Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Wednesday, May 08, 2019

Who won the weekend mini-war in Gaza? (Daled Amos)

By Daled Amos

When wars -- and even battles -- are over, we naturally ask: who won?

Normally, victory brings with it the acquisition of advantages like increased power and land, while losing brings not only a certain degree of humiliation, but also surrendering land and control.
And stalemates -- those often bring recriminations and political headaches, especially when you are more powerful and are expected to win.

Over the years, wars between Israel and Hamas have brought a series of ceasefires with each side claiming victory:

o Operation Summer Rains / Operation Autumn Clouds (2006)
o Operation Cast Lead (2008–2009)
o Operation Pillar of Defense (2012)
o Operation Protective Edge (2014)

And now, another clash -- one that wasn't even given a name.

At The Jerusalem Post, Anna Ahronheim describes it as A Deadly Weekend Which Wasn't Even A War. She describes it as a case of terrorism and retribution where "both sides upped the ante to a deadly level not seen since 2014’s Operation Protective Edge." After snipers wounded an IDF officer and a female soldier, Israel responded with an Air Force to strike on a Hamas target in Gaza, killing two terrorists.

But matters did not end there.

Hamas responded with almost 700 rockets, during which 4 Israeli civilians were killed:

Moshe Agadi, the first Israeli civilian killed since 2014, was killed outside his Ashkelon home by shrapnel to his stomach and chest; Moshe Feder, 68, from Kfar Saba, was killed after a Kornet anti-tank guided missile struck a car near the Gaza border between Yad Mordechai and Sderot; Ziad Alhamamda was critically injured in his chest by shrapnel from a direct strike on an Ashkelon factory; and Pinchas Menachem Prezuasman was killed after he suffered severe shrapnel injuries to his chest while running to a shelter in Ashdod.

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad tried new tactics:

o Overwhelming Iron Dome with massive, simultaneous firings. (They claim they were successful. Israel denies this.)
o Aiming an explosive-laden drone at an Iron Dome battery.
o Launching a Kornet anti-tank missile into a civilian van (Hamas tried this last year, but fired on the bus only after IDF troops had gotten off.)

For its part, Israel did something different too. It renewed the practice of targeted assassinations, killing Hamed al-Khoudary, the money man who brought funds from Iran to Gaza. This was the first such assassination since 2014, and it was carried out despite the possibility of leading to all-out war. Instead, Israel warned that the policy would continue -- and another Hamas terrorist was later killed while riding his motorcycle and the IDF also targeted the homes of other senior terrorists.

Apparently, Hamas tried to get a ceasefire early on, and Israel refused, wanting to make sure that this time around the ceasefire would be on Israel's terms.

Even then, Netanyahu made a point of stressing that Israel was not necessarily finished with Hamas:

Netanyahu was under pressure to preserve some semblance of deterrence against Hamas terrorist attacks, if not an outright victory.

Was he successful?

On Twitter, Elijah J. Magnier, who writes for Kuwait's Al Rai Media Group claimed that Hamas was the clear winner:

On the other hand, at Ynet, Ron ben Yishai writes that Israel preserved that deterrence:

Israel stood strong in the face of Hamas pressure, and resisted a ceasefire, under adverse conditions; a lesson Hamas will remember before renewing fire the next time its demands are not immediately met

He contends that Israel accomplished its objectives, and that "Hamas begged for a ceasefire, for a full 24 hours, before Israel agreed to one."

According to Yishai:

o It was Hamas that needed a ceasefire before Ramadan, more than Israel needed it in order to be able to hold the Eurovision song festival
o By targeting military targets, even when those were the homes of Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders, Israel was able to defend the legitimacy of their operations in Gaza
o Unlike in other operations against Hamas in Gaza, leaks to the media were prevented

A key to Israel's response to the Hamas rocket barrage was preparation, which gave the IDF "the upper hand in dictating events":

In this round of fighting, the IDF came prepared with a list of high-quality targets. It also had a planned schedule of escalation, to respond to the militants' actions, including attacking their cyber capabilities and hitting their attack drones. Some of IDF's actions are still under wraps.

This time around, the IDF was not limited to bombing empty buildings and bases.

But Yishai does have a major criticism. Lives could have been saved if Israel had evacuated residents from the border and if more Iron Dome batteries had been deployed.

And of course, the ultimate goal must be to remove Hamas.

Finally, there is retired general Amos Yadlin, who wrote on Twitter that "the balance sheet...with Hamas is mixed" because Israel still follows the strategic goal of "quiet for quiet" instead of actually restoring deterrence.

On the positive side:

o The IDF was more aggressive
o  The policy of targeted killings was restored
o  Weapons production and storage facilities in Gaza were struck
o  Rocket launching terrorists were hit
o  Key military buildings were brought down
o  The international community blamed Hamas for firing heavily at civilians
o  Criticism of Israel was minimal.

But Yadlin's list of negatives is longer:

o 4 Israelis were killed and dozens were wounded
o  Daily life was disrupted in a significant portion of Israel
o  Hamas determined the start and -- according to Yadlin -- the end of the fighting, making Israel hostage to Hamas demands
o  Israelis don't know the contents of the previous ceasefire agreement, nor of this one
o  Israel may still have deterrence against all-out war, but not against these sporadic conflicts
o  Israel is still allowing payments to the terrorist groups, while not speaking with more moderate groups of Palestinian Arabs
o  The issue of disarming the Palestinian-controlled territory has apparently been forgotten
o  There seems to be no effort to deal with Hamas' military build up
o  These battles send the message that using terror is more successful than preventing it in achieving goals

Yadlin's conclusion is that the strategy of "quiet for quiet" has outlived its usefulness and instead deterrence must be restored by hitting Hamas hard and sending the message that using terrorism carries with it a heavy price and does not get results.

Most of his negative criticism is not focused on the conduct of the battle, but rather Israel's overall policy towards Hamas. And unlike Yishai, Yadlin does not think deterrence has been restored at all.

Also, Yadlin believes that Hamas in fact, did dictate when the fighting ended.

Just 10 years ago, during Operation Cast Lead, Netanyahu was in the opposition, and clear in his criticism of how the government was conducting the war with Hamas.

Back then Netanyahu insisted:

o  Hamas was controlled by Iran and it should “ultimately be removed”
o  "Hamas is at the service of Iran and militant Islam...Israel cannot tolerate an Iranian base next to its cities."
o  “If Iran has nuclear weapons then a forward base like 'Hamastan’ in Gaza becomes 10 times more dangerous."
o Toppling Hamas from power should be a long-term goal, and “if the government also decides to adopt this goal, we will back it.”

Yet even then, Netanyahu at the time did not insist that removing Hamas had to be the goal during that particular operation.

And putting aside who would replace them, removing Hamas once and for all will require more than just sending in the airforce and using targeted attacks. It will mean sending in troops -- and incurring loss of life.

Netanyahu has tried that before, in Operation Protective Edge.

Is he willing to do it again?

Yaacov Lozowick wrote in 2014, when he was the state archivist, about bringing Netanyahu a commemorative volume of documents dedicated to Menachem Begin. Professor Arye Naor, Begin’s Cabinet Secretary, came too and discussed with Netanyahu how Begin managed the war in Lebanon compared with Netanyahu's own methods in Protective Edge.

The discussion turned to Begin’s agony at the deaths of IDF soldiers, and Netanyahu's own difficulties in sending men to die.

It proved harder than he had expected. “I thought a lot about Begin this summer, and I understood him better”

“I spoke to each of the parents [of fallen soldiers]. If they were divorced, I spoke to each of them separately. It was very hard”.

There is a profound difference between hearing about bereaved families, and actually being in one: he knows about that difference, and understands it from personal experience. But to his surprise – this was my impression – sending soldiers to their death turned out also to be hard to a degree that one cannot appreciate in advance.

We had expected to spend ten minutes in his office. The ten minutes became fifteen, then twenty; the twenty minutes became thirty, and the prime minister spoke of the horrible price of war, and of the difficulty in deciding to pay it.

“The soldiers fear death. They try to strengthen each other, and try together to be strong as a group, but they are afraid.” He knows they are afraid, and that some of them will be killed, and he sends them. A ground operation, he knows what awaits them, what preparations the enemy has made: “Some of them will die. It is inevitable.”

“They must be sent only when there is no other choice left. They must be brought back at the very first possible moment, as soon as the immediate goal has been achieved. Later, once they’re out, we’ll see what happens, but first, get them out, out, out.”

“And every night I’d get home in the wee hours, and my wife would be awake, waiting for me. She spent the days visiting the bereaved families. I only spoke to them on the phone, with each and every one of them, but she sat at their side, and at night she would tell me about them. We must send them, and we must bring them back, and I didn’t appreciate how hard it would be. A leader who loses the understanding of how difficult it is, ought to lose his job.”

We say that one of the reasons for the existence of Israel is that it serves as a refuge and defense for Jews. We say that if only Israel existed during WWII, Jewish lives would have been saved. The pressure now on Netanyahu must be enormous for him to show that he and IDF are up to their task.

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The Organization for Islamic Cooperation issued this graphic about Ramadan - in English.

Things are a little different in Arabic.

Venerable Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram has an article about Ramadan that reminds readers that Ramadan is not only a time for worship - but a great time for war, too.

"The holy month of Ramadan was not only a month of rest and worship, but history shows it has been a month of great victories and conquests, which have been an important part of Islamic history throughout the ages," the article begins.

It then goes on to describe major battles that occurred during Ramadan, from the Battle of Badr during Mohammed's time, through the conquest of Andalusia, the Battle of Tours, France where the Muslims were defeated by Charles Martel, a war against the Mongols and the Yom Kippur War.

Al Ahram was founded in 1875 and is Egypt's most popular newspaper.

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How will Europe react to Iran's new nuclear threat?

From NYT:

Iran’s president declared on Wednesday that the country would stop complying with two of its commitments under the Iranian nuclear deal, pushing the growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran into new and potentially dangerous territory.

The announcement by President Hassan Rouhani came exactly a year after President Trump withdrew entirely from the 2015 agreement, which limited Iran’s capacity to produce nuclear fuel for 15 years.

But Mr. Rouhani did not follow Mr. Trump’s path and renounce the entire agreement. Instead, he notified European nations that he was taking some carefully calibrated steps, and that he would give Europe 60 days to choose between following Mr. Trump or saving the deal by engaging in oil trade with Iran in violation of American unilateral sanctions.

“The path we have chosen today is not the path of war, it is the path of diplomacy,” he said in a nationally broadcast speech. “But diplomacy with a new language and a new logic.”

Starting on Wednesday, he said, Iran would begin to build up its stockpiles of low enriched uranium and of heavy water, which is used in nuclear reactors — including a reactor that could give Iran a source of bomb-grade plutonium. If the Europeans fail to compensate for the unilateral American sanctions, he said, Iran will resume construction of the Arak nuclear reactor, a facility that was shut down, and its key components dismantled, under the deal.

Mr. Rouhani then threatened a potentially more severe step. If the Europeans do not find a way to help Iran “reap our benefits,” especially in petroleum exports and banking transactions, in 60 days Iran will end the limits on the enrichment of uranium, he said. Currently, it is enriching small amounts, and only to a level of 3.67 percent, which is suitable for nuclear power plants — but not for nuclear weapons.

Without economic progress, he said, “we will not consider any limit” on enrichment, suggesting that it could rise to levels closer to something that could be used in weapons.

Iran always insisted that it had only a peaceful nuclear program, and wouldn't need to enrich beyond the amount needed for nuclear power plants. This threat makes no sense - unless Iran still seeks to build the bomb.

The key question is whether Britain, France and Germany will take a hard line against Iran - or cave to their threats. Hopefully we will get some clarity soon.

A French source indicated that Europe would reimpose their own sanctions if Iran violates the JCPOA:

Europe would have to reimpose sanctions on Iran if Tehran reneged on parts of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, a French presidency source said on Tuesday.

Iran's state-run IRIB news agency reported on Monday that Tehran would restart part of its halted nuclear program in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, but added Tehran does not plan to pull out of the agreement. Iran's president is due to speak on Wednesday.

"We do not want Tehran to announce tomorrow actions that would violate the nuclear agreement, because in this case we Europeans would be obliged to reimpose sanctions as per the terms of the agreement," the source said. "We don't want that and we hope that the Iranians will not make this decision."

France, Germany and Britain, the European signatories to the agreement that lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on Iran's atomic activities, have scrambled to save the deal amid U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran since it announced its withdrawal a year ago.

However, the three have repeatedly warned Iran that it must comply with all aspects of the deal and most importantly the elements related to nuclear activity.

Let's hope so.

Meanwhile, the Iranian nuclear archives seized by Israel keep proving, over and over, that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program and hid it successfully for years.

Recently, it was revealed that the Fordow Enrichment Plant was built originally as early as 2002 to make weapon- grade uranium for 1-2 nuclear weapons per year.

Also:

An important discovery in the Nuclear Archive seized by Israel was substantial evidence that Iran was building an underground nuclear test site that was expected to be finished by 2004. Iran’s nuclear weapons program, code-named the “Amad Plan,” was developing and building five nuclear weapons, and this program wanted to be ready to test one, if a decision was made to do so. Starting in late 2000, Project Midan, the test program’s code name, created an extensive program to develop and construct an underground test site and instrument it so that the nuclear explosive yield could be determined.

And:

The Iranian Nuclear Archive reveals that under its early 2000s nuclear weapons program known as the “Amad Plan,” Iran was developing and manufacturing a key nuclear weapon subcomponent called a “shock wave generator.” The shock wave generator is a multi-point initiation (MPI) system, which has the purpose of uniformly initiating a spherical shell of high explosives, or the “main charge,” which in turn compresses the nuclear core made from weapon-grade uranium to achieve a supercritical mass for a nuclear explosion.

All of this shows without a doubt that Iran was hiding its nuclear weapons program, and the West's ignorance of that program did not allow it enough information to see what Iran was still hiding at the time of the nuclear agreement.

The NYT said, as fact, that "Iran scrupulously followed the deal" so far. It is important to note that the IAEA does not have the ability to fully certify that Iran is complying to the JCPOA even today.

Note to many journalists and arms control pundits: Even JCPOA supporter and respected NTI senior director, Richard Johnson, does not believe the IAEA makes a compliance determination for the JCPOA. https://t.co/9ClE5P7RV1
— Inst for Science (@TheGoodISIS) May 3, 2019

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05/07 Links Pt2: Somber Memorial Day events begin with siren and ceremony at Western Wall; In Accusing Trump of Anti-Semitism, Democrats Play the Projection Game

From Ian:

Somber Memorial Day events begin with siren and ceremony at Western Wall

Israelis paid tribute Tuesday evening to the country’s fallen soldiers and terror victims, bowing their heads at 8 p.m. for a minute of silence as sirens sounded around the country, marking Memorial Day.

In all, 95 new names were added over the past year to the roster of 23,741 soldiers who died defending the country. They include 40 disabled veterans who passed away due to complications from injuries sustained during their service. Sixteen names were also added to the list of terror victims who perished in attacks, bringing the total to 3,150.

The main national ceremony, which takes place at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, was attended by President Reuven Rivlin, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, IDF Chief Rabbi Eyal Karim, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and others.

In his speech, Rivlin referred to that fact that this is the first Memorial Day since Israel secured the return of the remains of Zachary Baumel, a Brooklyn-born IDF soldier who had been missing since a 1982 battle in Lebanon in which he was presumably killed. Reports have pointed to intensive efforts to find and repatriate the bodies of other Israelis thought to be in Syria for decades.

“Dear families, citizens of Israel. A month ago, we brought Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel to eternal rest, 37 years after he fell in the battle of Sultan Yacoub,” Rivlin said in his speech. “In this way, the State of Israel kept its promise to every mother and father in Israel, the obligation to bring home the men and women who did not return from battle. This is a commitment that we continue to make to the families of every one of the missing soldiers of the IDF and those fallen soldiers whose place of burial is unknown. We will not cease until they have all been brought back.”

3,150 civilians killed in hostile acts since Israel's founding

Since Israel declared its independence 3,150 civilians have been killed in acts of war, according to a statement from Israel's National Insurance organization (Bituach Leumi).

The number includes the four Israelis killed in rocket attacks over the past weekend, in a flare-up of violence between Israel and the terror groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

13 civilians have been killed since last year's Independence Day on May 7, 2018.

In addition, there are currently 3,196 citizens alive today who have lost immediate family in acts of hostility directed toward civilians, among them 897 bereaved parents and 119 children who lost both parents.

Beginning this evening Israel will mark its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers.

This is the tenth year that the Israeli Knesset will hold a ceremony in honor of civilians killed in acts of hostility. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief-of-Staff Aviv Kochavi are scheduled to participate.

HonestReporting: Terror Victims: Every Day is Remembrance Day

A terror attack occurs within minutes, but it changes your life forever.

A bomb explosion, a stabbing, a firebomb attack, a rocket attack, a shooting attack, a kidnapping — all leave a trail of death and destruction. Lives are turned upside down, what was, is no longer, and people are left to bear the physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.

You can never fully fathom the devastation it causes to families who lose loved ones or are injured in attacks. Their lives are plunged into chaos and despair. You may no longer read about them in the newspapers, they no longer make headlines, but their lives changed forever.

A person driving home, enjoying a walk, shopping or just sitting at home and suddenly an attack occurs, and their entire world is turned upside down, without warning or preparation. The trauma they experience can cause feelings of helplessness, inability to function and extreme mental and physical anguish. The situation impacts the entire family and friends.

Many of those injured in terror attacks also suffer severe emotional problems. The organization has created a unique program for those ailing from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is designed to help sufferers and their spouses develop skills to cope with their trauma, improve their relationship with each other and their children.

EoZ to speak at a shul in Queens for Yom HaAtzmaut

As Yom HaAtzmaut enters, I will be speaking at a synagogue in Queens, between mincha and maariv, Wednesday evening.

It will be a different talk than those I usually give.

I usually stay very factual and practical. This talk, however, will concentrate on the miracles that preceded and continue to help modern Israel. Yes, everything can be explained in a rational manner, but when one looks at the whole picture, the many dominoes that fell into place perfectly that helped the renewed Jewish state seem to be more than just coincidence.

This is not to take away from the amazing political groundwork and military genius that Israel has benefited from, but just to highlight some of the many things that have happened over the past 150 years that cannot easily be explained rationally.

It will be only about 30-35 minutes but it will hopefully be fun.

If you are interested in attending, email me (elder @ elderofziyon,com) and I can forward the details.

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Popular Arabic book claims American Jews said in 1948 "Pay a dollar to kill an Arab"

I saw an article in Al Watan Voice that claimed that in 1948, as American Jews were fundraising to save the nascent Jewish state being attacked by combined Arab armies, they shouted the slogan "Pay a dollar to kill an Arab" through loudspeakers.

Of course there is no record of this happening.

There is an apparently popular book in the Arab world with that exact name, though (it can be downloaded here.)

The book is so popular in the Arab world that a tweet from Lebanon Archives looking for the provenance of the book starts off saying "I think most of you have read this book."

It is a translation of a book by Lawrence Griswold from 1952 called "This Sword for Allah!", a "History of Palestine inspired by the author's career as a correspondent during the Palestine War at the end of the 1940s."

Griswold was an inveterate hater of Israel and an antisemite. He is mentioned in the American Jewish Yearbook of 1957: "Lawrence Griswold published a newsletter, Background for Tomorrow, which in its October 31, 1955, issue, referred to "the selfish aggressiveness of privileged Jews, both in this country and abroad. . . . Thoughtful Americans should consider well, if they wish to avoid the demoralization of society which follows pogroms, whether they should employ enlightened self-interest now and write off the ugliness of Israel."

Apparently, Griswold made up the libel of Jews saying "Pay a dollar to kill an Arab" and Arab antisemites loved his work so much they translated his book where he apparently made that claim. Now it is considered common knowledge in the Arab world.

(h/t Ibn Boutros)

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05/07 Links Pt1: David French: The Law of War Permits Israel to Destroy Hamas; Hamas Boasts It Overcame Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defenses. It Didn't; Hamas TV threatens the Eurovision Song Contest

From Ian:

JPost Editorial: Another ceasefire

On Monday, another ceasefire went into effect after a massive round of hostilities from Gaza. Since Saturday, some 700 rockets have been launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad at Israel. Four Israelis were killed and more than 200 wounded, including those suffering from shock. Neither the offensive itself nor the way it ended were a surprise. Even the timing was not unexpected. Israeli officials had predicted for a long time that the Palestinian terrorist movements in Gaza would exploit this particular, sensitive period to try to gain extra benefits – ahead of Israel’s Independence Day, the first anniversary of the US relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem and, significantly, the Eurovision Song Contest being hosted by Israel in Tel Aviv next week.

Although officials denied that the timing of the Eurovision had anything to do with the efforts to quickly end this round of hostilities, it was clearly on people’s minds. Instead of being able to showcase the country to boost tourism (as every host country wants to do) there would have been a danger that Israel would be seared even more in international minds as a no-go war zone.

Similarly, that the end of the hostilities coincided with the start of Ramadan is also no coincidence. It is doubtful that either Hamas or Islamic Jihad wanted Gaza to be under war conditions during the month when Muslims fast during the day but have festive meals and gatherings every night. Ultimately, even the terrorist regime that controls the Gaza Strip knows that it has to answer to the people who live there. Despite Gazans’ public joy at every Israeli fatality and at perceived PR victories, the ordinary residents of the Strip are not eager to suffer another devastating war.

Exact details of what the ceasefire entails are not yet clear. Indeed, the government has done everything to avoid calling it a ceasefire at all, because it wants to prevent a situation in which it could be interpreted that Israel is officially recognizing Hamas, a terrorist organization.

However, we can make some assumptions based on previous ceasefires, and sadly there are ever shorter periods between the rounds of hostilities.

Hamas Boasts It Overcame Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defenses with Concentrated Rocket Salvos. It Didn't

While Hamas and Islamic Jihad attempted to overwhelm Israel's Iron Dome by firing numerous rockets at a specific location, comparatively few rockets actually succeeded in penetrating the system, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

In one case, over the course of one hour on Sunday evening, at least 117 rockets were fired at the city of Ashdod, but only one made it past Israel's air defenses.

Maj. Tom Scott, a commander at an Iron Dome battery in southern Israel, said the missile defense system is capable of intercepting "many different threats," including "large barrages or short-range rockets or rockets fired at high altitude or at low altitude."

While Iron Dome is not impenetrable, in the latest round the system had an 86% success rate - similar to previous rounds of intensive rocket fire.

Scott noted that the Iron Dome's radars successfully spotted every rocket and mortar launch, which ensured that Israelis were warned of incoming projectiles ahead of time by sirens.

Hamas TV threatens the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel

Following two days in which Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired around 700 rockets at Israel, Hamas’ official TV channel warned that if Israel does not honor the understandings to Hamas’ satisfaction, the terrorist organization can disrupt the Eurovision contest as it is being held in Israel.

After praising the performance of the joint war room of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Mu’min Meqdad, the “Hebrew Affairs Editor and Expert” for Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV, warned that Hamas can disrupt the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel:

Al-Aqsa TV “Hebrew Affairs Editor and Expert” Mu’min Meqdad: “There is no doubt that the resistance [Hamas] or the negotiator gave the occupation very little time to implement these understandings. I think that the coming days will be a test for the occupation. If the occupation evades [its responsibilities], I believe that the resistance [Hamas] can deprive the occupation the pleasure of a number of the coming opportunities, such as the European Song Contest. There is still room to maneuver in the coming days.” [Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), May 6, 2019]

Later in the broadcast, the Al-Aqsa TV editor assured the viewers that Hamas “will have the last word”:

Host: “Clearly there is a decision regarding the siege that it needs to be eased or changed in a clear manner in which the civilians will feel it, because the situation here in Gaza is very difficult.”
Mu’min Meqdad: “[Hamas] will monitor... the implementation of the understandings... If the occupation changes its mind or evades these things, there is no doubt that the resistance will have the last word."

Following 2 days in which Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired around 700 rockets at Israel, Hamas’ official TV channel warned that if Israel does not honor the understandings to Hamas’ satisfaction, Hamas can disrupt the Eurovision contest.

More here: https://t.co/ReFqpLk1G8 pic.twitter.com/M9Wuigdu5R
— Pal Media Watch (@palwatch) May 7, 2019

Malaysians wave their flag (and the PFLP terror group flag) on Judaism's holiest spot

From Times of Israel:

A record number of visitors from Muslim countries came to Israel last year, including nearly 55,000 from countries that have no diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.

According to figures provided by the Population and Immigration Authority on Monday, 72,109 citizens of Egypt and Jordan (the only Arab countries with which Israel has full diplomatic ties), Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia visited Israel in 2018.

These numbers mark an increase of 15 percent from the previous year, when 62,658 tourists from the aforementioned countries traveled to the Jewish state.

This will come as news to NYU's Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, which released a statement last week that said it will boycott Israel in part because of "Israel’s long-standing discriminatory policies (as acknowledged by the State Department) of barring entry to Palestinians or persons of Arab descent and Muslim heritage."

As I noted last week, the State Department said no such thing - because it does not lie the way NYU academics do.

The lies were signed by:

Andrew Ross, Director of American Studies at andrew.ross@nyu.edu
Dean Saranillio, Director of Undergraduate Studies at ds3859@nyu.edu
Benjamin Zinevich, SCA senior, JVP, SJP at bz697@nyu.edu
Rose Asaf, SCA senior, JVP, SJP at roseasaf@nyu.edu

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New Islamic Jihad "Badr-3" missile designed in Iran

Islamic Jihad is celebrating its "Badr-3" missile which is debuted on Sunday.

Here is their video showing its manufacture and firing towards Ashkelon and Ashdod. They lovingly print "Made in Palestine" on each rocket.

Islamic Jihad is funded by Iran.

Notably, Houthi forces in Yemen also have domestically-made missiles dubbed "Badr" although they are different models. The latest ones are apparently precision missiles.

Badr was the site of Mohammed's first major victory against the much larger Mecca army.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards are prioritizing the design of missiles that can be built locally in areas that Iran wants to expand its influence. If Islamic Jihad can build the latest Houthi weapons, it would be a major advance and a worrying development.

Iranian media also heavily covered the Badr-3 launches.

The not-very-reliable Debka claims that the Badr 3 has a warhead that weighs 250 kg and a range of 150 km. It also claims that it explodes above the ground to maximize the area of shrapnel. Islamic Jihad is reporting but not confirming Debka's claims.

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The fake "civilians" of Gaza, 2019 edition

PCHR, the Palestine Center for Human Rights - the organization that Amnesty International relied on to claim that there were far more civilians killed in Gaza in 2014 than there actually were - says:

At approximately 22:10 on Saturday evening, 04 May 2019, Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of civilians, who were in the vicinity of the American School former site, west of Beit Lahia, killing Khalid Mohammed Selmi Abu Qaliq (24), from the city, after he was hit with shrapnel throughout his body. Moreover, another civilan was seriously injured.

Khalid Mohammed Selmi Abu Qaliq was a terrorist for the PFLP.

PCHR goes on:

At approximately 17:35 on Sunday evening, the Israeli forces fired an artillery sheel at a house belonging to Abdul Rahim Mustafa al-Madhoun (60), south of the American School, west of Beit Lahia. As a result, the house was destroyed and 4 civilians were killed, including a woman, and 9 were injured. Those killed civilians, including Abdul Rahim, were identified as: Abdul Rahim’s son Abdullah Abdul Rahim Mustafa al-Madhooun (21), Fadi Ragheb Yusuf Badran (33), Amani ‘Etfat Sha;ban al-Madhoun (36), who was pregnant at her ninth month.

This was a legitimate target. Fadi Ragheb Yusuf Badran, who already served 6 years in Israeli prisons for terror activities, was a member of the Popular Resistance Movement. Abdullah Abdul Rahim Mustafa al-Madhooun was a leader of Islamic Jihad's Al Quds Brigades.

Abdullah Abdul Rahim Mustafa al-Madhooun

The father and pregnant woman were human shields.

PCHR goes on:

At approximately 17:45, the Israeli warplenes launched 2 missiles at the ground floor and first floor in Zu’rob’s Building near al-Shuhada’a Square (al-Nejmah), in the center of Rafah. As a result, 3 civlians were killed namely: ‘Ali Ahmed Abdul Jawad (51), who was in al-Awa’el Educational Center, Mousa Husein Lafi Mo’amer (35) and Hani Hamdan Abu Sha’ar (37), who were at al-Fakher Cofe.

Mo'amer and Sha'ar were at least associated with Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, based on the flags used as their shrouds and flags waved at their funeral.

PCHR goes on:

At approximately 19:50, the Israeli warplanes launched a missile at the fifth floor in Building no. (12) at Sheikh Zayed Buildings, north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, 6 civilians were killed namely: Ahmed Ramadan Rajab al-Ghazali (30), his wife Eman Abdullah Mousa al-Ghazali (29), their child Maria (5 months), Abdul Rahman Talal Abu al-Jedyan (12), his parents Tala ‘Atiyah Abu al-Jedyan (48) and Raghdah Mohammed Abu al-Jedyan (46), whose dead bodies were recovered todays morning from under the rubble.

This one I'm not quite as certain about, but apparently at least one of the dead- probably Ahmed - was associated with Hamas. At least two members of the family were wrapped in Hamas flags as a courtesy.

PCHR has a long history of immediately labeling terrorists as "civilian" going back to the 2009 war
when over 300 supposed "civilians" were found to be in fact members of terror groups.

PCHR says that 9 additional of Gaza's dead were indeed militants, but it only mentions the name of one from Hamas. Islamic Jihad admits 8 "martyrs" including Al Madhoun, above.

As we can see here, apparently 100% of the people killed in Gaza this weekend were either terrorists, human shields for terrorists or collateral damage as Israel targeted terrorists - legitimate targets under international law.

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05/06 Links Pt2: Daniel Pipes: Making Sense of Palestinian Logic; Pierre Rehov: Corruption: A major cause of Palestinian suffering; Anti-Semites Don’t Just Hate Jews. They’re Targeting Freedom

From Ian:

Daniel Pipes: Making Sense of Palestinian Logic

Palestinians do weird things. A few days ago, the Palestinian Authority (PA), which rules most of the West Bank, refused to accept the tax revenues it is owed by the Israeli government. Today, Hamas, which rules all of Gaza, launched more than 200 rockets into Israel.

Both of these are, on the surface, self-defeating steps that make no sense. Not taking the money means the PA could collapse; firing rockets means Hamas is getting battered militarily by the far superior Israeli forces.

So, why do the leaders of these quasi-governmental entities take such apparently self-defeating steps? Because they bring results. Follow the logic:
- Israelis thriving in nearly every domain, from demographics to economics, from democracy to cultural creativity.
- The Palestinians feel isolated and weak because the Arab states have basically come to terms with Israel’s existence, leaving the struggle to secondary players such as Iran, Turkey, and the global Left.
- No matter their weakness, the leaders of the PA and Hamas remain committed to the elimination of the Jewish state, meaning that they cannot live in peace next to Israel.
- Contrarily, the Israeli public cherishes normality and, especially since the 1993 Oslo accords, has been ready to pay a price for it.

Therefore, the Palestinians play a game of chicken, disturbing the quiet in return for an Israeli pay-off. The Palestinian Authority says, “Give us the money you’re holding back that we use to fund attacks on Israelis or our whole structure will come crashing down and you’ll have a much bigger mess on your hands.” Hamas says, “Give us access to the money Qatar is sending us or we will make life miserable for you, with rockets raining down during your Memorial Day, your Independence Day, and the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest.”

Pierre Rehov: Corruption: A major cause of Palestinian suffering - documentary

Much has been said about the sums that the Palestinian Authority spends on salaries of terrorists imprisoned in Israel and the families of “martyrs” – in other words, suicide-terrorists and those killed during their murderous operation. But when you talk to Palestinians about the misappropriation of funds allocated by the international community, the first term they use is “corruption.”

Indeed, a study by AMAN – a chapter of Transparency International co-founded by Jordan – shows that, according to several surveys of the Palestinian population, the corruption of their leaders is the second most popular cause of their misery. According to the same surveys, the first cause would be the inability of these same leaders to create a strong economy. The Israeli occupation comes in third place.

The equation between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and his entourage on the one hand, and Hamas leaders on the other, is easy to understand. For decades, to divert the attention of the media, the international community and their people, all they had to do was accuse Israel of all their ills.

This is an exercise that has also been carried out by many Arab-Muslim countries. Whatever the excesses of the dictatorships in place, it has long been enough to accuse Israel – and sometimes the West – to keep their populations calm, while diverting and reaping billions of dollars that could have improved their living conditions or infrastructure.

But times are changing, global information is now easily accessible and people are no longer fooled.

Pierre Rehov: Terror Racket and Corruption

Nikki Haley | The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 49

Hamas is so proud to target civilians, as this video from the Qassam Brigades shows:

#BREAKING: Hamas releases video of Kornet ATGM attack on Israeli vehicle today pic.twitter.com/jkd2P4Rew1
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) May 5, 2019

[Moshe] Feder was fatally wounded when an anti-tank guided missile slammed into his car as he was driving along the Route 34 highway near the community of Kibbutz Erez just north of the Gaza border. He sustained a serious shrapnel wound to the leg, causing significant blood loss. Feder was pronounced dead at Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center after CPR efforts failed. The Hamas terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hamas sometimes claims to only target military targets. People who believe them are not too bright.

(h/t Irene)

UPDATE: I am told that this is not an accurate video. Hamas indeed is bragging over shooting a civilian car, but this video was taken at another time.

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If you want to see an example of what “fighting back” looks like in the rarified environment of academia, check out the latest edition Israel Studies, a journal published by Indiana University Press.

Actually, you’ll only be able to look at the whole thing if you have access to JSTOR, the online source for major academic journals and articles, or can find a print copy at a university library (although you can look at the first and last essay in the volume with a couple of extra mouse clicks). But even this glimpse sets the stage for long-overdue analysis of the corrupt language that has infested Middle East studies and now threatens to take down other disciplines.

As regular readers know, Israel’s enemies have not just twisted the language of history, scholarship and human rights towards their own political ends, but have so monopolized discourse that any attempt to take back the language (by claiming that words like “genocide” and “occupation” have actual meaning, beyond their selective use to slur a single state) is met by hysterical resistance.
I’ve seen this on a small scale whenever I have used the word “settlement” to apply to both Jewish and Arab communities in Israel or the disputed territories (or simply used the word “disputed” – rather than “occupied” to describe Judea & Samaria/The West Bank). Invariably the response is either aggression (usually involving shouts of “racism” for not handing an opponent control of the vocabulary immediately and unconditionally) or avoidance (i.e., my “debating partner” fleeing to find someone uninformed to propagandize).

Given this auto-response by those who live by BDSthink, one can only imagine the response to the latest issue of Israel Studies where credentialed scholars subject each and every one of the boycotter’s favorite terms (“colonialism,” “apartheid,” “the Israel Lobby”) to honest analysis fueled by sound scholarship.

Actually, you don’t have to imagine since the response to publication of that journal was as immediate as it was predictable.

Within days of the Word Crimes issue of Israel Studies hitting the streets, dozens of professors petitioned the organization sponsoring the journal to denounce and withdraw it, calling it a political propaganda exercise not worthy to be treated as genuine scholarship. This from “scholars” who have spent decades publishing the most outlandish fabrications and gobbdygook about the Middle East, awarding honors and prizes to whoever can make the most absurd accusations against the Jewish state, usually based not on fact but on post-modern claptrap.

Some of the most hilarious accusations came from academics “concerned” over the areas of expertise of by some contributors to the Word Crimes journal. Again, this is coming from groups ready to welcome academic birthday clowns like Stephen Salaita into the fold of Middle East studies solely based on his embrace of the anti-Israel narrative.

Fortunately, those behind Word Crimes are standing their ground, labeling their opponents as academic thugs who want to shut down discourse they don’t like, and can’t respond to (a nice use of language on its own).

Giving credit where it is due, the co-editors of the volume, Professors Miriam Elman and Asaf Romirowsky have found the right pressure point and a tactic to press it that does not involve sacrificing an ounce of academic integrity. Yes, the essays that make up the volume are all trying to counter misuse of specific terms coopted and corrupted by the forces of BDS. But the only reason the exercise is necessary is because proponents of the “Israel Must Go” narrative have made such a correction imperative.

Those who spend lots of time anguishing over lack of punch-back by Israel’s defenders might see the publications of a relatively obscure journal insufficient to turn back the tide of anti-Israel invective engulfing the academy. But battles on campuses are primarily being waged with words (at least for now), which makes seizing back the language one of the most powerful and effective ways to bring the fight to the enemy in a war where ideas count.

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05/06 Links Pt1: As ceasefire goes into effect, PM says Gaza campaign not over; Amb Danon: When Hamas is exterminated, the people in Gaza will celebrate; Israel Should Adopt Barack Obama’s Counter-Terror Strategy

From Ian:

As ceasefire goes into effect, PM says Gaza campaign not over

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday commented on reports of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza, after two days of fighting in which four Israelis were killed, saying that Israel was readying for further confrontations with terrorist groups in the coastal enclave.

“Over the past two days, we have hit Hamas and Islamic Jihad with great force, attacking over 350 targets and terrorist leaders and activists, and destroying terrorist infrastructure,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“The campaign is not over and requires patience and judgment. We are preparing to continue,” the prime minister added. “The goal was and remains to ensure the peace and security of the residents of the south. I send condolences to the families and wish a speedy recovery for the wounded.”

A spokesperson for Hamas similarly said, in response to the prime minister’s statement, that although the recent flareup in violence had come to an end, the wider conflict would continue.

“The resistance managed to deter the IDF,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, according to the Kan public broadcaster, referring to the Gaza terror groups. “Our message is that this round is over, but the conflict will not end until we regain our rights.”

The ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza terror groups went into effect at 4:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, ending two days of intense fighting that saw more than 600 rockets fired at Israel and four Israeli civilians killed.

Over two days, in response to the rocket fire, the Israeli military conducted hundreds of strikes from the air and land, including one highly unusual targeted killing of a terrorist operative who the IDF said funneled money from Iran to terror groups in the Strip.

Palestinian medical officials reported 29 dead since Friday, including at least 11 terrorists, The Times of Israel confirmed.

Khaled Abu Toameh: Hamas, Islamic Jihad again celebrate ‘victory’ - analysis

Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials see the ceasefire agreement that was reached with Israel early Monday as a “big achievement.”

In their view, the last round of fighting, during which the two groups fired hundreds of missiles towards Israel, has “deterred” Israel and forced it to commit to the implementation of previous Egyptian-sponsored understandings, which include easing restrictions imposed on the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

According to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, this time they received assurances from Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations that Israel will fulfill its obligations under the previous understandings reached earlier this year.

The two groups claimed that Monday’s ceasefire agreement requires Israel to stop shooting at Palestinians during the weekly protests near the border with Israel, also known as the Great March of Return; the implementation of the previous understandings, especially with regards to easing the blockade on the Gaza Strip; allowing international relief organizations to assist families whose houses were destroyed in the last round of fighting; an end to Israeli targeted assassinations and expanding the fishing zone for Palestinian fishermen.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad feel that the price they paid for launching hundreds of missiles toward Israel during the two days of fighting was relatively small compared to the losses and damage inflicted on Israel.

As far as they are concerned, the fact that none of their senior leaders was killed is sufficient to celebrate victory. Also, the fact that Israel did not launch a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip is seen by the two groups as proof that Israel is afraid of an all-out war with the Gaza-based groups. Each round of fighting that ends with Hamas and Islamic Jihad remaining the two dominant forces in the Gaza Strip is also seen by the two groups as a type of victory.

“The Palestinian resistance groups succeeded in deterring Israel and forcing it to implement the Egyptian-brokered understandings,” said Musab al-Braim, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian groups, he said, are now expecting Israel to step up the pace of implementing the understandings, especially in light of the “assurances” reportedly provided by Egypt, Qatar and the UN.

The last 48 hours in Gaza:

We targeted 350 Islamic Jihad & Hamas targets including:

• rocket launch sites
• terror squads & operatives
• command and training centers
• weapon facilities
• observation posts
• military compounds

Terror targets civilians, we target terror. pic.twitter.com/9wSS22PEjt
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 6, 2019

Amb Danon on CNN: When Hamas is exterminated, the people in Gaza will celebrate

Last week, a series of Instagram posts were released, showing what the Holocaust would have looked like from the perspective of a 13 year old girl of smartphones existed during World War II.

Called Eva Stories, is based on the diary of the real Eva Heyman, a 13 year old in Budapest who recorded her story in 1944.

The account gained a million subscribers in no time - and critics immediately slammed it. A Haaretz op-ed said "a fictitious Instagram account of a girl murdered in the Holocaust is not and cannot be a legitimate way" to teach today's youth about the Holocaust. Others accused the posts of trivializing the Holocaust.

Here it is all together as a video.

The same criticisms of Eva Stories have been hurled at all other media that have tried to tackle the Holocaust - books, novels, plays, movies, miniseries, graphic novels, poetry, art. It is true that nothing can ever capture the horrors of the Holocaust - it is impossible. Even survivors only experienced a slice of the total horror.

All that can be done is to describe it as best as one can, and hope that the effort is serious and not trivializing it.

Eva Stories is powerful because it immediately allows you to connect to Eva as a real person, which she was. If it had been completely fictionalized it indeed could have been seen as a gimmick, but Eva Heyman's real diary captured her crushes, her fun with friends, and the horror as her life fell apart over the course of only a few months. The Instagram version allows people to feel the immediacy and fear and helplessness felt by Jews.

Eva Stories is a worthwhile addition to the pantheon of Holocaust literature.

My only quibble is that the original diary is not easy to find for a reasonable price in book form, and I wish that the creators of this story had reissued the diary in a trade paperback to make it available to everyone.

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