic damage to thousands of families, who built their houses legally & which became illegal overnight. The Regulation Law provides a logical & moral [answer] & is necessary for all those home-owners & landowners.”

“It is simple math. If the Regulation Law is overturned because of Leftist organizations, then the state will have to pay billions of shekels in compensation to all of those who have been harmed by the egregious move of the Civil Administration.”

???????Any initiative to apply Jewish sovereignty to Judea-Samaria without a clear plan for dramatic reduction of its Arab population will imperil Jewish sovereignty over all territory west of the Jordan by Dr. Martin Sherman, 10/02/17 08:29

Dr. Martin Sherman served for 7 years in operational capacities in the Israeli Defense establishment, was ministerial adviser to Yitzhak Shamir’s government & lectured for 20 years at Tel Aviv University in Political Science, International Relations & Strategic Studies. He has a B.Sc. (Physics & Geology), MBA (Finance) & PhD in political science & international relations, was the first academic director of the Herzliya Conference & is the author of two books, numerous articles & policy papers on a wide range of political, diplomatic & security issues. He is founder & executive director of the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies (www.strategicisrael.org). Born in South Africa, he has lived in Israel since 1971.

“One might expect that any support for a single state among Israeli Jews would come from the far Left… Recently, proposals to grant Israeli citizenship to Palestinians in the West Bank, including the right to vote for the Knesset, have emerged from a surprising direction: right-wing stalwarts… We should watch how this debate develop…& encourage it carefully. – Ali Abunimah, “Israeli Right embracing one-state?” Al Jazeera.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” – An aphorism of uncertain origins, sometimes attributed to Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

As reluctant recognition of the futility of further pursuit of the “two-states-for-two-people” principle begins to dawn on growing circles of its erstwhile proponents, numerous alternative policy proposals are emerging in the public discourse.

No less perilous or pernicious

Sadly, many of these proffered alternatives are poorly thought through & in the final analysis, no less perilous or pernicious than the very 2-state formula they are intended to replace.

These putative alternatives range from calls to withdraw unilaterally from virtually all territory beyond the current security barrier from the so-called “Left”; to calls for annexing all the territory together with the Arab population from the so-called “Right”.

Clearly, little reflection is required to grasp that unilateral withdrawal will inevitably transform the “West Bank” into either a mega-South Lebanon (if the IDF remains deployed, as some suggest) or a giant Gaza (if the IDF is removed as others suggest).

Likewise, scant reflection is called for to realize that annexing the territory of Judea-Samaria, together with the bulk of its Arab residents, is an unequivocal recipe for the Lebanonization of Israel (if they are seen as being enfranchised—or potentially enfranchised—citizens in a single societal unit); or for its Balkanization (if they are seen as being politically affiliated to several disconnected autonomous mini-enclaves scattered across the territory).

Accordingly, although the disastrous defects of the 2-state paradigm should be painfully apparent to anyone with sufficient intellectual integrity to differentiate between the politically correct & the factually correct, it is also true that not everything that is not a “2-state” proposition is necessarily better than that fatally flawed & failed formula.

“Right” Regrettably Remiss

The impending demise of the “2-state” concept as a viable policy option—together with the recent demise of the pro-“2-state” Obama incumbency—have understandably buoyed the spirits of those who have opposed the establishment of a Palestinian-Arab state west of the Jordan River.

But any euphoria on this score may well prove premature. For to capitalize on the undeniable opportunity that both Mid-Eastern realities & a potentially fortuitous US election outcome have opened up, anti-2-staters must formulate a cogent, coherent & comprehensive alternative that will enhance, not degrade, Israel’s strategic position; that will underpin the Zionist endeavor, not undermine it.

Regrettably, “Right-wing” opponents have been remarkably remiss in this regard.

Indeed, almost four months before the November 2016 US elections, immediately following the removal of any mention of the two-state principle from the Republican Party platform, I called on opponents of that idea to prepare a viable alternative in the event of (what then seemed an improbable) GOP victory see-What if the GOP wins? (July 22, 2016)

In the column, I urged against adopting/propagating seductive conventional wisdom alternatives, such as:
– ‘Managing the conflict’ which is little more than an exercise in futility—& self-delusion—that will only carry the country on a perilous downward spiral, with prevailing problems increasing in both scale & intensity;

– Proposals prescribing inclusion of the Palestinian-Arabs in the permanent population of a post-2 -state Israel, which would almost inevitably turn the country into a Muslim-majority tyranny within a few generations—even if the optimistic demographers are right & initially, the Muslim population will comprise a 35-40% minority;

– Proposals advocating partial annexation & limited autonomy for the Palestinian Arabs, concentrated in disconnected mini-enclaves which will result in wildly tortuous and contorted borders, virtually impossible to demarcate and secure, thus emptying “sovereignty” in the annexed areas of any meaningful content.

What’s wrong with the “Right”
Plainly, none of these proposals offer a sustainable alternative paradigm to the 2-state formula that can ensure Israel’s long-term survival as a viable nation-state of the Jewish people.

For almost half-decade, when frustration & exasperation got the better of me, I have written with various degrees of acerbity, even abrasiveness, on the severe shortcoming of the more commonly aired proposals for alternatives for the 2-state principle—see What’s Wrong with The Right : Part 1 (August, 2012) &Part 2 (August, 2012); Annexing Area C: An Open Letter to Naftali Bennett (December, 2012); Brain Dead on The Right? (June, 2013 ); Sovereignty? Yes, But Look Before You Leap (January, 2014); Sovereignty? Yes, But Beware of Annexing Area C: (January, 2014); Islamizing Israel – When The Radical Left and Hard Right Concur (April, 2015).

However, to avoid false impressions, let me be unequivocally clear. Ever since the early 1990s, I’ve been an unswerving advocate for extending Jewish Sovereignty over the entire area from the “River to the Sea”, which I believe is indispensable for ensuring Israel’s long-term ability to survive as the Jewish nation-state.

That said, I am equally convinced that injudicious initiatives to apply Jewish sovereignty to the territories across the pre-1967 lines, without a clear program for dramatically reducing the Arab presence, will not only impair the country’s ability to sustain its sovereignty over these areas, but will imperil Jewish sovereignty over any territory west of the Jordan—including within the pre-1967 lines!!!

Twin Imperatives for Survival

In the past, I have been at pains to underscore something that should be entirely self-evident: In order to endure as the Jewish nation-state, Israel must effectively address TWO equally important imperatives: The Geographic Imperative and the Demographic Imperative.
The first of these imperatives calls for Israeli control (i.e. sovereignty) over all the territory east of the coastal plain up to the Jordan River—to prevent intolerable risks to its physical survival; the second imperative calls for significant reduction of the Arab presence in the territory under Jewish sovereignty to forestall an intolerable demographic threat to its dominant Jewish character.

Clearly the need to contend with these twin imperatives is virtually axiomatic—for if it fails to do so, Israel will either become untenable as the nation-state of the Jews geographically or demographically—or both.

Accordingly, for a proposed alternative to even begin to address the Demographic Imperative, any demand for Israeli sovereignty over Judea-Samaria must simultaneously provide a blueprint for the future of the Arab population resident there after application of Israeli sovereignty.

It is precisely here that many leading pro-sovereignty proponents, heartened by optimistic demographic estimates, begin to “lose the plot”.

For, even if these estimates are accurate, and in a post-annexation Israel, the Jews will (initially) still retain a 60-65% majority, they are largely beside the point when it comes to the crux of the Demographic Imperative.

For the crucial issue is not the (initial) electoral arithmetic. Rather it is the impact an enfranchised (or potentially enfranchised ) Muslim minority, comprising 35-40% of the permanent population within sovereign Israeli territory, would have on the socio-cultural fabric of the country, the subsequent budgetary & demographic dynamics this would set in motion—& the virtually inevitable political outcomes these eventually would precipitate.

Caveat to Caroline

One of the best-known advocates for extending Israeli Sovereignty over all the territory & the people of Judea-Samaria is the widely acclaimed columnist, Caroline Glick. To her credit, Glick laid out the specifics of her policy proposal in a book published in 2014, entitled “The Israeli Solution: A One- State Plan for Peace in the Middle East”.

In it she stipulates: “The mechanics of the policy are fairly straightforward. Israel will apply its laws to Judea and Samaria and govern the areas as normal parts of Israel…Contingent on security concerns…Palestinians will have the right to travel and live anywhere they wish within Israeli territory…Palestinians will have the same legal and civil rights as the rest of the residents and citizens of Israel…Those that receive Israeli citizenship in accordance with Israel’s Citizenship Law will also be allowed to vote in national elections for the Knesset.”
This is a perilous proposition which, if adopted, will spell the almost certain demise of the Jewish nation-state—no less than the pernicious 2-state principle, from which it purports to redeem it.

I have set out my reservations regarding Glick’s proposal in a column titled To My Colleague Caroline, A Caveat (April, 2014). In it I write “I concur with Glick on virtually everything she rejects, but reject much of which she urges us to accept”.

Indeed, this encapsulates much of my subsequent analysis—for while I strongly endorse her incisive diagnosis of the fatal failings of the 2-state formula, I disagree, just as strongly, with the prescription she offers to remedy them.

Unbounded, unfounded optimism

One cannot but wonder at Glick’s unbounded, & sadly, unfounded, optimism, reflected in her belief, somehow, Israel, with a 35-40% Muslim minority could forge a coherent & cohesive society that would preserve its dominant Jewish character.

This optimism is particularly remarkable given the disruption that far smaller Muslim minorities have wrought in recent years on other non-Muslim societies in the West, where inherent inter-ethnic rivalries (unencumbered by the 100 year history of war over the Holy Land), are arguably far less intense than those prevailing between Jew & Arab.

For even if the optimistic demographics are correct –& under the far from certain assumption that the radical Left would not side with it—the Muslim minority could command anything up to 40 mandates in any election . This would be a dramatic political development, drastically enhancing the anti-Zionist representation in the national parliament.
But the socio-economic impact is likely to be even more significant.

Clearly huge budget resources will have to be diverted from the Jewish sector to the Muslim sector in an endeavor to reduce the yawning gaps between the 2 sectors, siphoning off funds currently utilized for enhancing infrastructure, welfare, education so on. Indeed, it would hardly be an exaggeration to say that Israel is likely to be catapulted back from being a first-world post-industrial county to a third-world developing one.

Chilling effect on ‘Aliyah’

This is likely to have a chilling effect on Jewish immigration as well. For with a recalcitrant minority of up to 40%, many of whom have been taught for decades to hate Jews (as Glick herself acknowledges) & who vehemently reject the Jewish character of the State, its symbols, calendar & conduct of public life, Israel is unlikely to be a more appealing destination for Diaspora Jews. This is especially true if the standard of living is severely downgraded and incipient Lebanon-like inter-ethnic tensions constantly simmer—& occasionally boil over into violent clashes.

Conversely, these realities are likely to make Israel a less hospitable location for Israeli Jews currently resident in the country & provide a powerful inducement for them to seek an alternative abode abroad, thus stimulating the motivation for emigration.

Clearly, this will have a corrosive effect on initial demographic calculations gradually, but inexorably, eroding any Jewish majority which may have initially existed.

I have barely scratched the surface in elaborating the appalling dangers entailed in Glick’s (& others’) prescription for annexing Judea-Samaria together with the resident Arab population. I have, however, presented them in greater detail in the hyperlinked columns mentioned above & I urge readers to familiarize themselves with them. For they broach what is perhaps the most critical issue for Israel & the Zionist enterprise today.
Rift on the “Right”?

In many ways, Israel is on the cusp of dramatic historical developments. The stakes are high and the cost of error may be irretrievable. Much—arguably, all—depends on how judicious it is in its decision-making.
With the almost inevitable demise of the two-state paradigm, its opponents are divided into two distinct factions. Both advocate applying Israeli Sovereignty to Judea-Samaria. They are, however, divided on one crucial issue – the fate of the Arab population resident in these areas.

The one faction, represented by Glick, holds that the Arabs should remain under Israeli rule; the other, represented by people like Moshe Feiglin & myself, believe that this would create an untenable situation for Israel as the nation-state of the Jews & the Arab populations must be diminished—preferably by non-coercive means, such as economic inducements.

This is the vital debate that the “Right” must conduct within itself—& without delay. For it is almost too late!

By ceaselessly delegitimizing, boycotting, criticizing Israel, the “good people” are justifying an additional step, one in which Israel will disappear. By Giulio Meotti, 10/02/17 11:47

Giulio Meotti, an Italian journalist with Il Foglio, writes a twice-weekly column for Arutz Sheva. He is the author of the book “A New Shoah”, that researched the personal stories of Israel’s terror victims, published by Encounter and of “J’Accuse: the Vatican Against Israel” published by Mantua Books.. His writing has appeared in publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, Frontpage and Commentary.

The “good people” feel it is natural, even logical & just, that Israel accept the offenses launched on its territory & people. There are many offenses: the terror attacks, the diplomatic attacks & the attacks on Israel’s legitimacy.

The Jewish State is not really considered ‘Sovereign’: Jews are only guests of history.

“The Gaza Strip” & the “West Bank” have become the set of a Palestinian TV production about the “Israeli repression”. This is the paradox of public opinion: anti-Semitism is most intense among the “good people”, the media, the NGOs, the bureaucratic machine, the churches. The fate of Gilad Shalit never raised 1/10^th of the concern these “good people” feel for the terrorists in Guantanamo Bay. Why?

By ceaselessly delegitimizing, boycotting, criticizing Israel, the “good people” are justifying an additional step, one in which Israel will disappear.

Challenging the very existence of the State of Israel, through the daily war waged on its borders, is equivalent to accusing all the Jewish people because Israel embodies, in fact, the future of the Jews as a people. Apart from the prosperous but assimilated US’ Jewish community, a demographically & politically relevant Jewish life is impossible today in the Diaspora.

That is why “Zionism” has become a code word for evil. In Prague, in 1952, during the “Slansky trial,” for the first time, Israel’s enemies made use of that word “Zionist” in a derogatory, demonic sense. The Communists used it to murder some of his men (Jews & non-Jews). Otto Sling confessed that he had never been able liberate himself from the evil Jewish influence. Instead of Slansky, today’s anti-Semites accuse the State of Israel.

17 years later, in the summer of 1969, Europe saw the first manifestation of this new form of hatred. A conference was planned by the Ambassador of Israel in Bonn, Asher Ben-Natan, in the auditorium of the University of Frankfurt. Ben-Natan was an Austrian Jew who was to represent Israel on German soil. He was to speak on the subject “Peace in the Middle East”, but he was prevented from speaking. 2,000 students insulted the ambassador. Manifestations of intolerance began at the arrival of Ben-Natan. When the diplomat entered the hall, most of the young people welcomed him with slogans like “Down with the occupation,” “Zionists out of Palestine” & “Nazis away from Germany”.

Three times, between late June & early July of that year, groups of students prevented Ben-Natan from speaking – in Frankfurt, Hamburg & Nuremberg: the very same universities from whence the Nazi ideologues had declaimed the need to get rid of all the Jews for the benefit of Germany. In a moment of relative calm, Israel’s ambassador was able to pronounce one sentence: “If you can prevent the discussion today, this will be a historical event. The same thing in fact took place in Germany exactly 34 years ago”.

Since then, the desired effect of hatred & isolation of Israel in international public opinion has been easily obtained: how many professors, journalists & intellectuals today have the courage & integrity to stand up for Israel?

The “good people” cannot reconcile themselves to Israel’s existence. They show it by refusing to accept that there is a deep connection between the people of Israel & the land of Israel.

It is the claim stated by Gilles Deleuze, a famous intellectual & French scholar who reached worldwide fame in 1972 when he wrote the “Anti Oedipus”, a critique of dogmatism in psychoanalysis that became a bestseller. Destined to be one of the masters of ‘68, Deleuze wrote an essay for the “Revue d’études palestiniennes”, in which he explained that “Israel has never hidden its goal, creating a vacuum in the Palestinian territory”. And again: “In many ways the Palestinians are the new Indians, the Indians of Israel.”

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Honenu attorney contacts OC Central Command, claims warrant ordering Amona expulsion not in force. By Yedidya Ben-Or Arutz Sheva 5/02/17 11:12

Violence at Amona – Flash 90

Attorney Menashe Yaddo of the Honenu legal aid organization contacted the OC Central Command, Roni Numa & wrote that the Amona expulsion was carried out illegally since it commenced before the date the order took effect, an order which did not even authorize removal of residents from the area.

Attorney Yaddo wrote that troops did not present the expellees any warrant or legal document on which to base the expulsion & thus acted unlawfully.

“The only order posted in the area appeared on January 31, 2017 at 13:00 in the afternoon or thereabouts. This order does not establish grounds for eviction, for all of the following reasons:

“Section 4A of the order states that it comes into effect 48 hours from the order’s publication, that is, on February 2, 2017 at 13:00 & not earlier. Therefore, all evictions executed at the place were carried out illegally.

“Section 4 of the order deviates – intentionally, it seems – from Article 4 of Authorizing Order #1539 that sets an 8 day delay from the publication date until the order becomes valid for execution. At first glance, it is unclear how you can sign a warrant supported by an Authorizing Order while knowingly deviating from the provisions of the Authorizing Order. It is superfluous to add that the Authorizing Order takes precedence & therefore the order did not become valid until February 8, 2017.

“The Authorizing Order and subsequent orders based upon it are often interpreted in court rulings, also very recently, as orders that do not prohibit continued presence that does not involve construction activities & the legal advisor consulted by the command knows or should know of this ruling.”

Attorney Yaddo added that the District Court’s recent ruling poses a question about whether or not it is possible to expel someone staying in the area for reasons not connected with construction, but in any case determined that it is impossible to do so before the passage of 8 days from the order’s date of publication.

Attorney Yaddo also added that his letter comprises an official objection to the Order: “I request that you consider this letter an objection under Article 8 of the Authorizing Order that cancels your legal right to operate under the order until a hearing of the objection takes place. The bottom line is that a zoning order is not sufficient to carry out an evacuation order, therefore in practice the action is rendered illegal.”

10.Despite the pain may we celebrate the blessings by Yehudit Tayar 2/2/17

For the Love of Zion, B”H, Yehudit Tayar lives with her family in Bet Horon in the Benjamin Region for over 30 years, serves as an emergency first response medic, sits on the Board of Directors of Hatzalah Yehudah & Shomron & is one of the spokespeople for the Jewish pioneers in YESHA.

Today the sun is trying to break through the mist, last year this time it was freezing and snowing. Yet another of our special holidays is approaching – this one perhaps the most meaningful especially now with all of the condemnations and hate directed against our Nation, and the refusal to accept & acknowledge our eternal riight to live, build, plant & defend our eternal homeland – the Land of our Fathers – Israel. Another holiday- Tu B”shvat the celebration of the …Land- the blessings of the L-rd of Israel for our Nation: the fruits of the Land.
Another holiday mixed with pain & sorrow forcing us to lift our hearts to the L-rd & not break from the pain.
Last year on Tu B’shvat, we, the security & emergency rescue forces were called out in an emergency following an horrific terror attack inside of our home- yes- our home- Bet Horon.
Two young terrorist murderers, following their investigation of how to penetrate the community, had broken in through the security fence carrying explosive devices & knives in order to murder us.
The penetration was only a few meters from the nursery school for our 3 & 4 year olds. Our little ones had left at 4:30 – & serendipitously, (B”H), the Terrorists came in at 4:50. Because of the snow G-d sent, our little ones did not plant in the small field prepared for this holiday.
One of the nursery school teachers was stabbed many times but escaped &, Thank G-d, survived physically the murderous attack. However, Shlomit Krigman, a 23 year old young girl was brutally stabbed & we were unable to save this precious life. This young girl was so full of life & love of our Nation, of our Land, of books & this precious soul was murdered on her way home because we are Jewish.
Sunday, the day following Tu B’shvat we will go up to her grave & then when we return to our home we will unveil the memorial in Shlomit’s memory right near the place where we found her that painful & horrific day. Now beautiful flowers are there next to the memorial. This helps to overcome the pain & try to remember what Tu B’Shvat stands for.

The following is a translation of some of the thoughts that this young girl, Shlomit, left: “There is joy that remains & there is joy that disappears like a shining butterfly. I wish that mine will remain. I wish that I will know how to be happy even when it is a little difficult to be happy. That even if the joy doesn’t remain by itself, I will know how to leave it with me.”
I pray that we will be able, despite the pain & sorrow, as our Shlomit z”l said, – to keep the joy of this Chag- of this celebration of the blessings of our Land. Amen.”

‘Israel is not a European country,’ says National Front leader, adding French Jews will have to choose either French or Israeli citizenship. By David Rosenberg, 10/02/17 09:30 | updated: 09:38

Marine Le Pen – Reuters

French Jews living in Israel or holding Israeli citizenship in France may no longer be allowed to hold dual citizenship if Marine Le Pen wins the country’s presidential election, slated for May 7th.

Le Pen, chairwoman of the National Front & daughter of its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has pledged a hard line on immigration, trade & public expressions of non-Christian faiths, including a pledge to ban the wearing of kippahs & Islamic garb in public & the prohibiting of kosher & halal slaughter.

Speaking with France 2 TV Thursday evening, the French nationalist leader stated that she would also target dual citizenship if elected this spring.

While dual citizenship would be permitted, said Le Pen, in the case of holders of other European countries’ passports, she would move to prohibit dual citizenship for citizens of non-European countries.

Relating the case of Israel, where as many as 250,000 first & second generation French immigrants reside, Le Pen said no exception would be made.

“Israel is not a European country & doesn’t consider itself as such,” she said.

“I’m asking the Israelis to choose their nationality. It doesn’t mean that if they don’t choose French nationality, they have to leave. France can certainly accommodate foreign people on its soil long-term… as long as they respect French laws & French values, which is often a problem on the immigration issue. It’s really not a problem with Israel on this topic.”

Once considered marginal candidate, Le Pen has consistently lead in election polls for the first round of voting since early January.

If Le Pen finishes in either first or second in the April 23rd vote, she will proceed to the run-off vote two weeks later on May 7th. Polls still show her trailing her likely run-off vote opponents, Emmanuel Macron & Francois Fillon by double digits, though she has gained ground in recent weeks.

Citizens of the US, Canada & the UK are allowed to hold dual citizenship.