Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The first of three Israel-oriented events transpired last night [c/o the local ZOA]; the others are
scheduled for tomorrow [Republican Jewish Coalition @ 7:30 a.m. and a movie-preview (Body & Soul
also c/o the ZOA) @ 7:00 p.m.]. For an event that was scheduled on the Wednesday prior to
Thanksgiving and that was to be held the following Monday night, that 50 people were in-attendance
(on a rainy, chilly night) is testimony to how well-known the ZOAs Man in Israel (Jeff Daube) has
proven to be (albeit hired, after having been a school-teacher, only seven years ago). His speech focused
on desecration of the Mount of Olives, but he also touched-upon the legality of Israels controlling
Judea/Samaria, c/o the just-translated Levy Report [starting on page 9]; he has worked with Arlene
Kushner, who provided a digest thereof [with a map and reference to Oslo]. {The Executive Director of
the Greater Philadelphia District of the ZOA, Steve Feldman, was responsible for rapid dissemination
of the word this event was to transpire.}
Steve and I published two articles [in the American Thinker] that celebrate the
"establishment" of the ancient state of Israel [on the 10th of Nisan], which Steve dubbed
"Yom Knisa" [short for "Yom Knisa la'aretz" or "The Day of the Entering Into the Land"].
Our articles [Israel at 60 - Give or Take a Few Thousand Years & A Holiday for the Ages
and Today] posit that Jews essentially hold a deed to the land [per Joshua 3:14-17],
which they [we] have continuously inhabited unto the present-day. This rather unique
circumstance has been recognized thereafter ["In national terms, Israel was first
sovereign in 1020 BCE"], and has not been challenged publicly.
In prior Blast e-mails, we have tenaciously defended this paradigm
against being corrupted [consciously and/or inadvertently]; indeed,
again, this-a.m., Steve refined the way I present this concept [delinking
its import from the Exodus, when another body of water was traversed].
We are aware that a Yom Aliyah was recognized in
Israel, this past Spring, rooted also on the 10th of Nisan,
reflecting the date when the largest Aliyah occurred;
we feel this misses the necessity to emphasize the
Jewish connection with the land. We know this new
event has not yet been formally added to the Israeli
Calendar [as has been, as of two days ago, recognition
of the travails of modern Jews residing in Arab Lands];
thus, we would want to advocate for adoption of our
original idea and, specifically, Jeff Daube is envisioned
as our conduit to M.K.s.
We feel this initiative carries both cultural and legal implications that,
respectively, dovetail with religious [Drash] and historical [political]
considerations. As is often the case, we are uncompromising on these
principles, although we are open to efforts to seek-common-ground
with like-minded individuals; although Steve is far more grounded in
Torah study than am I, we share identical intent, namely, to invoke the
archaeological record to buttress the claim of Jews to Eretz Yisrael.
During a mini-chat with Jeff prior to his presentation, I gained an appreciation of the
sequential strategy being implemented, the concepts undermining which I had already
surmised [as stated both in prior Blast e-mails and in blogging on PoliticsPA]. It may be
recalled that I had conveyed personal e-mail exchanges with Ms. Kushner regarding the
absence of a stated-remedy for the problems she lamented [e.g., stoning on the Temple
Mount, murders of the three rabbis]; I had advocated deportation to Gaza, while she
had demurred. I now know why, for adoption of the Israel as a Jewish State legislation
as part of the Basic Law could lead to stripping rioters of their [Jerusalem] citizenship,
a state that, then, could facilitate such interventions as I had advocated [deportation].
Israel continues to attempt to disseminate its message [Words matter: how vocabulary defines the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict; AP Accused of Bias Against Israel] as efforts continue to create an Intifada-III
[While terror rages in Jerusalem, Israel-Jordan relations hang in the balance; three Palestinians charged
in plot to attack MK Feiglin and Glick on Temple Mount]. The political turmoil triggered by a candid
assessment of Democracy and the Jewish State could even lead to early elections despite the fact that
Palestinians continue to promulgate The Big Lie. Also, now that Hamas Said the Palestinian Unity
Government [which had been a faade] Is Over, it will be intriguing to note BHOs rationalization for
funding Hamas *terrorists+ in conjunction with reconstruction of Gaza; Hamas itself is in turmoil (and is
Plotting New Violence), even as the Obama Admin Wants Hamas Ally Qatar to Remain Chief Broker in
Peace Process. {Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas, the so-called "moderate" President of the Palestinian
Authority, said that his people will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state.}
Meanwhile, terrorism continues globally, targeting Israel and Jews [ISIS kidnapped
Canadian-Israeli (former IDF soldier who went to fight with the Kurds); Islamic State
planned to hijack Israeli ship; Shots were fired at Israeli bus in West Bank (no injuries);
Turkish cleric says Israel behind Islamic State; Erdogans Turkey is an Emerging State
Sponsor of Terrorism ("The American Foreign Policy with Syria has been feckless while
Turkey has been reckless); Israeli seriously injured in suspected hit and run in West
Bank}. {Also, note that the Media Imbalance Toward Israel has Become Rooted.}
One reader expressed gratitude for these efforts [Thank you for all the thought and time you put into
these "blasts". I pass them on in part or whole to others]; others contribute data that are turnedaround as expeditiously as possible. Curiously, the misguided-albeit-strident Dem/lib blogger @
PoliticsPA has been quiescent for two days; perhaps he finally has come-up-dry when trying to reply to
my truth-telling [as manifest on two sites].
I received two Fortune Cookies on Sunday at a local Chinese-Food Buffet because I both
pre-tipped a waitress [who then provided a stale one] and thanked another waitress for
a Diet-Coke refill [who then provided a crisp one]; they are both encouraging *The
mightiest oak in the forest is just a little nut that held its ground and A frivolous gift is
a gift, nonetheless+. My conjoint interpretation is that its worthwhile to persevere in
efforts to disseminate truths, even if some recipients are occasionally inattentive. {For
example, listen to a clip of Milton Friedman discuss Americas upward-mobility.}
Dems continue to squabble after the Midterms [Dems assail Wall Street ties in Obama administration;
Cassidy up 15 points on Landrieu; Dem favorable rating sinks to record low (36% have a favorable view,
now lower than that of the GOP); 2016 retirements could complicate Dems' comeback plans; Warren
trounced Clinton in poll of liberal group; there are 4 Ways Hillary Clinton Can Distance Herself from
Barack Obama in 2016; Rep. Grayson: Obama's immigration delay hurt Dems; Southern Dems cant win].
Meanwhile, Rs are energized *GOP game plan: Make Dems the party of no] as 13 Republicans are vying
for POTUS-16 (prompting a Conservative reaction to The Hill: You can always tell the lefties; they
push Christie, Huckabee and Bush as top-tier runners, when conservatives know they will never make a
primary - if they run at all); CONSERVATIVES MOVE TO THWART JEB and Rick Perry leads way in Iowa
events. {Also, The Dem-Academia junk science axis has dug-in.}
Illustrative of the importance of the House [and, perhaps, joint-Senate] BenghaziGate
Committed is another report suggesting The House Intelligence Committee Benghazi
Report was a Whitewash. Regarding other national issues, a House Member Seeks
Probe of Bergdahl Ransom Payment and Plunging Oil Prices Undermine U.S. Adversaries.
,Also, as was predicted in a prior Blast e-mail a few days ago, the fighter who lost to
Mickey Rourke 'was paid to throw the bout.'}
Illustrative of the injustice of BHOs Immunity-Order, also, is the fact that Iraqis Who Served U.S. Seek
Visas...and Wait; meanwhile, it still seems that Republicans will not stop Barack Obamas executive
overreach; also noted is the utterly ridiculous claim made by House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers
that, in the upcoming slap-fight with Obama over his brutalization of immigration law, the GOP could
not touch the funding of the Citizenship and Immigration Service because it is funded mostly by fees
paid by visa applicants. {Also, KRAUTHAMMER feels the GOP SHOULD RUN ON 'BUILD A DAMN FENCE,'
and Poll confirmed that the GOP, not Obama, will be blamed for a new government shutdown.}
Illustrative of the domestic-terrorism threat of Islamism enhanced by Illegals, Oprah
Winfreys Chicago-based studio was targeted in a foiled terrorist truck-bomb plot in
2009 devised by an illegal alien, an individual who was waving an Islamic State flag from
his car when he was arrested, and two of the FBI's most wanted terrorists, among
others.
Illustrative of the effort to prolong discussion of Ferguson is the claim by FARRAKHAN that the 'LAW OF
RETALIATION' APPLIES TO FERGUSON and the fact that SHARPTON IS MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE;
perhaps as a result, a Ferguson Agitator Warned Some are 'Going to Have to Die,' 'There Should Be
Bloodshed' and, on November 30, four teens jumped a man in south St. Louis, using hammers to beat
him to death. {Amazingly, BLOOMBERG POLITICS PUBLISHED DARREN WILSON'S ADDRESS INFO.}
Regarding the Culture-Wars, the CDCs Latest Abortion Report suggests the procedure is
being performed less often, but predominantly upon Blacks. {Also, COSBY STEPPED
DOWN FROM TEMPLE'S BOARD.}
An article that concluded Philly is the No. 3 Best City to Be a Sports Fan provided an overview of the
history of what has transpired in each major sport during recent decades. Regarding the Eagles, a Hot
Finish will, hopefully, Keep Shady with Eagles Beyond 2014 because McCoy is Establishing Himself as
Best Eagles RB Ever; also, although there is a brewing QB-controversy, the Eagles' Defensive Line Coming
into Its Own, explaining why NFL Power Rankings have ranked Eagles as #4. Regarding the Phillies,
thankfully, Yanks Checked In on Rollins [good riddance] but Tomas went to the D-Backs on 6-Yr/$68.5M
Deal [about which, not surprisingly, Amaro claimed unconvincingly that he was 'Not Disappointed'] and
Papelbon is Not Yielding Any Trade Offers Yet [as might be anticipated]. Regarding the Flyers, as
Incredulous Snider blasted Flyers' lack of scoring depth, it is instructive to recall What caused the rift
with Lindros. ,Lets pass on the Sixers.-
In addition to noting AMBASSADOR PROSORS UN SPEECH, note that todays Daily Alert is replete, as
usual, with articles that carry both immediacy and long-term import; annotation emphasizes keyconcepts:
News Resources - North America, Europe, and Asia:
Iran Bombing Islamic State in Iraq, U.S. Confirms - Akbar Shahid Ahmed
Iranian planes are bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq, a U.S. defense official confirmed Monday. He noted that
the Iranian bombing has been taking place near the Iranian border, in a different part of Iraq than most U.S. and
coalition activity. (Huffington Post)
Abbas: Egypt Right to Create Buffer Zone on Gaza Border - Jack Khoury
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he cannot ask Egypt to stop demolishing houses and create a buffer
zone in Rafah, on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza, because he is fully aware of Egyptian security needs.
Abbas told the Egyptian newspaper Al-Akhbar that 1,800 millionaires were created in Gaza who benefited from
the smuggling tunnels. Since those tunnels were used for smuggling weapons, drugs, cash and equipment for
forging documents, Abbas believed the destruction of the tunnels was the best solution.
Abbas said Hamas is an inseparable part of the Muslim Brotherhood and takes orders from the Brotherhood's
international leadership. He also noted that Hamas never stops lying, citing the kidnapping and murder of three
Israeli teenagers in the West Bank last summer. The Hamas political leadership denied any connection, while
senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri accepted responsibility for the kidnapping in a speech he made in Turkey.
(Ha'aretz)
Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis (Best of U.S., UK, and Israel):
Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, outlining the group's new strategy. Baghdadi is attempting to
build bases all over the Middle East, with his main objectives being Arab regimes - first of all, Saudi Arabia. While
efforts to capture more territory in Iraq and Syria appear to have been blocked for now, the new strategy
envisions terror attacks in other Arab countries, with the aim of recruiting more and more supporters who will
establish movements that will conquer territories within those countries. According to this analysis, attacks
against Western nations are not at the top of ISIS' list. (Ha'aretz)
In-Depth Issues:
Al-Qaeda Plot to Blow Up 5 Jets during Christmas - Donal MacIntyre (Sunday Express-UK)
Terrorists are plotting to blow up five European passenger jets in a Christmas "spectacular," security experts
say.
An airport security source told the Sunday Express: "We've been told that five planes are being targeted in a
high profile hit before Christmas....The threat is still alive and real."
The plot, which has been known about for the past two months, is thought to involve Islamists smuggling
bombs on to planes bound for major European destinations.
The latest threat is understood to have been uncovered by American intelligence officers.
Egypt: Islamic State Planned to Hijack Israeli Ship - Yasser Okbi (Maariv Hashavua-Jerusalem Post)
On Nov. 12, Islamic State fighters hijacked an Egyptian navy missile boat from Damietta Port in northern
Egypt. Egypt then sent reinforcements to the scene, and the hijacked ship was neutralized after an exchange of
fire.
Arab media reported on Monday that the insurgents had also planned to hijack an Israeli ship and use it as
leverage for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Accused of Planning Attacks on Israelis - Elhanan Miller (Times of Israel)
Jordanian security forces arrested 20 men for planning to smuggle arms into the West Bank to be used in
terror attacks against Israelis, Al-Jazeera reported this week.
The men, all members of the Muslim Brotherhood or Jordan's engineers guild, were arrested after two
members returned from a solidarity visit to Gaza where they received military training.
Adding Turkey to the "State Sponsors of Terrorism" List - Daniel Pipes (National Review)
According to Israeli intelligence, Hamas has moved its outside-Gaza headquarters from Damascus to Istanbul;
it is headed by Saleh al-Arouri, whom Israel Hayom calls "an infamous arch-terrorist believed to be responsible
for dozens of attacks against Israelis."
Arouri recently plotted at least two very ambitious but foiled operations, including "an attack on Teddy
Stadium in Jerusalem, and an attack on the light rail train in the capital."
The claim of Hamas planning destruction from its Istanbul base needs to be investigated by the U.S.
government and, if found accurate, the Republic of Turkey then placed on the "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list.
Observations:
Zionism Is Not in Decline - Amos Yadlin and Uri Sadot (Ha'aretz)
Israel is more secure and prosperous now than ever in its history. It wields the strongest military power in the
Middle East; the economy is on a steady rise and rich with gas reserves; our demography is healthy; our people
are some of the happiest in the world and our society, as exemplified this summer, is close-knit and resilient in
times of trial.
In 2013, 19,200 new immigrants decided to relocate their homes to Israel, demonstrating that Zionism is not at
all on the decline.
Adding to its security, Israel now enjoys a wide network of alliances. Security cooperation with the U.S., military
aid levels, support in Congress, as well as trade volumes and tourism have never been better. China and India
are now increasingly cooperative both in trade and diplomatically. Similarly, trade volumes with Europe have
risen steadily.
Also worth noting are Israel's improving ties with Canada, Central European states, many countries in Africa, the
republics of central Asia, and the once-menacing Russian Federation.
Israel's two longest borders, with Jordan and Egypt, have long been pacified by treaties that have endured
turbulent periods.
The grave threat of conventional armies against Israel has disintegrated together with the Syrian and the Iraqi
states.
Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, former Chief of Defense Intelligence, is director of the Institute for National
Security Studies (INSS), where Uri Sadot is a research fellow.