Monday Links Part 2

From Ian:

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Isi Leibler: Candidly Speaking: Obama’s visit to Israel
Obama irritated many Israelis by referring to Palestinian suffering without relating it to terrorism and incitement, as well as by praising the PA as a genuine peace partner.

In the short term, a peace settlement remains a mirage. However, transitory agreements can be implemented which would improve the relationship between Palestinians and Israelis.
The new Israeli government is in an ideal position to move in this direction.
If instead of pressuring Israel to commit to final borders or make further unilateral concessions, the Obama administration endorsed its efforts to create interim or partial agreements providing the Palestinians with improved quality of life, this would represent considerable progress. Over time, it may even encourage the emergence of a moderate Palestinian leadership willing to negotiate towards a comprehensive peace settlement.

Forget the Smiles: U.S. and Israel Still Divided on Iran

This, then, is the new public American-Israeli stance. The US will not let Iran go nuclear, but is willing to let its sanctions experiment play out, while Israel, because of its more limited strike capabilities, cannot wait much longer before it loses the ability to act.
Because Israel's core defense doctrine is based on the principle of never entrusting the Jewish people's fate to others – even the best of allies - Israel may go it alone, with American approval, if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei does not freeze his nuclear program soon.

Blood Libel Alive and Well in the Muslim World
Unfortunately, the “matzah blood libel” is alive and well, says Prof. Moshe Sharon of Hebrew University.

One of the reasons Arabs can get away with this is because Israel allows them to, said Sharon. “If we were a country that was sensitive to issues of honor, as the Muslim states are, we would demand an apology for such propaganda” as a precondition for any negotiations. “When the Palestinians talk about the IDF killing Arab children, it is the theme of the blood libel they have in mind, and it is that image they want to convey to Europe,” he added. “The fact that there have not been any pogroms in the Muslim world over blood libel accusations is because of Israel's military strength. If Israel was not perceived of as a formidable force in the Middle East, such pogroms would spread like wildfire,” he said.

Does the BBC’s Mardell think the language spoken in Israel is called “Israeli”?

Mardell spends a considerable part of the article advancing his own rather flowery interpretations – psychological and otherwise – of Obama’s words and actions during the trip, but one rather bizarre sentence stands out.
“Before the visit, several American commentators urged him to learn to speak Israeli – now his fluency is almost frightening.” [emphasis added]

5 suspects arrested over Ariel attack

Palestinians from nearby town of Kifel Hares arrested in connection with stone throwing attack that left Adele, 3, in critical condition, six others moderately wounded

Hamas Sentences Man to Death for Spying for Israel

Gaza’s Hamas terrorist rulers have sentenced a man to death for collaborating with Israel.
A statement on Sunday by Gaza’s Interior Ministry, translated by Arab affairs expert Dalit Halevi, had said that a military court had sentenced the man to death by strangulation. He was, according to the statement, convicted of providing information to “hostile elements” in Israel.

Monument with ‘Palestine’ replacing Israel was hidden from Obama
Palestinian authorities in Bethlehem removed ‘State Monument,’ put peace dove in its stead, three days before president came to pray at Church of the Nativity

The Palestinian Authority daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah first reported the removal of the map — commemorating the successful UN bid for non-member status last November, and “the outbreak of the glorious revolution” in 1965, a reference to the first PLO/Fatah terror attack against Israel – on March 19. Obama visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem three days later.

Rome Jewish leader compares politician to Hitler

Rome Jewish community president Riccardo Pacifici provoked an uproar by comparing comic-turned-politician Beppe Grillo to Hitler, saying Grillo’s new party is “more dangerous” than the fascists and that Italian Jews should pack their bags.
Grillo’s Five Star Movement, or M5S, a protest party without a unified agenda, won about 25 percent of the vote in last month’s general elections. Both Grillo and some of its members have been quoted as making anti-Semitic or anti-Israel statements.

Israel Daily Picture: The Jewish Legion Celebrates Passover in Palestine in World War I

The British army captured Jerusalem from the Turks in December 1917 and continued their Palestine campaign for another year until the capture of Damascus. Meanwhile, the Jewish Legion, consisting of Jewish volunteers, sat in Cairo chafing at the bit to join the fight in Palestine. They finally joined Allenby's forces in June 1918 and fought against the Turks in the Jordan River Valley.
The Jewish battalions of the Jewish Legion were manned by volunteers from Palestine, Europe, the United States and Canada, soldiers stirred by the call to action by Zionist leaders Zev Jabotinsky and Yosef Trumpeldor. Colonel John Henry Patterson, the unit's first commanding officer, described the Legion: