Unfortunately, Obama accepts Islamic Rage against non-Moslems
Israelis are frequently attacked on roads throughout Israel by rocks and firebombs, sometimes by snipers; Framing recent attack as politically motivated due to current talks with the Arab Palestinian Authority distorts the nature and meaning of Arab terrorism against Jews.
In response to the latest attack in which 4 Jews were executed by Arab Palestinian terrorists, President Obama went on to say, "The message should go out to Hamas and everybody else who is taking credit for these heinous crimes that this is not going to stop us from not only ensuring a secure Israel but also securing a longer-lasting peace in which people throughout the region can take a different course."
One might have expected him to say, "Those who commit such murders, and those who support them, will be brought to justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law."
Or, "These murders are the result of incitement and we will prevent all funding of incitement."
Or, "We demand that the PA forces, especially those trained and supplied forces by the United States, will apprehend, arrest, and punish anyone who engages in terrorism."
Or, "Unless the PA acts to eliminate terrorism and incitement there can be no progress in political, diplomatic or military cooperation. Actions speak louder than words."
But he did not, and he won't, because no matter what Arab Palestinian terrorists do, the Palestinian Authority knows that it has the support of President Obama, Europe and the international community. It can get away with murder, and it does.
Terrorists say what they mean, just listen to them
President Obama”s intentional misunderstanding of and his failure to act against Arab Palestinian terrorism is due to his and his administrations mindset that views terrorism as a response to specific causes whether it be politically or ideologically motivated. In Israel's case, it's "the occupation," which has become a brand-name legitimization for killing Jews and demonizing Israel.
The danger of associating terrorism to grievances and causes is that it rationalizes murder and justifies those who perpetrate it. Arab Palestinian terrorists, who plan and train meticulously murderous attacks on Jews, don't seek political compromises; their goal is Jihad, total elimination of Jews, and the State of Israel. They don't even think about a "peace process;" they are committed to annihilation of their enemies. They see themselves as "martyrs," and are glorified by their communities, and by the Palestinian Authority. Most major Arab Palestinian towns have pictures of “martyrs”, that is terrorists who have committed acts of murder against Jews, hung high on light poles throughout major streets and boulevards for all to see as role models.
This is what President Obama does not understand about the controversial Islamic Center near the site of "9/11." It is not about a mosque, but about what comes along with it. It's not about a building, or religious freedom; it's about Islam and how it condones the use of terror against the West, its about how the use of civilians as human shields in Iraq and Afghanistan by those claiming to represent Islam. It’s about how Islam as one of the three major religions in the world that is not held accountable for condoning and providing theological beliefs that empower Moslems throughout the world to participate and support in terror against Jews and other non-Moslems.
It is about what President Obama should be saying and what he could have said clearly and in no uncertain terms, but he did not. The American flag in his lapel is not just an ornament, you would think that he understands this, evidently, he does not.
Israel guarantees stability in the Middle East
The Obama Administration continues to project it’s weakness in the Middle East, as the region slips into a state of instability. The recent American retreat from Iraq, with the clear knowledge that this oil producing nation will be facing a maelstrom of ethnic violence supported and funded by Iran and Al Queida merely weakened the American administration further while boosting the anti-Western and Islamic axis comprising Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria, and Erdogan.
Despite the “greatest show on earth” in Washington last week, the Israeli- Arab Palestinian negotiations faces a complete impasse and there is no real way of reaching a breakthrough due to President Abbas and his cronies who do not have a legal mandate to make any decisions.
As Iran’s nuclear program advances, the more scared Tehran becomes about being attacked, and this is the reason for the daily missile displays. However, this is the result of weakness rather than strength. Oddly, the leaders of Iran fail to understand that these daily missle displays merely serve to undermine their image.
Iran greatly concerns the Persian Gulf states, which continue to ignore Israel even though, potentially, Israel can be their most important ally. Old hatreds stand in the way of vital interests.
There are other reasons for the growing instability in the region. The international court already knows who murdered late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri (senior Hezbollah men) and Nasrallah is under pressure to dismiss this grave charge. He resorts to harsh declarations against Israel and the US.
Turkey – a state which in the past stabilized the area yet now sweeps it, and itself, to radical directions – also adds spices to the brew of regional instability. Erdogan’s reforms against the army and the court threaten to further deteriorate this country.
Two more destabilizing elements are Hamas, which is trapped in the Gaza Strip while seeking an outlet from the diplomatic chokehold it faces, and Syrian President Bashar Assad who continues to make radical statement against Israel.
Nevertheless, none of the sides has an interest in seeing a war. Iran knows that its army is weak and obsolete and would not be able to contend with the US, Western countries, and Israel. Hezbollah and Hamas already sustained IDF blows in recent years and they will not forget them so quickly. Meanwhile, Assad understands that his minority regime may not survive a war with Israel.
The Palestinian Arabs too will not be rushing to repeat their intifada experience, which ruined them, their economy, and their chances of getting a state. As always, intifadas are launched against Israel, yet end up harming the Palestinians themselves.
Had we been witnessing a powerful US Administration involved in the region, as was the case with President George W. Bush, many of these destabilizing elements would have been curbed. Yet due to the current administration lead by President Obama, who is perceived as abandoning his allies in the middle east and tacitly supporting those regimes leading the anti-American and anti-west axis, Israel has been put in a position of providing the regional stability that is lacking in this part of the world.
Above all and without question, Israel and the I.D.F.’s superior power is the most important guarantee for Middle eastern stability. The current-day I.D.F., after a period of an immense build-up process and demonstrated achievements, is the region’s most powerful army and its strength serves as a deterrent. This is even more conspicuous in the face of the American weakness in the region, and a weak American President. In the not so far past American power provided stability for Israel, yet today Israel grants stability to American interests in the Middle East.
Yom Kippur - 5771
A recent poll by a major daily newspaper reveals that out of the general population in Israel; all religious, 85% of traditional Jews and about half of non-religious Jews plan to abstain from eating during Day of Atonement. Altogether 61% of Israeli Jews planned to fast on Yom Kippur
The Yom Kippur fast remains one of most popular mitzvot among Israel's citizen. A survey conducted by Ynet and the Yesodot association reveals that this year as well, the majority of the public plans to fast, pray and seek forgiveness.
Religious and secular citizens are at odds over one issue only: Whether riding a bicycle is a desecration of the holy day or one of its symbols.
The Ynet-Yesodot survey was conducted by the Panels research institute among 300 respondents – a representative national sample of the adult Jewish population in Israel. The maximal sampling error was ±5.7%.
Who will fast
Asked whether they plan to fast on Yom Kippur, 61% of Israelis said yes and 28% said no. Six percent said they would fast only part of the day and 5% had yet to decide.
According to a religious segmentation, 100% of haredim, 100% of religious and 85% of traditional Jews will abstain from eating and drinking for an entire day. Among seculars, about half of respondents will fast (most of them all day) and half won't fast at all.
Among those who fast, 82% will do it for religious and traditional reasons and the rest for other reasons, including respect for their parents, as a sport and to clean their bodies. In all four sectors mentioned, most of those who fast do it to observe the mitzvah.
Who will pray
The second question posed was: "Do you plan on going to synagogue on Yom Kippur?" Fifty-one percent of the respondents answer that they would take part in the holiday's prayers (21% in all of them, 14% in some, and 16% only in Kol Nidrei and Ne'ilah), while 49% said they will not attend Yom Kippur services at all.
The vast majority of haredi and national religious respondents will go to all of the prayer services. Most of the secular public will not go to synagogue, while traditionalists will participate in some of them.
According to the third part of the poll, 77% of the public plans on asking forgiveness from God or other people, versus 23% who will not reconcile with anyone because they do not believe there is any need. In all of the religious affiliations, a majority of the respondents said they plan on asking forgiveness.
With the option of choosing more than one answer, here is what respondents said they will ask forgiveness for. Insulting a friend of family member – 47%; lack of tolerance – 34%; not keeping the mitzvoth – 33%; not properly taking care of the body – 18%; not spending enough time with children – 11%; treatment of weaker parts of the society – 9%; not doing enough for the nation and the country – 8%; lack of dependability – 6%.
Bicycle riding okay?
In conclusion, the respondents were asked to express their opinion about the tradition of riding bicycles in the streets on Yom Kippur. Some 35% responded that it is a violation of the sanctity of the day just as driving a car is, while 29% responded positively that it is one of the symbols of the day. Seventeen percent did not respond.
According to haredim and national religious, riding bicycles is forbidden to the same extent as riding in a car is. Traditionalists are also opposed to riding bicycles on the fast day, but are divided as to the degree of severity they attribute to the phenomenon. The secular public said that it is one of the symbols of the day.
Yesodot Educational Director Shoshi Becker addressed the findings, saying that "Yom Kippur is a day that connects the people to the Jewish tradition in the strongest manner, when the State's Jewish and public character reaches a sort of climax.
"On the other hand, the survey points to the great diversity among people in regards to their private actions and intentions on this day.
"We are at the start of a new year and an opportunity to recognize our threats and become better people. All Jews share the recognition of an opportunity and the atmosphere allowing it in the society.
"We see here a 'warm recommendation to leaders, educators, parents and any person to develop tools and skills for tolerance and mutual respect among the people of Israel and society as a whole."