Saturday, August 10, 2013
Caroline Glick: When failure carries no cost
Speaking of the frequent US failures in understanding events in faraway lands, Winston Churchill famously quipped, “We can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities.” But what if the other possibilities are never exhausted? The media’s collusion with the Obama administration’s false portrayal of jihadist attacks on US targets gives foreign leaders concerned about the US’s lackadaisical attitude toward jihadist threats no reason for confidence. In the absence of public pressure, the Obama administration has no reason to change course when its policies fail.Danny Danon: Same Approach to Negotiations Assures Same Result
In Israel’s case, the first place where the lesson of this state of affairs needs to be internalized is in regards to Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Since taking office, Obama has repeatedly claimed that he will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. But in practice, his actions have enabled Iran to vastly expand its nuclear weapons program. Due to his malfeasance, today Iran has arrived at the cusp of a nuclear arsenal. More than his words, Obama’s actions have made clear that he has no intention whatsoever of conducting military strikes against Iran’s nuclear installations to prevent the regime from developing nuclear weapons.
Saeb Erekat is the main representative for the Palestinian delegation. He has held this position in one form or another since 1991. Despite the hours logged with his Israeli counterparts, and the countless interviews he has granted to western media sources where he extols peace and reconciliation, Erekat has not brought the Palestinians even one inch closer to peaceful existence with Israel. More troubling, it is clear that he never really revised his radical views about the Jewish State. During the second intifada, Erekat appeared on live international television to accuse Israel of massacring 500 Palestinians in Jenin while completely ignoring the facts showing that one-tenth of that number had been killed and most of those were armed terrorists. Further, as recently as 2007, Erekat is belligerently on record as denying the possibility of the Palestinians ever recognizing Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.Peace talks to resume in Jerusalem next week
Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator, told Israel Hayom on Thursday that Israel would conduct the first stage of the Palestinian prisoner release on Tuesday, a day ahead of the meeting in Jerusalem. According to Erekat, Israel will release 26 Palestinian prisoners then, in the first of a four-stage release of 104 Palestinian prisoners agreed ahead of the renewal of negotiations with the Palestinians. Israel has not officially confirmed Tuesday as the date for the first stage of the release, but senior Israeli diplomatic officials did not refute the date or the number of prisoners to be released.Israel Gives up ‘HaTikvah’ Anthem for the Sake of Peres’ Peace
Israel has made another concession, without even being asked. The PA anthem was sung in Bethlehem for the Barcelona soccer team during its Peres-sponsored visit, but HaTikvah was ditched in Tel Aviv.Thousands of Palestinians Could Lose Jobs Due to EU Sanctions on Territories
In the wake of the European Union’s resolution to boycott the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and terminate all financial contacts with them, foreign journalists toured the Barkan Industrial Park and Ariel University in Samaria last week.Fatah: Hamas Planning to Crack Down on Us
This event was organized by Israel’s Government Press Office (GPO) in conjunction with the Yesha Council and The Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI). The event highlighted the ramifications of the EU’s decision on financial coexistence in the area. The focus of the tour was the joint financial projects between Israelis and Palestinians, which now stand to face financial hardship and possible termination as a result of the EU’s recent actions.
A Fatah MP warned of an impending security campaign by Hamas in Gaza, after its security forces raided the homes of several Fatah leaders in the enclave, reported the Ma’an news agency.Hamas to Celebrate End of Ramadan with Mass Public Executions
Majed Abu Shamallah told the news agency Hamas forces raided the home of Khalil Abu Hasna, the executive director of the National Commission for Development and Islamic Solidarity, early Friday morning.
There’s no better way to celebrate the end Ramadan than with mass executions, or at least that’s what Hamas believes.Sinai group says it was planning cross-border attack when hit by Israeli drone
Timed to coincide with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, Hamas plans to publicly execute anywhere up up to 40 people they claim are criminals, who “confessed” to their crimes after being severely tortured, according to a report in YNet. The stated goal of the executions is to help maintain public security.
An al-Qaeda-linked group active in the Sinai Peninsula said Saturday that its fighters were the target of a reported Israeli drone strike into Egyptian territory, a rare operation that could indicate increased Egyptian-Israeli security cooperation against militants in the lawless border zone.Egypt walks the wire in denying Israeli strike on Sinai
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, in a statement posted on a militant website, said that a drone that crossed into Egyptian airspace killed four fighters as they were preparing a cross-border rocket strike into Israel. It said the dead were from Egyptian Sinai tribes and that the rocket squad’s leader escaped.
Contradicting earlier reports, the Egyptian army spokesman said late Friday that there was no truth to reports of an Israeli drone attack on Egyptian soil. He also claimed there was no coordination at all between Israeli and Egyptian authorities with regard to what he termed “explosions in the Rafah region.”Muslim Brotherhood Document Blames Israel for Military Coup
According to an internal analysis document from the organization obtained by the website, the Brotherhood attributes their recent woes to Israel, Iran and other Gulf states. The document was written by Mohammed Ahmed Rashed, an Iraqi national who is considered the Brotherhood’s top planner and theorist.Anti-U.S. Hostility Ramps Up in Egypt
A headline in a major Egyptian state newspaper this week referred to the proposed U.S. envoy to Egypt as the "Ambassador of Death." Posters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, a center of pro-government rallies, depict President Barack Obama with a beard and turban, exclaiming his "support for terrorism."Turkey to withdraw troops from UNIFIL in south Lebanon
Another large Egyptian newspaper alleged Sen. John McCain, who traveled to Cairo this week in an effort to break a deadlock between the government and its Islamist rivals, has chosen sides by employing Muslim Brotherhood staffers in his office.
Ankara’s decision came less than a day after two Turkish Airlines pilots were kidnapped in Beirut early Friday morning, prompting the Turkish Foreign Ministry to call on all Turkish citizens to leave Lebanon and to issue an advisory against Lebanon-bound travel.Zimbabwe denies signing uranium deal with Iran
The UNIFIL spokesman said the events were unrelated.
Chimanikire is the Zimbabwean official quoted in The Times report making contradicting statements earlier Saturday. The minister told the British newspaper that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two countries, despite warnings in 2011 by the United States of “ramifications for countries that decline to observe their international obligations.” Chimanikire added that only a handful of people at the top of the African country’s government knew about the deal.New York hails GetTaxi Israeli smartphone app
GetTaxi, the Israeli app that enables users to order taxis via their smartphones, launched in New York City on Thursday, where it will operate under the name G-Car.Rappers’ mad love for Jewish lawyers
With the app, users will be able to hail New York's luxury black cabs. GetTaxi did not receive authorization to work with the city's cheaper yellow cabs.
Historically, Hip Hop artists have faced their fair share of legal issues, sparking a demand among these artists for fair and just representation while standing before a court of law.
So, naturally, an epic partnership was formed between rappers and their Jewish lawyers. And that partnership, in turn, sparked the YouTube clip below, created by Jason Newman, which features several rappers shouting out to their Jewish lawyers.
