Red Tigress' Lair

Happy New Years, Y'all.

12.31.03 (4:22 pm)   [edit]
Ok, with that said, I better get a going. Quality time with the boyfriend, you know how it goes...

[b]~HAPPY NEW YEARS! WOO! 2004~[/b]

have a picture....



ROCK ON!

Recomended reading: "The Case for Israel" A Review by Alex Potapov

12.31.03 (2:50 am)   [edit]



[b][u]The Case for Israel[/u] By Alan Dershowitz

Review by Alex Potapov[/b]

In his new book, The Case for Israel, Alan Dershowitz recounts a telling anecdote about former Harvard president A. Lawrence Lowell, who argued that the number of Jews at Harvard should be limited because Jews cheat. When it was pointed out that others cheat as well, Lowell answered, "You're changing the subject. I'm talking about Jews."

It is Dershowitz's thesis that the same insidious double standard is currently being applied to Israel. This duality, he contends, casts aspersions on the credibility of international institutions, the hope for peace in the Middle East, and the efforts by reasonable critics of Israel to establish a rational dialogue.

Dershowitz counts himself among such reasonable critics; he is more than ready to question the Israeli government and its policies. What he cannot abide is the violent, hypocritical condemnation of Israel that lacks even the veneer of consistency and moral legitimacy -- criticism so hateful and absurd that one feels compelled to defend even questionable Israeli policies for fear of giving ammunition to those who believe a Jewish state should not be allowed to exist.

It is Dershowitz's belief that the difference between perception and reality is greater for Israel than it has ever been for any state. Israel boasts a human rights record that is better than that of France and many other European countries, and light years ahead of any of its Arab neighbors. Yet Israel is constantly singled out for criticism as one of the worst human rights violators in the world, a perpetrator of genocide and a racist state. To demonstrate the absurdity of such accusations, Dershowitz analyzes them one-by-one in 32 short chapters, each of which describes an accusation, catalogues the accusers who have made it, and proceeds to debunk their claims.

Along the way, Dershowitz points out a mind-boggling array of contradictions on the part of Israel's accusers.

* Israel is relentlessly criticized for using torture, when its Supreme Court has actually prohibited such tactics. Meanwhile Arab states like Jordan and Egypt use lethal torture routinely.

* Israel is accused of being a racist state while Jews are relegated to second-class citizenship all over the Middle East. Interestingly, Arabs have more rights in Israel than in any Arab country.

* Israel's critics wrongly accuse it of collective punishment, and then turn around and advocate divestiture from Israel and a boycott of Israeli academics.

* Israel is singled out for its treatment of Palestinians, even though "everything bad that Israel had done to Palestinians, Jordan has done far worse."

* Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount is considered a sufficient provocation for the Palestinian Intifada (which had actually been planned beforehand). Ironically, however, the Holocaust denial is not considered to be provocation to Israel, nor are the other myriad forms of anti-Semitism that are constantly preached in the Arab states.

Dershowitz does an excellent job pointing out the internationally favored status Palestine enjoys. Many other groups - such as the Tibetans and the Kurds - have more compelling moral claims and largely avoid the horrific use of violence to which the Palestinians have resorted. Nevertheless, it is the Palestinians who receive the overwhelming attention and support of the international community. Palestine receives special privileges from the United Nations, including their own separate agency and a special definition of 'refugee'. (Any other group needs to show a "well-founded fear of persecution" to get refugee status, but Arabs who live in Israel for as little as two years can be counted as refugees regardless of their reason for moving or how far they moved.) Also, while other refugee groups created by 20th century conflicts have been successfully resettled, Palestinian refugees are kept in UN-operated camps where they are the recipients of relentless anti-Israel propaganda.

The Palestinians continue to elicit international sympathy, even after Yasser Arafat rejected Israel's generous offers of peace at Camp David and Taba without so much as a counteroffer. What is most disturbing about this, Dershowitz notes, is that it is precisely through their use of violence that Palestinians achieve their favored status. Both Israeli and Palestinian casualties work in the Palestinians' favor; Israel's response to a deadly wave of terrorism helped redirect the gathering international condemnation of Arafat onto Israel. So long as this calculus works for the Palestinians, and as long as Arab nations can attack Israel and then 'reclaim' land in exchange for 'peace', it is hard to see what incentives there are for these nations to take serious steps toward a resolution of the conflict.

Perhaps this book's biggest weakness is the inherent difficulty of merging a work of history with a work of advocacy. Although the book covers the whole span of Israel's history, it's hard to get a good sense of it from the choppy structure, which focuses only on those aspects of Israel's history that have drawn the most criticism. The timelines get a bit confusing and the overall picture remains somewhat murky. In Dershowitz's defense, however, the facts about Israel's history been distorted so often that it is no longer possible to write a book of advocacy about Israel without also dabbling heavily in history. Furthermore, the rapid succession of chapters showcases the sheer relentlessness and diversity of the attacks on Israel.

Dershowitz ends the book by concluding that the case for Israel is strong indeed. It's hard to disagree with him -- his book systematically debunks nearly every major accusation that is made against Israel.

In the current political climate, one must conclude that Dershowitz is right when he notes that "the defense can never rest when it comes to the Jewish state."

[i]Alex Potapov, a 2003 intern at The Heritage Foundation, is a student at Harvard University.[/i]

Iran's arch-foe Israel offers condolences on quake

12.31.03 (2:14 am)   [edit]
To get the full effect, please also read the blog below this one that is also dedicated to Iran.

This is just one of many news stories about Iran's refusal to allow Israel to send them aid after the earthquake in Iran. Iran would rather see its own civilians die tragically than reveive help from the Jews. How terribly sad. I guess you have to have priorities :roll:....

[b]Iran's arch-foe Israel offers condolences on quake
AFP
Sat Dec 27, 7:28 AM ET[/b]

JERUSALEM (AFP) - The Israeli government offered condolences following the devastating earthquake in Iran, saying it had "no conflict" with the Iranian people, despite its enmity with the Islamic regime.

"The deputy premier and foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, addresses in the name of the Israeli government and the people of Israel condolences to the Iranian people after the catastrophe," the foreign ministry said.

"The government and people of Israel are moved by the human tragedy experienced by the Iranian people and believe that, despite all differences, a mobilisation of the whole international community is needed to come to the help of families of the victims and wounded," it said in a statement.

Tehran has called for international relief aid from any country except Israel following Friday's quake, which killed tens of thousands in the southeastern Iranian district of Bam.

Foreign ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled regretted the Iranian government's refusal to accept aid.

"The Israeli people want to send aid to the Iranian people, but if the government of Iran does not want to accept the offer, that is their right but it is a shame," Peled told AFP.

"Israel has no conflict with the Iranian people," the spokesman added.

The regime in Tehran has said it would not accept any help from the "Zionist regime".

"The Islamic Republic of Iran accepts all kinds of humanitarian aid from all countries and international organizations with the exception of the Zionist regime (Israel)," Jahanbakhsh Khanjani said Saturday, quoted by the official news agency IRNA.

Sources close to the Israeli foreign ministry had said on Friday that non-governmental organisations were looking into offering help to Iran.

"Some Israeli non-government organisations envisage proposing aid to Iran," the sources told AFP, without going into detail.

Israeli teams have solid experience in earthquake rescue operations, with workers having been despatched to help out in operations in countries including Nicaragua and Turkey.

But politically, tension is high between the two countries, with Israel viewing Iran as its main enemy following the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Last month, Meir Dagan, head of Israel's Mossad overseas intelligence service, told lawmakers that Iran, which is developing a nuclear programme, posed the biggest threat to the existence of the Jewish state since its creation in 1948.

Words of Wisdom about Iran and Antisemitism!

12.31.03 (1:32 am)   [edit]
This article came from Rattler Red's Den: http://rattlerred.tblog.com

This is not the first words of wisdom I've heard from the esteemed Dennis Prager. He has an Awesome book (co-authored with Joseph Telushkin) entitled [u]Why the Jews: The Reason for Antisemitism.[/u] Check out or buy your own copy of this excellent and eye-opening book with the ISBN#0743246209. He is full of excellent insight. And enjoy the article....

[b][u]Iran clarifies the Middle East[/u][/b]

Dennis Prager
townhall.com
December 30, 2003


If you want to understand the Middle East conflict, Iran has just provided all you need to know.


A massive earthquake kills between 20,000 and 40,000 Iranians, and the government of Iran announces that help is welcome from every country in the world . . . except Israel.

This little-reported news item is of great significance. It begs commentary.
Israel not only has the world's most experienced crews in quickly finding survivors in bombed out buildings, it is also a mere two-hour flight from Iran. In other words, no country in the world would come close to Israel in its ability to save Iranian lives quickly.

But none of this means anything to the rulers of Iran. The Islamic government of Iran has announced to the world that it is better for fellow countrymen and fellow Muslims -- men, women and children -- to die buried under rubble than to be saved by a jew from Israel.

That is how deep the hatred of Israel and jews is in much of the Muslim world.


Hundreds of millions of Muslims -- Arab and non-Arab, Sunni and Shi'a -- hate Israel more than they love life. Leaders of the Palestinian terror organization Hamas repeatedly state, "We love death more than the jews love life." And now, Iran announces that it is better for a Muslim to asphyxiate under the earth than be rescued by a jew from Israel.

Naive Westerners -- which includes most academics, intellectuals, members of the international news media, and nearly all others on the Left -- refuse to acknowledge the uniqueness of the Arab/Muslim hatred of Israel and jews. Yet, there is no hatred in the world analogous to it. Not since the Nazi hatred of jews has humanity witnessed such hate.

That is why finding survivors from earthquakes, creating a Palestinian state and life itself are all far less important in much of the Islamic and Arab worlds than killing jews and destroying the little jewish state.

That is why Arab newspapers run articles by Arab professors describing how jews butcher non-jewish children to use their blood for holiday meals.

That is why Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad could get a standing ovation from the heads of every Muslim country when he told them "the jews rule the world by proxy."

That is why Palestinian parents celebrate the suicide terror of their sons -- the joy of killing Israeli families far outweighs the pain of the death of their child.

Western naifs like to believe platitudes such as "Deep down, all people are really the same," "All people want peace," and the great untruth of multiculturalism that no culture is morally superior to another. That is why they choose not to face the truth about the Nazi-like hatred that permeates the Arab/Muslim world and the consequent moral gulf that exists between it and Israel. It shatters too many of their illusions.

Surely the Iranian refusal of rescuers from the jewish state ought to help all these people acknowledge the unique hatred that is at the root of the Arab-Israeli dispute and recognize that it is therefore a conflict unlike any other on earth.

So, too, the immediate and sincere Israeli offer of rescuers to Iran should make the moral gulf between Israel and its enemies as clear as day. Despite the fact that Iran is the greatest backer of anti-Israel (and anti-American) terror and despite the fact that Iran repeatedly declares that Israel must be annihilated (in other words, seeks a second jewish Holocaust), Israel offered to send its people to save Iranian lives.


The two reactions -- Iran's preference for Iranian deaths to Israeli help and the jewish state's instinctive offer to help save Iranian lives -- ought to be enough anyone needs to understand the source of the Middle East conflict. But they won't. Because those who are anti-Israel or "evenhanded" are not so because of the facts, but despite them.


Dennis Prager: Iran clarifies the Middle East

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/dennisprag er/printdp20031230.shtml" title="http://www.townhall.com/columnists/dennisprag er/printdp20031230.shtml" target="_blank"http://www.townhall.com/colum...

The Chosen People: Chosen for What?

12.31.03 (1:04 am)   [edit]
[i]“You have chosen us from among the nations”[/i] (Siddur). The Jews are referred to as “the Chosen People”. Many Jews themselves ask, “for which task have we been chosen?”

The answer to this question lies in the Torah passage (Exodus 19:3-6) in which God addresses Moshe immediately prior to His revelation at Sinai:

[i]"Moshe ascended to God, and God called to him from the mountain, saying, “So shall you say to the House of Jacob, and relate to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to Egypt, and that I have borne you on the wings of eagles and brought you to Me. And now, if you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for Mine is the entire world. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you shall speak to the Children of Israel.”[/i]

These words encapsulate the reason God “chose” the Jews; namely, to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”.
The reference here to priests does not refer to the Kohanim, priests who are descendants of Aaron the High Priest, for clearly all Israel are not priests in that sense. Rather, the reference here is to the “priestly function”.

The priest’s function is to “bring” God to the people, and to elevate the people to be nearer to God. The purpose of the Jews is to bring God to the world and the world closer to God.

In our association with the outside world every one of us – man or woman – must fulfil priestly functions. The juxtaposition of a “kingdom of priests” and “a holy nation” indicates that through being holy and dedicated to Torah and mitzvot in our private lives we can be successful ambassadors to the outside world. Our impact on the outside world is intrinsically related to our dedication to Torah and mitzvot. This “priestly function” was termed by the prophet Isaiah as a “light to the nations”.

Wherever Jews find themselves, in the Diaspora or in the Land of Israel, even a single Jew in a remote corner of the earth, it behoves every Jew, and every Jewish community to remember that they are part of, and representatives of, the entire Jewish people, and hence mandated with this task. Even when Jews are in Galut (exile) it is only the Jewish body that is in exile. The Jewish soul is never exiled and is free from any external subjugation. Consequently, while in exile, Jews must not ignore their task, nor underestimate their capacities, however limited their material powers may be.

The extent of one’s duty is in direct proportion to one’s station in life. It is all the greater in the case of an individual who occupies a position of some prominence which gives him an opportunity to exercise influence over others, especially youth. Such people must fully appreciate the privilege and responsibility which Divine Providence has vested in them to spread the light of the Torah and to fight darkness wherever and in whatever form it may rear its head.

Let no one think, “who am I, and what am I, to have such tremendous powers?” For we have seen – to our sorrow – what even a small quantity of matter can do in the way of destruction through the release of atomic energy. If such power is concealed in a small quantity of matter for destructiveness – in denial of the design and purpose of creation – how much greater is the creative power entrusted to every individual to work in harmony with the Divine purpose. In this case, one is given special abilities and opportunities by Divine Providence to attain the goal for which we have been created; the realisation of a world in which, [i]“Each creature shall recognise that You created him, and every breathing soul shall declare, ‘God, the God of Israel, is King, and His reign is supreme over all’ ” [/i](Rosh Hashanah prayers).

Not by Might or Power but with Spirit The Jewish people have been given the directive, “Not by might nor by power, but by My spirit, says God.” To the Jewish people and Jewish community (even to the Jew as an individual), special Divine capacities have been given to carry out their task in the fullest measure. For, where Jews are concerned, their physical powers are linked with, and subordinated to, their spiritual powers, which are infinite.

A historic example of this is found in the time of King Solomon when the Jewish people stood out among the nations of the world by virtue of having attained the highest degree of its perfection. Our Sages, referring to that state, describe it as being like “the moon in its fullness”, for, as is well known, the Jewish people are likened to the moon, and they “reckon” their times (calendar months) by the moon. One of the explanations of this is that just as the moon goes through periodic changes in its appearance, according to its position vis-à-vis the sun, whose light it reflects, so the Jewish people go through changes according to the measure of their reflecting the light of God, of Whom it is written, “For God Elokim is sun and shield.”

This perfection in the time of King Solomon (notwithstanding the fact that, even then, Jews constituted numerically and physically “the fewest of all the nations”) expressed itself in quite a distinctive form in the relations between the Jewish people and the other nations of the world. The reputation of King Solomon’s wisdom aroused a strong desire among kings and leaders to come and see his conduct and learn from his wisdom – the wisdom he had prayed for and received from God; permeated with Godliness.

And when they came they also saw how, under his leadership, there lived a people, even in its material life, “with security, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree”, in a land where, “the eyes of God, your God, are constantly on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” And this is what brought peace between the Jews and the nations all around.

Thus it was clearly demonstrated that when Jews live in accord with Torah, true peace is attained, and they serve as a guiding light for the nations – “the nations will go by your light” – the light of Torah and mitzvot. The task of the Jew and of the Jewish community is not limited to the time when they are in a state of a “full moon”, but also when in exile, “spread and dispersed among the nations.”

For even then they are one people, whose laws are different from those of all other nations, a fact that is known and acknowledged by all nations of the world.

Tribute

12.30.03 (12:37 am)   [edit]



Words/Lyrics by Jack Black
Song performed by Tenacious D (music sounds like stairway to heaven by Led Zeppelin)

[u][b]Tribute[/b][/u]

Long time ago,
me and my brother Kyle here,
we were hitchhiking
down a long and loansome road.

All of a sudden, there shined a shiney deamon
in the middle of the road.
And he said,
"Play the best song in the world
or I'll eat your souls!"
Your souls!

Well me and Kyle,
We looked at eachother
and we each said,
"Ok!"
And we played the first thing that came to our heads
just so happened to be
the best song in the world
it was the best song in the world

Ohhh yea! oooh!

And it saved our butts....
Because the deamon wanted to kill us
ooh!
But he was forced to set us free by the honor code
that deamons have to live by!

'Cause it's Satan's surprise and it's magic.
And it's a mystical disguise.
It's the devils song and it's tragic...
You are the mystical ide-virgin
and you're rocking!

Well needless to say,
the beast was stunned.
"Whip, crack" went his swampy tail
and the beast was done.
He asked us, "::Snort:: Be you angels?"
And we said,

[b]"NAY! We are but MEN!"[/b]

ROCK!

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! [melodious wailing]

This is not the greatest song in the world,
No.
This is a tribute!
Couldn't remember the greatest song in the world, no!
No!!!
This is a tribuuuuuute!!!!

OOOOOOH!

To the greatest song in the world
Alright!
To the greatest song in the world
Alright!
This is the best mutha fuckin' song;
The greatest song in the world!
oh!
[insert a round in here somewhere and more rocking out]

And the peculiar thing is, my friends:
The song that we played on that fateful night
Didn't actually sound anything like this song!

This is just a tribute!
You gotta beleive me!
And i wish you were there!
Just a matter of opinion.....

AHHHHH!!!! FUCK!

Good God!
And God love you!
You're so surprised to find you can't stop him!
[more rocking out and then one final strum]

.....

This song rocks!!!

And I love rocking out to it and messing up my room in the process! Yea, I'm a dork! But a dork who ROCKS!

Check out Tenacious D in your local record store, people! Blast it out your cars!

Can you imagine a brown 1984 Oldsmobile delta 88 with fuzzy red dice and bumperstickers up the wah-zoo (one of which says "Official Pimp-Mobile" on it) and a small red-haired little white girl with freckles blasting this song full volume and singing along, knowing all the words, and making air guitar movements when at stoplights?

If you answered yes, then you've seen me driving!

If no, then you should go buy Tenacious D cd's and you shall become one with the rockage!

Dave Matthews

12.29.03 (9:18 pm)   [edit]
I was looking for a picture to use as a background with the new feature that we just got at tblog when I ran accross this...

[image]RedTigress_9400023 62.jpg[/image]

I don't think I'm gonna put a background image after all, but I just wanted to share this because I LOVE DAVE MATTHEWS!

Ok, I'm done for now....

;) :p

Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000

12.29.03 (7:44 pm)   [edit]
I felt that everyone should see this. You can find this and much more at: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go....

Look at this [i]LONG[/i] list of names and tell me all of these [b]people[/b] [i]deserved[/i] to be [b]murdered.[/b]

I ask you this; how does the murder of so many people gain legitimacy in an argument for Palestinians?

There is no excuse nor justification for MURDER! That is exactly what suicide/homocide bombers do: MURDER! Terrorsts are MURDERERS!

Arabs need to realise that they must crack down on terrorist/murderer activities! The rest of the world needs to realise that the murderers that are terrorists are the plague of this century! The only way for Palestine to gain soverignty is lawfully. Murder does not help the Palestinian cause.

If you really want to protest against something in the name of rightiousness and the betterment of the world, protest agaisnt the murder of Israeli civilians! Or is it just not cool enough for you? It's trendier to scorn Israel, isn't it! It's trendier to let the murders of innocent Jews go on than to stop true crimes against humanity!

Read on...


[b][u]Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000[/u][/b]

916 people have been killed by Palestinian violence and terrorism since September 2000.

Between September 29, 2000 and December 1, 2003, Magen David Adom treated a total of 6,026 casualties as follows:
801 killed, 518 severely injured, 735 moderately and 3,972 lightly injured, among them 11 MDA staff members.
(IDF casualties treated by IDF medical personnel are not included in these figures.)

Note: This list also includes 6 Israelis killed abroad in terror attacks directed specifically against Israeli targets, and 3 American diplomatic personnel killed in Gaza.

[b][u]List of victims by date:[/u][/b]

Sept 27, 2000 - Sgt. David Biri, 19, of Jerusalem, was fatally wounded in a bombing near Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

Sept 29, 2000 - Border Police Supt. Yosef Tabeja, 27, of Ramle was shot to death by his Palestinian counterpart on a joint patrol near Kalkilya.

Oct 1, 2000 - Border Police Cpl. Madhat Yusuf, 19, of Beit Jann, died of gunshot wounds sustained in a gun battle with Palestinians at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus.

Oct 2, 2000 - Wichlav Zalsevsky, 24, of Ashdod, was shot in the head in the village of Masha on the trans-Samaria highway.
Sgt. Max Hazan, 20, of Dimona, died of gunshot injuries sustained near Beit Sahur.

Oct 8, 2000 - The bullet-riddled body of Hillel Lieberman, 36, of Elon Moreh was found at the southern entrance to Nablus.

Oct 12, 2000 - First Cpl. Yosef Avrahami and First Sgt. Vadim Novesche, 33, two reserve IDF soldiers, were lynched by a Palestinian mob at the police building in Ramallah.

Oct 19, 2000 - Rabbi Binyamin Herling, 64, of Kedumim, was killed when Fatah members and Palestinian security forces opened fire on a group of Israeli men, women, and children on a trip at Mount Ebal near Nablus.

Oct 28, 2000 - The body of Marik Gavrilov, 25, of Bnei Aysh was found inside his burned-out car, between the village of Bitunia and Ramallah.

Oct 30, 2000 - Eish-Kodesh Gilmor, 25, of Mevo Modi'in, was shot and killed while on duty as a security guard at the National Insurance Institute's East Jerusalem branch. Another guard was injured.
Amos Machlouf, 30, of the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem, was found murdered in a ravine near Beit Jala.

Nov 1, 2000 - Lt. David-Hen Cohen, 21, of Karmiel and Sgt. Shlomo Adshina, 20, of Kibbutz Ze'elim were killed in a shooting incident in the Al-Hader area, near Bethlehem.

Nov 1, 2000 - Maj. (res.) Amir Zohar, 34, of Jerusalem was killed in the Nahal Elisha settlement in the Jordan Valley while on active reserve duty.

Nov 2, 2000 - Ayelet Shahar Levy, 28, and Hanan Levy, 33, were killed in a car bomb explosion near the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. 10 people were injured in the blast. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 8, 2000 - Noa Dahan, 25, of Moshav Mivtahim in the south, was shot to death while driving to her job at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza.

Nov 10, 2000 - Sgt. Shahar Vekret, 20, of Lod was fatally shot by a Palestinian sniper near Rachel's Tomb at the entrance to Bethlehem.

Nov 11, 2000 - Sgt. 1st Class Avner Shalom, 28, of Eilat, was killed in a shooting attack at the Gush Katif junction in the Gaza Strip.

Nov 13, 2000 - Sarah Leisha, 42, of Neveh Tzuf was killed by gunfire from a passing car while travelling near Ofra, north of Ramallah.
Cpl. Elad Wallenstein, 18, of Ashkelon, and Cpl. Amit Zanna, 19, of Netanya were killed by gunfire from a car passing the military bus carrying them near Ofra.

Nov 13, 2000 - Gabi Zaghouri, 36, of Netivot was killed by gunfire directed at the truck he was driving near the Kissufim junction in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Nov 18, 2000 - St.-Sgt. Baruch (Snir) Flum, 21, of Tel-Aviv was shot and killed by a senior Palestinian Preventive Security Service officer who infiltrated the Kfar Darom greenhouses in the Gaza Strip.
St.-Sgt. Sharon Shitoubi, 21, of Ramle, wounded in the Palestinan shooting attack in Kfar Darom, died of his wounds on Nov 20.

Nov 20, 2000 - Miriam Amitai, 35, and Gavriel Biton, 34, both of Kfar Darom, were killed when a roadside bomb exploded alongside a bus carrying children from Kfar Darom to school in Gush Katif. Nine others, including 5 children, were injured.

Nov 21, 2000 - Itamar Yefet, 18, of Netzer Hazani died from a gunshot wound to the head by Palestinian sniper fire at the Gush Katif junction.

Nov 22, 2000 - Shoshana Reis, 21, of Hadera, and Meir Bahrame, 35, of Givat Olga, were killed, and 60 wounded when a powerful car bomb was denotated alongside a passing bus on Hadera's main street, when the area was packed with shoppers and people driving home from work. 60 were wounded in the blast.

Nov 23, 2000 - Lt. Edward Matchnik, 21, of Beersheba, was killed in an explosion at the District Coordination Office near Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip. (The joint DCOs were established at the borders of Palestinian-ruled areas under the interim peace accords and were responsible for coordinating security and humanitarian cooperation.)

Nov 23, 2000 - Sgt. Samar Hussein, 19, of Hurfeish, was killed when Palestinian snipers opened fire at soldiers patrolling the border fence near the Erez crossing.

Nov 24, 2000 - Maj. Sharon Arameh, 25, of Ashkelon was killed by Palestinian sniper fire in fighting near Neve Dekalim in the Gaza Strip.

Nov 24, 2000 - Ariel Jeraffi, 40, of Petah Tikva, a civilian employed by the IDF, was killed by Palestinian fire as he travelled near Otzarin in the West Bank.

Dec 8, 2000 - Rina Didovsky, 39, a Beit Hagai school teacher on her way to work, and Eliyahu Ben-Ami, 41, of Otniel, the driver of the van, were killed when a car full of gunmen opened fire on the van near Kiryat Arba.

Dec 8, 2000 - Sgt. Tal Gordon, 19, was killed when gunmen in a passing car opened fire on an Egged bus traveling south from Tiberias to Jerusalem on the Jericho bypass road.

Dec 21, 2000 - Eliahu Cohen, 29, of Modi'in was shot and killed tonight by Palestinian terrorists waiting in ambush on the road between Givat Ze'ev and Beit Horon.

Dec 28, 2000 - Capt. Gad Marasha, 30, of Kiryat Arba and Border Police Sgt.-Maj. Yonatan Vermullen, 29, of Ben-Shemen, were killed when called to dismantle a road-side bomb near the Sufa crossing in the Gaza Strip. The bomb was dismantled, but another bomb exploded, killing both and injuring two other soldiers. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 31, 2000 - Binyamin Zeev Kahane, the son of the late right-wing leader Meir Kahane, and his wife, Talia, were killed when Palestinian snipers opened fire while they were driving on the Ramallah bypass road. Five of their children, aged two months to 10 years, were injured.

Jan 5, 2001 - Jan 5, 2001 - The body of Mordechai Cohen, 34, of Hadera was found in the Caesarea industrial area.

Jan 14, 2001 - The bullet-ridden body of Ron Tzalah, 32, of Kfar Yam in Gush Katif, apparently killed on Sunday night (Jan 14), was found the following morning near the Kfar Yam hothouses.

Jan 17, 2001 - Ofir Rahum, 16, of Ashkelon, traveled to Jerusalem to meet a young woman with whom he had conducted a relationship over the Internet. She then drove him toward Ramallah. At a prearranged location, another vehicle drove up and three Palestinian gunmen inside shot Rahum more than 15 times. One terrorist drove off with Rahum's body and dumped it, while the others fled in the second vehicle.

Jan 23, 2001 - Motti Dayan, 27, and Etgar Zeituny, 34, cousins from Tel Aviv, were abducted from a restaurant in Tulkarem by masked Palestinian gunmen and executed.

Jan 25, 2001 - Akiva Pashkos, 45, of Jerusalem, was shot dead in a terror attack near the Atarot industrial zone north of Jerusalem.

Jan 29, 2001 - Arye Hershkowitz, 55, of Ofra, was killed by shots fired from a passing car near the Rama junction north of Jerusalem.

Feb 1, 2001 - Dr. Shmuel Gillis, 42, of Carmei Tzur, was killed by Palestinian gunmen who fired at his car near the Aroub refugee camp on the Jerusalem-Hebron highway.

Feb 1, 2001 - Lior Attiah, 23, of Afula was shot to death by terrorists while traveling near Jenin.

Feb 5, 2001 - St.-Sgt. Rujayah Salameh, 23, was killed by sniper fire near Rafah.

Feb 11, 2001 - Tzachi Sasson, 35, of Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion, was shot and killed by Palestinian gunmen as he drove home from Jerusalem.

Feb 14, 2001 - Simcha Shitrit, 30, of Rishon Lezion; Staff-Sgt. Ofir Magidish, 20, of Kiryat Malachi; Sgt. David Iluz, 21, of Kiryat Malachi; Sgt. Julie Weiner, 21, of Jerusalem; Sgt. Rachel Levi, 19, of Ashkelon; Sgt. Kochava Polanski, 19, of Ashkelon; Cpl. Alexander Manevich, 18, of Ashkelon; and Cpl. Yasmin Karisi, 18, of Ashkelon were killed when a bus driven by a Palestinian terrorist plowed into a group of soldiers and civilians waiting at a bus stop near Holon, south of Tel-Aviv. In addition, 25 people were injured in the attack.

Feb 26, 2001 - The body of Mordechai Shefer, 55, of Kfar Sava, was found in an olive grove near Moshav Hagor. An autopsy revealed that he was murdered. Investigators suspect terrorist motives.

Mar 1, 2001 - Claude Knap, 29, of Tiberias was killed and 9 people injured when a terrorist detonated a bomb in a Tel Aviv to Tiberias service taxi at the Mei Ami junction in Wadi Ara.

Mar 4, 2001 - Naftali Dean, 85, of Tel Mond; his niece, Shlomit Ziv, 58, of Netanya; and Yevgenya Malchin, 70, of Netanya were killed in a suicide bombing in downtown Netanya; 60 people were injured. The Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 19, 2001 - Baruch Cohen, 59, of Efrat, was killed by shots fired at his car while driving to work in Jerusalem from his home in the Gush Etzion area. After being hit by bullets, he lost control of the car and collided with an oncoming truck.

Mar 26, 2001 - Shalhevet Pass, age 10 months, was killed by sniper fire at the entrance to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood in Hebron.

Mar 28, 2001 - Eliran Rosenberg-Zayat, 15, of Givat Shmuel and Naftali Lanzkorn, 13, of Petah Tikva were killed in a suicide bombing at the Mifgash Hashalom ("peace stop") gas station several hundred meters from an IDF roadblock near the entrance to Kalkilya, east of Kfar Saba. Four people were injured. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 1, 2001 - Staff Sgt. Ya'akov Krenschel, 23, of Nahariya, an IDF reserve soldier, was killed in a firefight between army and Palestinian forces southeast of Nablus.

Apr 1, 2001 - Dina Guetta, 42, of Haifa, was stabbed to death on Ha'atzmaut Street. Her murder was the initiation rite into a terrorist cell apprehended in July.

Apr 2, 2001 - Sgt. Danny Darai, 20, of Arad, was killed by a Palestinian sniper after completing guard duty at Rachel's Tomb at the entrance to Bethlehem.

Apr 21, 2001 - The mutilated body of Stanislav Sandomirsky, 38, of Beit Shemesh, was found in the trunk of his car near a village north of Ramallah late last night. Terrorist motives are suspected.

Apr 22, 2001 - Dr. Mario Goldin, 53, of Kfar Sava, was killed when a terrorist detonated a powerful bomb he was carrying near a group of people waiting at a bus stop on the corner of Weizman and Tchernichovsky streets. About 60 people were injured in the blast. Hamas claimed responsibility.

Apr 28, 2001 - Sgt. Shlomo Elmakias, 20, of Netanya, was killed and four women passengers wounded in a drive-by terrorist shooting attack on the Wadi Ara highway in the Galilee.

Apr 28, 2001 - Simcha Ron, 60, of Nahariya, was found stabbed to death in Kfar Ba'aneh, near Carmiel in the Galilee. The terrorists responsible for the attack were apprehended in July.

May 1, 2001 - Assaf Hershkowitz, 30, of Ofra, was killed when his vehicle was fired upon and overturned at a junction between Ofra and Beit El.

May 8, 2001 - Arnaldo Agranionic, 48, was murdered by terrorists as he guarded the Binyamin Farm, a lonely outpost where he lived, on an isolated hilltop east of Itamar in Samaria.

May 9, 2001 - Yossi Ish-Ran, 14, and Kobi Mandell, 14, both of Tekoa, were found stoned to death in a cave about 200 meters from the small community south of Jerusalem where they lived.

May 10, 2001 - Constantin Straturula, 52, and Virgil Martinesc, 29, two Romanian citizens employed by an Israeli contractor, were killed in a bomb attack while repairing a vandalized fence at the Kissufim Crossing into the Gaza District.

May 15, 2001 - Idit Mizrahi, 20, of Rimonim, was fatally shot in a terrorist ambush as she drove with her father and brother on the Alon Highway to attend a family wedding. Terrorists fired 30 bullets, 19 of which hit the family's car.

May 18, 2001 - Tirza Polonsky, 66, of Moshav Kfar Haim; Miriam Waxman, 51, of Hadera; David Yarkoni, 53, of Netanya; Yulia Tratiakova, 21, of Netanya; and Vladislav Sorokin, 34, of Netanya were killed in a suicide bombing at Hasharon Mall in the seaside city of Netanya, in which over 100 were wounded. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 18, 2001 - Lt. Yair Nebenzahl, 22, of Neve Tzuf (Halamish), was killed and his mother seriously wounded, in a Palestinian roadside ambush north of Jerusalem.

May 23, 2001 - Asher Iluz, 33, of Modi'in was killed outside Ariel en route to supervise a road paving in the area, when Palestinian gunmen opened fire in an ambush.

May 25, 2001 - The burnt body of Yosef Alfasi, 50, of Rishon Letzion, was discovered near the West Bank city of Tulkarem.

May 29, 2001 - Gilad Zar, 41, of Itamar, was shot dead in a terrorist ambush while driving in the West Bank between Kedumim and Yizhar. The Fatah Tanzim claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 29, 2001 - Sara Blaustein, 53, and Esther Alvan, 20, of Efrat, were killed in a drive-by shooting near Neve Daniel in the Gush Etzion bloc south of Jerusalem. The Fatah Tanzim claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 31, 2001 - Zvi Shelef, 63, of Mevo Dotan, was killed in a drive-by shooting attack in northern Samaria north of Tulkarem. He was shot in the head and died en route to hospital.

June 1, 2001 - Marina Berkovizki, 17, of Tel Aviv; Roman Dezanshvili, 21, of Bat Yam; Ilya Gutman, 19, of Bat Yam; Anya Kazachkov, 16, of Holon; Katherine Kastaniyada-Talkir, 15, of Ramat Gan; Aleksei Lupalu, 16, of the Ukraine; Mariana Medvedenko, 16, of Tel Aviv; Irina Nepomneschi, 16, of Bat Yam; Yelena Nelimov, 18, of Tel Aviv; Yulia Nelimov, 16, of Tel Aviv; Raisa Nimrovsky, 15, of Netanya; Pvt. Diez (Dani) Normanov, 21, of Tel Aviv; Simona Rodin, 18, of Holon; Ori Shahar, 32, of Ramat Gan; Liana Sakiyan, 16, of Tel Aviv; Maria Tagilchev, 14, of Netanya; and Irena Usdachi, 18, of Holon were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself outside a disco near Tel Aviv's Dolphinarium along the seafront promenade just before midnight on Friday. Sergei Pancheskov, 20, of the Ukraine; Yael-Yulia Sklianik, 15, of Holon; Jan Bloom, 25, of Ramat Gan; and Yevgenia Dorfman, 15, of Bat Yam died subsequently from their injuries. 120 people were wounded in the bombing.

June 11, 2001 - Yehuda Shoham, aged 5 months, of Shilo, died of injuries incurred in a fatal stoning on June 5. He was critically injured by a rock thrown at the family's car near Shilo in Samaria.

June 12, 2001 - Father Georgios Tsibouktzakis, 34, a Greek Orthodox monk from the St. George Monastery in Wadi Kelt in the Judean desert, was shot and killed while driving on the Jerusalem-Ma'ale Adumim road.

June 14, 2001 - Lt.Col. Yehuda Edri, 45, of Ma'ale Adumim was killed by a Palestinian informant for Israeli intelligence in a shooting attack on the Bethlehem bypass tunnel road connecting the Gush Etzion bloc with Jerusalem. One of his security guards was seriously injured.

June 18, 2001 - Dan Yehuda, 35, of Homesh was killed in a drive-by shooting attack between Homesh and Shavei Shomron, near Nablus. Alex Briskin, 17, was moderately injured.

June 18, 2001 - Doron Zisserman, 38, of Einav, was shot and killed in his car by sniper fire near the entrance to Einav, east of Tulkarem. Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 20, 2001 - Ilya Krivitz, 62, of Homesh in Samaria was shot and killed at close range in an ambush late Wednesday afternoon in the nearby Palestinian town of Silat a-Dahar.

June 22, 2001 - Sgt. Aviv Iszak, 19, of Kfar Saba, and Sgt. Ofir Kit, 19, of Jerusalem, were killed in a suicide bombing near Dugit in the Gaza Strip as a jeep with yellow Israeli license plates, supposedly stuck in the sand, blew up as they approached.

June 28, 2001 - Ekaterina (Katya) Weintraub, 27, of Ganim in northern Samaria was killed and another woman injured late Thursday afternoon by shots fired at the two-car convoy on the Jenin bypass road.

July 2, 2001 - Aharon Obadyan, 41, of Zichron Ya'akov was shot and killed near Baka a-Sharkia, north of the West Bank city of Tulkarem and close to the 1967 Green Line border, after shopping at the local market.

July 2, 2001 - The body of Yair Har Sinai, 51, of Susiya in the Hebron hills, missing since Monday (July 2) was found early Tuesday morning shot in the head and chest.

July 4, 2001 - Eliahu Na'aman, 32, of Petah Tikva, was shot at point-blank range just inside the Green Line at Sueika, near Tulkarem.

July 9, 2001 - Capt. Shai Shalom Cohen, 22, of Pardes Hanna, was killed and another soldier was wounded when an explosive charge detonated beneath their jeep after leaving the Adoraim IDF base south of Hebron.

July 13, 2001 - Yehezkel (Hezi) Mualem, 49, father of four from Kiryat Arba, was shot and killed between Kiryat Arba and Hebron while protesting a shooting attack in the area the previous day.

July 14, 2001 - David Cohen, 28, of Betar Illit, died of injuries sustained in a drive-by shooting in Kiryat Arba on July 12.

July 16, 2001 - Cpl. Hanit Arami, 19, and St.Sgt. Avi Ben Harush, 20, both of Zichron Yaakov, were killed and 11 wounded - 3 seriously - when a bomb exploded in a suicide terrorist attack at a bus stop near the train station in Binyamina, halfway between Netanya and Haifa, at about 19:30 Monday evening. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 24, 2001 - The body of Yuri Gushchin, 18, of Jerusalem, brutally murdered, bearing stab and gunfire wounds, was found in Ramallah.

July 26, 2001 - Ronen Landau, 17, of Givat Ze'ev, was shot and killed by Palestinian terrorists while returning home from Jerusalem with his father.

Aug 5, 2001 - Tehiya Bloomberg, 40, of Karnei Shomron, mother of five and 5 months pregnant, was killed when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the family vehicle between Alfei Menashe and Karnei Shomron. Three people were seriously wounded, including her husband, Shimon, and daughter, Tzippi, 14.

Aug 6, 2001 - Yitzhak Snir, 51, of Ra'anana, an Israeli diamond merchant, was shot dead in Amman, in the yard of the building where he kept a flat. His body was found the following morning.

Aug 7, 2001 - Wael Ghanem, 32, an Arab Israeli resident of Taibeh, was shot and killed by Palestinian assailants on the road near Kalkilya. Police believe he was murdered because of suspected collaboration with Israeli authorities.
Zohar Shurgi, 40, of Moshav Yafit in the Jordan Valley, was shot and killed by terrorists while driving home at night on the Trans-Samaria Highway.

Aug 9, 2001 - Giora Balash, 60, of Brazil; Zvika Golombek, 26, of Carmiel; Shoshana Yehudit Greenbaum, 31, of the U.S.; Tehila Maoz, 18, of Jerusalem; Frieda Mendelsohn, 62, of Jerusalem; Michal Raziel, 16, of Jerusalem; Malka Roth, 15, of Jerusalem; Mordechai Schijveschuurder, 43, of Neria; Tzira Schijveschuurder, 41, of Neria; Ra'aya Schijveschuurder, 14, of Neria; Avraham Yitzhak Schijveschuurder, 4, of Neria; Hemda Schijveschuurder, 2, of Neria; Lily Shimashvili, 33, of Jerusalem; Tamara Shimashvili, 8, of Jerusalem; and Yocheved Shoshan, 10, of Jerusalem were killed and about 130 injured in a suicide bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria on the corner of King George Street and Jaffa Road in the center of Jerusalem. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 9, 2001 - Aliza Malka, 17, a boarding student at Kibbutz Merav, was killed by terrorists in a drive-by shooting at the entrance to the kibbutz in the Gilboa region, west of Beit She'an. Three teenage girls who were with her in the car were injured, one seriously.

Aug 25, 2001 - Maj. Gil Oz, 30, of Kfar Sava; St.-Sgt. Kobi Nir, 21, of Kfar Sava; and Sgt. Tzahi Grabli, 19 of Holon were killed and seven soldiers wounded when two Palestinian terrorists infiltrated an IDF base in Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip at about 3:00 AM Saturday morning. The attackers, members of the PLO Fatah faction and of the Palestinian security forces, were killed by IDF soldiers. The Democratic Front claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 25, 2001 - Sharon, 26, and Yaniv Ben-Shalom, 27, of Ofarim, were killed when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on their car as they were returning home on the Jerusalem-Modi'in on road Saturday night. Their children, aged one and two, were lightly wounded. Sharon's brother, Doron Sviri, 20, of Jerusalem was fatally wounded and died the following day.

Aug 26, 2001 - Dov Rosman, 58, of Netanya was killed in a shooting attack shortly before 17:00 on Sunday afternoon near the entrance to the village of Zaita, opposite Kibbutz Magal. Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 27, 2001 - Meir Lixenberg, 38, of Itamar, father of five, was shot and killed by Palestinian terrorists from a roadside ambush while traveling between the communities of Har Bracha and Itamar, south of Nablus.

Aug 29, 2001 - Oleg Sotnikov, 35, of Ashdod, a truck driver employed by Dor Energy, was killed in a terrorist shooting attack outside the Palestinian village of Kutchin, west of Nablus.

Aug 30, 2001 - Amos Tajouri, 60, of Modi'in, was shot in the head at point-blank range by a masked gunman in the Arab village of Na'alin, while dining at a restaurant owned by close friends.

Sept 6, 2001 - Lt. Erez Merhavi, 23, of Moshav Tarum was killed in an ambush shooting near Kibbutz Bahan, east of Hadera, while driving to a wedding. A female officer with him in the car was seriously injured. Fatah-Tanzim claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 9, 2001 - Ya'akov Hatzav, 42, of Hamra in the Jordan Valley, the driver, and Sima Franko, 24, of Beit She'an, a kindergarten teacher, were killed in a shooting attack 300 meters south of the Adam Junction in the Jordan Valley. A minibus transporting teachers to the regional school was attacked by Palestinian terrorists.

Sept 9, 2001 - Dr. Yigal Goldstein, 47, of Jerusalem; Morel Derfler, 45, of Mevasseret Zion; and Sgt. Daniel Yifrah, 19, of Jerusalem were killed and some 90 injured, most lightly, in a suicide bombing near the Nahariya train station in northern Israel.

Sept 11, 2001 - Border Policemen Sgt. Tzachi David, 19, of Tel-Aviv, and St.-Sgt. Andrei Zledkin, 26, of Carmiel, were killed just after midnight when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the Ivtan Border Police base near Kibbutz Bachan in central Israel. A Fatah group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 12, 2001 - Ruth Shua'i, 46, of Alfei Menashe, was traveling home around 19:30 PM when shots were fired from a passing vehicle near the village of Habla near Kalkilya. She sustained injuries to her head and stomach and died en route to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba.

Sept 15, 2001 - Meir Weisshaus, 23, of Jerusalem, was fatally shot late Saturday night in a drive-by shooting on the Ramot-French Hill road in northern Jerusalem.

Sept 16, 2001 - Sgt. David Gordukal, 23, of Upper Nazareth, was killed in the exchange of fire on Saturday night in the south of Ramallah, during which five senior Palestinian terrorists were arrested and a number of Palestinian positions and a Force 17 camp were attacked.

Sept 20, 2001 - Sarit Amrani, 26, of Nokdim, was killed Thursday morning and her husband Shai was seriously wounded in a shooting attack near Tekoa, south of Bethlehem. The couple's three children who were traveling in the vehicle were not injured. Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 24, 2001 - Salit Sheetrit, 28, of Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu was killed by gunfire shortly after 6:30 near Shadmot Mehola on the Jordan Valley road. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 26, 2001 - Zvia Pinhas, 64, of Moshav Maor was stabbed to death in her home. The terrorist who carried out the attack, from Jenin, was arrested.

Oct 2, 2001 - Cpl. Liron Harpaz, 19, of Alei Sinai, and Assaf Yitzhaki, 20, of Lod, were killed when a Palestinian terrorist cell infiltrated the northern Gaza District community of Alei Sinai, opening fire on residents and hurling grenades into homes. 15 others were wounded in the attack.

Oct 4, 2001 - Sgt. Tali Ben-Armon, 19, an off-duty woman soldier from Pardesia, Haim Ben-Ezra, 76, of Givat Hamoreh, and Sergei Freidin, 20, of Afula were killed when a Palestinian terrorist, dressed as an Israeli paratrooper, opened fire on Israeli civilians waiting at the central bus station in Afula. 13 other Israelis were wounded in the attack. Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 5, 2001 - Hananya Ben-Avraham, 46, of Elad was killed by Palestinian terrorists in a machine gun ambush near Avnei Hefetz in central Israel.

Oct 7, 2001 - Yair Mordechai, 43, of Kibbutz Sheluhot was killed when a Palestinian suicide terrorist detonated a large bomb strapped to his body near the entrance of the kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley.

Oct 17, 2001 - Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evy, 75, was assassinated by two shots to the head outside his room at the Jerusalem Hyatt Hotel. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 18, 2001 - Lior Kaufman, 30, of Ramat Sharon was killed and two injured, one seriously, by shots fired by terrorists at their jeep in the Judean desert, near the Mar Saba monastery.

Oct 28, 2001 - St.-Sgt. Yaniv Levy, 22, of Zichron Yaakov was killed by Palestinian terrorists in a drive-by machine-gun ambush near Kibbutz Metzer in northern Israel. The Tanzim wing of Arafat's Fatah faction claimed responsibility for the murder.

Oct 28, 2001 - Ayala Levy, 39, of Elyachin; Smadar Levy, 23, of Hadera; Lydia Marko, 63, of Givat Ada; and Sima Menahem, 30, of Zichron Yaakov were killed when two Palestinian terrorists, members of the Palestinian police, armed with assault rifles and expanding bullets, opened fire from a vehicle on Israeli pedestrians at a crowded bus-stop in downtown Hadera. About 40 were wounded, three critically. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsiblity for the attack.

Nov 2, 2001 - St.-Sgt. Raz Mintz, 19, of Kiryat Motzkin was killed by Palestinian gunmen 5:45 P.M. on Friday at an IDF roadblock at near Ofra, north of Ramallah. The Fatah-affiliated Al-Aksa Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 4, 2001 - Shoshana Ben Ishai, 16, of Betar Illit and Menashe (Meni) Regev, 14, of Jerusalem were killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with a sub-machine gun shortly before 16:00 at a No. 25 Egged bus at the French Hill junction in northern Jerusalem. 45 people were injured in the attack.

Nov 6, 2001 - Capt. (Res.) Eyal Sela, 39, of Moshav Nir Banim, was shot dead in an ambush by three Palestinian terrorists on the southern Nablus bypass road.

Nov 9, 2001 - Hadas Abutbul, 39, of Mevo Dotan in northern Samaria was shot and killed by Palestinian terrorists on Friday afternoon as she drove from work in nearby Shaked.

Nov 11, 2001 - Aharon Ussishkin, 50, head of security at Moshav Kfar Hess, east of Netanya, was shot and killed at the entrance to the moshav on Sunday evening, after being summoned to investigate a suspicious person.

Nov 24, 2001 - St.-Sgt. Barak Madmon, 26, of Holon, an IDF reservist, was killed by a mortar shell that landed in the soccer field of Kfar Darom in Gush Katif, while on his way to take up guard duty. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 27, 2001 - Noam Gozovsky, 23, of Moshav Ramat Zvi, and Michal Mor, 25, of Afula were killed when two Palestinian terrorists from the Jenin area opened fire with Kalashnikov assault rifles on a crowd of people near the central bus station in Afula. Police officers and a reserve soldier confronted them, killing the terrorists in the ensuing firefight. Another 50 people were injured, 10 of them moderately to seriously. Fatah and the Islamic Jihad claimed joint responsibility.

Nov 27, 2001 - Etty Fahima, 45, of Netzer Hazani was killed three others were injured when a Palestinian terrorist threw grenades and opened fire at a convoy on the road between the Kissufim crossing and Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 29, 2001 - 1st Sgt. Yaron Pikholtz, 20, of Ramat Gan, was killed and a second soldier was injured in a drive-by shooting incident on the Green Line, near the West Bank village of Baka el-Sharkiya.

Nov 29, 2001 - Inbal Weiss, 22, of Zichron Ya'akov; Yehiav Elshad, 28, of Tel-Aviv; and Samuel Milshevsky, 45, of Kfar Sava were killed and nine wounded in a suicide bombing on an Egged 823 bus en route from Nazereth to Tel Aviv near the city of Hadera. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 1, 2001 - Assaf Avitan, 15, of Jerusalem; Michael Moshe Dahan, 21, of Jerusalem; Israel Ya'akov Danino, 17, of Jerusalem; Yosef El-Ezra, 18, of Jerusalem; Sgt. Nir Haftzadi, 19, of Jerusalem; Yuri (Yoni) Korganov, 20, of Ma'alei Adumim; Golan Turgeman, 15, of Jerusalem; Guy Vaknin, 19, of Jerusalem; Adam Weinstein, 14, of Givon Hahadasha, and Moshe Yedid-Levy, 19, of Jerusalem were killed and about 180 injured - 17 seriously - when explosive devices were detonated by two suicide bombers close to 11:30 P.M. Saturday night on Ben Yehuda Street, the pedestrian mall in the center of Jerusalem. A car bomb exploded nearby 20 minutes later. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ido Cohen, 17, of Jerusalem, fatally injured in the attack, died of his wounds on December 8.

Dec 2, 2001 - Prof. Baruch Singer, 51, of Gedera was killed when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on his car near the northern Gaza settlement of Elei Sinai. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 2, 2001 - Tatiana Borovik, 23, of Haifa; Mara Fishman, 51, of Haifa; Ina Frenkel, 60, of Haifa; Riki Hadad, 30, of Yokne'am; Ronen Kahalon, 30, of Haifa; Samion Kalik, 64, of Haifa; Mark Khotimliansky, 75, of Haifa; Cecilia Kozamin, 76, of Haifa; Yelena Lomakin, 62, of Haifa; Rosaria Reyes, 42, of the Philippines; Yitzhak Ringel, 41, of Haifa; Rassim Safulin, 78, of Haifa; Leah Strick, 73, of Haifa; Faina Zabiogailu, 64, of Haifa; Mikhail Zaraisky, 71, of Haifa were killed and 40 injured in a suicide bombing on an Egged bus No. 16 in Haifa shortly after 12:00. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 12, 2001 - Yair Amar, 13, of Emmanuel; Esther Avraham, 42, of Emmanuel; Border Police Chief Warrant Officer Yoel Bienenfeld, 35, of Moshav Tel Shahar; Moshe Gutman, 40, of Emmanuel; Avraham Nahman Nitzani, 17, of Betar Illit; Yirmiyahu Salem, 48, of Emmanuel; Israel Sternberg, 46, of Emmanuel; David Tzarfati, 38, of Ginot Shomron; Hananya Tzarfati, 32, of Kfar Saba; Ya'akov Tzarfati, 64, of Kfar Saba were killed when three terrorists attacked a No. 189 Dan bus and several passenger cars with a roadside bomb, anti-tank grenades, and light arms fire near the entrance to Emmanuel in Samaria at 18:00 P.M. About 30 others were injured. Both Fatah and Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Haim Chiprot, 52, of Emmanuel, injured in the attack, died of his wounds on March 25, 2002.

Dec 25, 2001 - Sgt. Michael Sitbon, 23, of Beit Shemesh, an IDF reserve soldier, was killed, and four other soldiers were injured, in a shooting attack Tuesday morning near the Jordanian border north of Beit She'an.

Jan 9, 2002 - Maj. Ashraf Hawash, 28, of Beit Zarzir; Sgt.-Maj. Ibrahim Hamadieh, 23, of Rehaniya; Sgt.-Maj. Hana (Eli) Abu-Ghanem, 25, of Haifa; and St.-Sgt. Mofid Sawaid, 25, of Abu Snan, four IDF soldiers of the Bedouin desert patrol unit, were killed and two injured when two armed Palestinian terrorists from the southern Gaza Strip, carrying explosive belts, assault rifles, grenades, and dressed in Palestinian Authority police uniforms, infiltrated into Israel at 04:30 this morning and attacked an IDF post near Kerem Shalom. The terrorists, one a member of the Palestinian Authority's naval force, and the second a Hamas operative, were killed. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 14, 2002 - Sgt. Elad Abu-Gani, 19, of Tiberias, was killed and an officer sustained gunshot wounds in a terrorist ambush near Kuchin, between Nablus and Tulkarm. Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 15, 2002 - Avraham (Avi) Boaz, 71, of Ma'aleh Adumim, an American citizen, was kidnapped at a PA security checkpoint in Beit Jala. His bullet-riddled body was found in a car in Beit Sahur, in the Bethlehem area. The Fatah's Al-Aksa Brigade claimed responsibility for the murder.

Jan 15, 2002 - Yoela Chen, 45, of Givat Ze'ev, was shot and killed by Palestinian terrorists near the gas station at the entrance to Givat Ze'ev shortly before 20:00. Her aunt who was with her in the car was injured. The Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigade claimed responsibility for the murder.

Jan 16, 2002 - Shahada Dadis, 30, an Arab resident of Beit Hanina in East Jerusalem, was killed in a drive-by terrorist shooting. He was found dead in a car bearing Israeli license plates south of Jenin in the West Bank.

Jan 17, 2002 - Edward Bakshayev, 48, of Or Akiva; Anatoly Bakshayev, 63, of Or Akiva; Aharon Ben Yisrael-Ellis, 32, of Ra'anana; Dina Binayev, 48, of Ashkelon; Boris Melikhov, 56, of Sderot; and Avi Yazdi, 25, of Hadera were killed and 35 injured, several seriously, when a terrorist burst into a bat mitzva reception in a banquet hall in Hadera shortly before 23:00, opening fire with an M-16 assault rifle. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 22, 2002 - Sarah Hamburger, 79, and Svetlana Sandler, 56, both of Jerusalem, were killed and 40 were injured when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with an M-16 assault rifle near a bus stop in downtown Jerusalem. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 27, 2002 - Pinhas Tokatli, 81, of Jerusalem was killed and over 150 people were wounded, four seriously, in a suicide bombing on Jaffa Road, in the center of Jerusalem, shortly before 12:30. The female terrorist, identified as a Fatah member, was armed with more than 10 kilos of explosives.

Feb 6, 2002 - Miri Ohana, 45, and her daughter Yael, 11, were murdered in their home when an armed terrorist infiltrated Moshav Hamra, halfway between Jericho and Beit She'an in the Jordan Valley on Wednesday evening, opening fire. IDF reserve soldier, St.-Sgt. Maj.(res.) Moshe Majos Meconen, 33, of Beit She'an, was also killed in the attack. The terrorist, who entered the Ohana home disguised in IDF uniform, was killed by IDF forces. Both Fatah and Hamas claimed responsibility.

Feb 8, 2002 - Moranne Amit, 25, of Kibbutz Kfar Hanasi was stabbed to death by four Palestinians, aged 14 to 16, while strolling on the Sherover Promenade in Jerusalem's Armon Hanatziv neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Feb 9, 2002 - Atala Lipobsky, 78, of Ma'ale Ephraim was shot dead on Saturday night while driving on the Trans-Samaria Highway with her son. Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the car, apparently from an ambush, between Ariel and the Tapuah Junction.

Feb 10, 2002 - Lt. Keren Rothstein, 20, of Ashkelon and Cpl. Aya Malachi, 18, of Moshav Ein Habesor were killed in a drive-by terrorist shooting at the entrance to the IDF Southern Command base in Be'er Sheva. Four others were wounded, one critically. One of the terrorists was killed at the scene; the second, wearing an explosives belt, fled in the direction of a nearby school when he was shot and killed by a soldier and police officer. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 14, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Ron Lavie, 20, of Katzrin, St.-Sgt. Moshe Peled, 20, of Rehovot, and St.-Sgt. Asher Zaguri, 21, of Shlomi were killed and four soldiers injured when a powerful mine exploded under a IDF tank on the Karni-Netzarim road in the Gaza Strip Thursday night, following the detonation of a roadside bomb at a civilian convoy of cars and a bus.

Feb 15, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Lee Nahman Akunis, 20, of Holon, was shot and killed by gunmen on Friday night at a roadblock north of Ramallah. The Fatah's Al-Aksa Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 16, 2002 - Nehemia Amar, 15, and Keren Shatsky, 15, both of Ginot Shomron were killed and about 30 people were wounded, six seriously, when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Saturday night at a pizzeria in the shopping mall in Karnei Shomron in Samaria. Rachel Thaler, 16, of Ginot Shomron died of her wounds on February 27. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 18, 2002 - Policeman Ahmed Mazarib, 32, of the Bedouin village Beit Zarzir in the Galilee, was killed by a suicide bomber whom he had stopped for questioning on the Ma'ale Adumim-Jerusalem road. The terrorist succeeded in detonating the bomb in his car. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 18, 2002 - Ahuva Amergi, 30, of Ganei Tal in Gush Katif was killed and a 60-year old man was injured when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire on her car. Maj. Mor Elraz, 25, of Kiryat Ata and St.-Sgt. Amir Mansouri, 21, of Kiryat Arba, who came to their assistance, were killed while trying to intercept the terrorist. The terrorist was killed when the explosives he was carrying were detonated. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 19, 2002 - Lt. Moshe Eini, 21, of Petah Tikva; St.-Sgt. Benny Kikis, 20, of Carmiel; St.-Sgt. Mark Podolsky, 20, of Tel Aviv; St.-Sgt. Erez Turgeman, 20, of Jerusalem; St.-Sgt. Tamir Atsmi, 21, of Kiryat Ono; and St.-Sgt. Michael Oxsman, 21, of Haifa were killed and one wounded in an attack near a roadblock west of Ramallah. Several terrorists opened fire at soldiers at the roadblock, including three off-duty soldiers inside a structure at the roadblock, killing them at point-blank range. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 22, 2002 - Valery Ahmir, 59, of Beit Shemesh was killed by terrorists in a drive-by shooting on the Atarot-Givat Ze'ev road north of Jerusalem as he returned home from work. Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 25, 2002 - Avraham Fish, 65, and Aharon Gorov, 46, both of Nokdim, were killed in a terrorist shooting attack between Tekoa and Nokdim, south of Bethlehem. Fish's daughter, 9 months pregnant, was seriously injured but delivered a baby girl. The Fatah al-Aksa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 25, 2002 - Police officer 1st Sgt. Galit Arbiv, 21, of Nesher, died after being fatally shot, when a terrorist opened fire at a bus stop in the Neve Ya'akov residential neighbhorhood in northern Jerusalem. Eight others were injured, two seriously. The Fatah al-Aksa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 27, 2002 - Gad Rejwan, 34, of Jerusalem, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning by one of his Palestinian employees in a factory in the Atarot industrial area, north of Jerusalem. Two Fatah groups issued a joint statement taking responsibility for the murder.

Feb 28, 2002 - IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Haim Bachar, 20, of Tel Aviv was killed during clashes with Palestinians in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus. IDF forces entered the camp to search for wanted terrorists.

Mar 1, 2002 - IDF soldier Sgt. Ya'acov Avni, 20, of Kiryat Ata was killed by Palestinian sniper fire in the Jenin refugee camp.

Mar 2, 2002 - The bullet-ridden body of Jerusalem police detective Chief-Supt. Moshe Dayan, 46, of Ma'aleh Adumim, was discovered next to his trail motorcycle, near the Mar Saba Monastery in the Judean Desert. Tanzim claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 2, 2002 - Eleven people were killed and over 50 were injured, 4 critically, in a suicide bombing at 19:15 on Saturday evening near a yeshiva in the ultra-Orthodox Beit Yisrael neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem where people had gathered for a bar-mitzva celebration. The terrorist detonated the bomb next to a group of women waiting with their baby carriages for their husbands to leave the nearby synagogue. The victims: Shlomo Nehmad (40), his wife Gafnit (32), and their daughters Shiraz (7) and Liran (3), of Rishon Lezion; Shaul Nehmad (15), of Rishon Lezion; Lidor Ilan (12) and his sister Oriah (18 months), of Rishon Lezion; Tzofia Ya'arit Eliyahu (23) and her son Ya'akov Avraham (7 months), of Jerusalem. Avi Hazan, 37, of Moshav Adora, died of his injuries on Monday morning (Mar 4). Avraham Eliahu Nehmad, 7, of Rishon Lezion, died of his injuries on June 20. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade took responsibility for the attack.

Mar 3, 2002 - Ten Israelis - 7 soldiers and 3 civilians - were killed and 6 injured when a terrorist opened fire at an IDF roadblock near Ofra in Samaria: Capt. Ariel Hovav, 25, of Eli; Lt.(res.) David Damelin, 29, of Kibbutz Metzar; 1st Sgt.(res.) Rafael Levy, 42, of Rishon Lezion; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Avraham Ezra, 38, of Kiryat Bialik; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Eran Gad, 24, of Rishon Letzion; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Yochai Porat, 26, of Kfar Sava; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Kfir Weiss, 24, of Beit Shemesh; Sergei Birmov, 33, of Ariel; Vadim Balagula, 32, of Ariel; and Didi Yitzhak, 66, of Eli. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 3, 2002 - Sgt. Steven Kenigsberg, 19, of Hod Hasharon was killed and 4 soldiers injured when a Palestinian gunman opened fire near the Kissufim crossing in the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Jihad and Tanzim claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 5, 2002 - Police officer FSM Salim Barakat, 33, of Yarka; Yosef Habi, 52, of Herzliya; and Eli Dahan, 53, of Lod were killed and over 30 people were wounded in Tel-Aviv when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire on two adjacent restaurants shortly after 2:00 AM. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 5, 2002 - Devorah Friedman, 45, of Efrat, was killed and her husband injured in shooting attack on the Bethlehem bypass "tunnel road", south of Jerusalem. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 5, 2002 - Maharatu Tagana, 85, of Upper Nazareth was killed and a large number of people injured, most lightly, when a suicide bomber exploded in an Egged No. 823 bus as it entered the Afula central bus station. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 6, 2002 - 1st Lt. Pinhas Cohen, 23, of Jerusalem, was killed overnight near the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis, in the course of anti-terrorist activity. Cpl.(res.) Alexander Nastarenko, 37, of Netanya was killed when Palestinian gunmen crossed the border fence and ambushed an army jeep on the patrol road near Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Mar 7, 2002 - Arik Krogliak of Beit El, Tal Kurtzweil of Bnei Brak, Asher Marcus of Jerusalem, Eran Picard of Jerusalem, and Ariel Zana of Jerusalem, all aged 18, were killed and 23 people were injured, four seriously, when a Palestinian gunman penetrated the pre-military training academy in the Gush Katif settlement of Atzmona. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 8, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Edward Korol, 20, of Ashdod, was killed by a Palestinian sniper in Tulkarem.

Mar 9, 2002 - Avia Malka, 9 months, of South Africa, and Israel Yihye, 27, of Bnei Brak were killed and about 50 people were injured, several seriously, when two Palestinians opened fire and threw grenades at cars and pedestrians in the coastal city of Netanya on Saturday evening, close to the city's boardwalk and hotels. The terrorists were killed by Israeli border police. The Fatah Al Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 9, 2002 - Limor Ben-Shoham, 27, of Jerusalem; Nir Borochov, 22, of Givat Ze'ev; Danit Dagan, 25, of Tel-Aviv; Livnat Dvash, 28, of Jerusalem; Tali Eliyahu, 26, of Jerusalem; Uri Felix, 25, of Givat Ze'ev; Dan Imani, 23, of Jerusalem; Natanel Kochavi, 31, of Kiryat Ata; Baruch Lerner, 29, of Eli; Orit Ozerov, 28, of Jerusalem; Avraham Haim Rahamim, 28, of Jerusalem were killed and 54 injured, 10 of them seriously, when a suicide bomber exploded at 22:30 PM Saturday night in a crowded cafe at the corner of Aza and Ben-Maimon streets in the Rehavia neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 10, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Kobi Eichelboim, 21, of Givatayim died Sunday afternoon from wounds suffered in the morning when a Palestinian gunman disguised as a worker opened fire at the entrance to Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

Mar 12, 2002 - Eyal Lieberman, 42, of Tzoran was killed and another person was wounded in a shooting attack at the Kiryat Sefer checkpoint, east of Modi'in.

Mar 12, 2002 - Yehudit Cohen, 33, of Shlomi; Ofer Kanarick, 44, of Moshav Betzet; Alexei Kotman, 29, of Kibbutz Beit Hashita; Lynne Livne, 49, and her daughter Atara, 15, of Kibbutz Hanita; and Lt. German Rozhkov, 25, of Kiryat Shmona were killed when two terrorists opened fire from an ambush on Israeli vehicles traveling between Shlomi and Kibbutz Metzuba near the northern border with Lebanon. Seven others were injured. Israeli forces killed the two gunmen, who were dressed in IDF uniforms, and carried out wide-scale searches for additional terrorists.

Mar 13, 2002 - Lt. Gil Badihi, 21, of Nataf died of injuries suffered Wednesday morning in Ramallah. He was shot in the head by a Palestinian gunman as he stood next to his tank.

Mar 14, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Matan Biderman, 21, of Carmiel, St.-Sgt. Ala Hubeishi, 21, of Julis, and Sgt. Rotem Shani, 19, of Hod Hasharon were killed and two soldiers were injured early Thursday morning when a tank escorting a civilian convoy drove over a land mine exploded on the Karni-Netzarim road in the Gaza Strip. Terrorists hiding in a nearby mosque detonated the remote-controlled explosive charge beneath the armored vehicle. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Fatah's al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade both claimed responsibility.

Mar 17, 2002 - Noa Auerbach, 18, of Kfar Sava was killed and 16 people were injured when a terrorist opened fire on passersby in the center of Kfar Sava. The gunman was shot and killed by police.

Mar 19, 2002 - 1st Lt. Tal Zemach, 20, of Kibbutz Hulda, was killed and three soldiers were injured when Palestinian terrorists opened fire on them in the Jordan Valley. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 20, 2002 - Sgt. Michael Altfiro, 19, of Pardes Hanna; St.-Sgt. Shimon Edri, 20, of Pardes Hanna; SWO Meir Fahima, 40, of Hadera; Cpl. Aharon Revivo, 19, of Afula; Alon Goldenberg, 28, of Tel Aviv; Mogus Mahento, 75, of Holon; and Bella Schneider, 53, of Hadera were killed and about 30 people were wounded, several seriously, in a suicide bombing of an Egged bus No. 823 traveling from Tel Aviv to Nazareth at the Musmus junction on Highway 65 (Wadi Ara) near Afula. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 21, 2002 - Gadi (34) and Tzipi (29) Shemesh, of Jerusalem and Yitzhak Cohen, 48, of Modi'in were killed and 86 people injured, 3 of them seriously, in a suicide bombing on King George Street in the center of Jerusalem. The terrorist detonated the bomb, packed with metal spikes and nails, in the center of a crowd of shoppers. The Fatah al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 24, 2002 - Esther Kleiman, 23, of Neve Tzuf, was killed in a shooting attack northwest of Ramallah, while traveling to work in a reinforced Egged bus.

Mar 24, 2002 - Avi Sabag, 24, of Otniel was killed in a terrorist shooting south of Hebron.

Mar 26, 2002 - Major Cengiz Soytunc of Turkey and Catherine Berruex of Switzerland, members of the TIPH observer force in Hebron, were killed in an ambush shooting by a Palestinian gunman near Halhul.

Mar 27, 2002 - 30 people were killed and 140 injured - 20 seriously - in a suicide bombing in the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya, in the midst of the Passover holiday seder with 250 guests. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
The victims: Shula Abramovitch, 63, of Holon; David Anichovitch, 70, of Netanya; Sgt.-Maj. Avraham Beckerman, 25, of Ashdod; Shimon Ben-Aroya, 42, of Netanya; Andre Fried, 47, of Netanya; Idit Fried, 47, of Netanya; Miriam Gutenzgan, 82, Ramat Gan; Ami Hamami, 44, of Netanya; Perla Hermele, 79, of Sweden; Dvora Karim, 73, of Netanya; Michael Karim, 78, of Netanya; Yehudit Korman, 70, of Ramat Hasharon; Marianne Myriam Lehmann Zaoui, 77, of Netanya; Lola Levkovitch, 85, of Jerusalem; Furuk Na'imi, 62, of Netanya; Eliahu Nakash, 85, of Tel-Aviv; Irit Rashel, 45, of Moshav Herev La'et; Yulia Talmi, 87, of Tel-Aviv; St.-Sgt. Sivan Vider, 20, of Bekaot; Ernest Weiss, 79, of Petah Tikva; Eva Weiss, 75, of Petah Tikva; Meir (George) Yakobovitch, 76, of Holon.
Chanah Rogan, 92, of Netanya; Zee'v Vider, 50, of Moshav Bekaot; Alter Britvich, 88, and his wife Frieda, 86, of Netanya died of their injuries on April 2-3, 2003.
Sarah Levy-Hoffman, 89, of Tel-Aviv died of her injuries on April 7, 2003.
Anna Yakobovitch, 78, of Holon died of her injuries on April 11, 2003.
Eliezer Korman, 74, of Ramat Hasharon died of his wounds on May 5, 2003.
Clara Rosenberger, 77, of Jerusalem died of her wounds on June 25, 2003.

Mar 28, 2002 - Rachel and David Gavish, 50, their son Avraham Gavish, 20, and Rachel's father Yitzhak Kanner, 83, were killed when a terrorist infiltrated the community of Elon Moreh in Samaria, entered their home and opened fire on its inhabitants. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 29, 2002 - Tuvia Wisner, 79, of Petah Tikva and Michael Orlansky, 70, of Tel-Aviv were killed Friday morning, when a Palestinian terrorist infiltrated the Neztarim settlement in the Gaza Strip.

Mar 29, 2002 - Lt. Boaz Pomerantz, 22, of Kiryat Shmona and St.-Sgt. Roman Shliapstein, 22, of Ma'ale Efraim were killed in the course of the IDF anti-terrorist action in Ramallah (Operation Defensive Shield).

Mar 29, 2002 - Rachel Levy, 17, and Haim Smadar, 55, the security guard, both of Jerusalem, were killed and 28 people were injured, two seriously, when a female suicide bomber blew herself up in the Kiryat Yovel supermarket in Jerusalem. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 30, 2002 - Border Policeman Sgt.-Maj. Constantine Danilov, 23, of Or Akiva was shot and killed in Baka al-Garbiyeh, during an exchange of fire with two Palestinians trying to cross into Israel to carry out a suicide attack. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.

Mar 31, 2002 - 15 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Haifa, in the Matza restaurant of the gas station near the Grand Canyon shopping mall. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
The victims: Suheil Adawi, 32, of Turan; Dov Chernobroda, 67, of Haifa; Shimon Koren, 55; his sons Ran, 18, and Gal, 15, of Haifa; Moshe Levin, 52, of Haifa; Danielle Manchell, 22, of Haifa; Orly Ofir, 16, of Haifa; Aviel Ron, 54; his son Ofer, 18, and daughter Anat, 21, of Haifa; Ya'akov Shani, 53, of Haifa; Adi Shiran, 17, of Haifa; Daniel Carlos Wegman, 50, of Haifa.
Carlos Yerushalmi, 52, of Karkur, died on April 1 of wounds sustained in the attack.

Apr 1, 2002 - Sgt.-Maj. Ofir Roth, 22, of Gan Yoshiya, an IDF reserve soldier, was killed at a roadblock near Jerusalem's Har Homa neighborhood by a Palestinian sniper firing from Beit Sahur, near Bethlehem.

Apr 1, 2002 - Tomer Mordechai, 19, of Tel-Aviv, a policeman, was killed in Jerusalem, when a Palestinian suicide bomber driving toward the city center blew himself after being stopped at a roadblock. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 3, 2002 - IDF reservist Maj. Moshe Gerstner, 29, of Rishon Lezion was killed in Jenin during anti-terrorist action (Operation Defensive Shield).

Apr 4, 2002 - Rachel Charhi, 36, of Bat-Yam, critically injured in a suicide bombing in a cafe on the corner of Allenby and Bialik streets in Tel-Aviv on March 30, died of her wounds. Some 30 others were injured in the attack. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.

Apr 4, 2002 - Border Police Supt. Patrick Pereg, 30, of Rosh Ha'ayin, head of operations in an undercover unit, was killed Thursday while attempting to arrest a wanted member of Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

Apr 4, 2002 - Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Einan Sharabi, 32, of Rehovot; Lt. Nissim Ben-David, 22, of Ashdod; and St.-Sgt. Gad Ezra, 23, of Bat-Yam were killed during the IDF anti-terrorist action in Jenin (Operation Defensive Shield).

Apr 5, 2002 - Sgt. Marom Moshe Fisher, 19, of Moshav Avigdor; Sgt. Ro'i Tal, 21, of Ma'alot; and Sgt. Oded Kornfein, 20, of Kibbutz Ha'on - were killed in exchanges of fire between IDF troops and Palestinian gunmen in Jenin (Operation Defensive Shield).

Apr 6, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Nisan Avraham, 26, of Lod was killed and five other soldiers were lightly injured when two Palestinian gunmen opened fire and threw grenades at the entrance to Rafiah Yam in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians, members of the Islamic Jihad, were killed.

Apr 8, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Matanya Robinson, 21, of Kibbutz Tirat Zvi, and Sgt. Shmuel Weiss, 19, of Kiryat Arba were killed in an ambush by Palestinian gunfire in the Jenin refugee camp (Operation Defensive Shield).

Apr 9, 2002 - 13 IDF soldiers were killed and 7 injured in the Jenin refugee camp by Palestinian terrorists. An IDF patrol by reserve soldiers was ambushed during operations in the refugee camp. Explosive devices were detonated against them, as well as gunfire directed against the soldiers from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.
The soldiers killed: Maj.(res.) Oded Golomb, 22, of Kibbutz Nir David; Capt.(res.) Ya'akov Azoulai, 30, of Migdal Ha'emek; Lt.(res.) Dror Bar, 28, of Kibbutz Einat; Lt.(res.) Eyal Yoel, 28, of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel; 1st Sgt.(res.) Tiran Arazi, 33, of Hadera; 1st Sgt.(res.) Yoram Levy, 33, of Elad; 1st Sgt.(res.) Avner Yaskov, 34, of Be'er Sheva; Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Ronen Alshochat, 27, of Ramle; gt. 1st Class (res.) Eyal Eliyahu Azouri, 27, of Ramat Gan; Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Amit Busidan, 22, of Bat Yam; Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Menashe Hava, 23, of Kfar Sava; Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Shmuel Dani Mayzlish, 27, of Moshav Hemed; Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Eyal Zimmerman, 22, of Ra'anana.

Apr 9, 2002 - Maj. Assaf Assoulin, 30, of Tel Aviv was killed in an exchange of fire in Nablus.

Apr 9, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Gedalyahu Malik, 21, of Jerusalem was killed and 12 soldiers were injured in Jenin when an explosive charge was thrown at a patrol.

Apr 10, 2002 - Avinoam Alfia, 26, of Kiryat Ata; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Shlomi Ben Haim, 27, of Kiryat Yam; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Nir Danieli, 24, of Kiryat Ata; Border Police Lance Cpl. Keren Franco, 18, of Kiryat Yam; Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Ze'ev Hanik, 24, of Karmiel; Border Police Lance Cpl. Noa Shlomo, 18, of Nahariya; Prison Warrant Officer Shimshon Stelkol, 33, of Kiryat Yam; and Sgt. Michael Weissman, 21, of Kiryat Yam were killed and 22 people injured in a suicide bombing on Egged bus #960, en route from Haifa to Jerusalem, which exploded near Kibbutz Yagur, east of Haifa. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 12, 2002 - Lt. Dotan Nahtomi, 22, of Kibbutz Tzuba, died of wounds sustained earlier in the week during IDF operations in Dura (Operation Defensive Shield).

Apr 12, 2002 - Border policeman St.-Sgt. David Smirnoff, 22, of Ashdod was killed when a Palestinian gunman opened fire near the Erez crossing, in the Gaza Strip, killing one and injuring another four Israelis. The terrorist killed one and injured three Palestinian workers in the same shooting spree. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 12, 2002 - Nissan Cohen, 57; Rivka Fink, 75; Suheila Hushi, 48; and Yelena Konrab, 43, all of Jerusalem; and Ling Chang Mai, 34, and Chai Siang Yang, 32, both foreign workers from China, were killed and 104 people were wounded when a woman suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge at a bus stop on Jaffa road at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda open-air market. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 20, 2002 - Border Policeman St.-Sgt. Uriel Bar-Maimon, 21 of Ashkelon was killed in an exchange of fire near the Erez industrial park in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces pursued the Palestinian gunman and killed him. An explosive belt was found on his body. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.

Apr 22, 2002 - Sgt. Maj. Nir Krichman, 22 of Hadera, was killed in an exchange of gunfire, when IDF forces entered the village of Asira a-Shamaliya, north of Nablus, to arrest known Hamas terrorists.

Apr 27, 2002 - Danielle Shefi, 5; Arik Becker, 22; Katrina (Katya) Greenberg, 45; and Ya'acov Katz, 51, all of Adora, were killed when terrorists dressed in IDF uniforms and combat gear cut through the settlement's defensive perimeter fence and entered Adora, west of Hebron. Seven other people were injured, one seriously. The terrorists entered several homes, firing on people in their bedrooms. Both Hamas and the PFLP claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 3, 2002 - IDF officer Major Avihu Ya'akov, 24, of Kfar Hasidim, was killed and two other soldiers injured in Nablus in a raid against a terror cell that was planning a suicide attack in Israel.

May 7, 2002 - 15 people were killed and 55 wounded in a crowded game club in Rishon Lezion, southeast of Tel-Aviv, when a suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge in the 3rd floor club, causing part of the building to collapse. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

The victims: Esther Bablar, 54, of Bat Yam; Yitzhak Bablar, 57, of Bat Yam; Avi Bayaz, 26, of Nes Ziona; Regina Malka Boslan, 62, of Jaffa; Edna Cohen, 61, of Holon; Rafael Haim, 64, of Tel-Aviv; Pnina Hikri, 60, of Tel-Aviv; Nawa Hinawi, 51, of Tel-Aviv; Rahamim Kimhi, 58, of Rishon Lezion; Nir Lovatin, 31, of Rishon Lezion; Shoshana Magmari, 51, of Tel-Aviv; Dalia Masa, 56, of Nahalat Yehuda; Rassan Sharouk, 60, of Holon; Israel Shikar, 49, of Rishon Lezion; Anat Teremforush, 36, of Ashdod.

May 12, 2002 - Nisan Dolinger, 43, of Pe'at Sadeh in the southern Gaza Strip was shot and killed by a Palestinian laborer. The assailant was apprehended.

May 19, 2002 - Yosef Haviv, 70, Victor Tatrinov, 63, and Arkady Vieselman, 40, all of Netanya, were killed and 59 people were injured - 10 seriously - when a suicide bomber, disguised as a soldier, blew himself up in the market in Netanya. Both Hamas and the PFLP took responsibility for the attack.

May 22, 2002 - Elmar Dezhabrielov, 16, and Gary Tauzniaski, 65, both of Rishon Lezion, were killed and about 40 people were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated himself in the Rothschild Street downtown pedestrian mall of Rishon Lezion.

May 24, 2002 - Reserve IDF Sgt. 1st Class Oren Tzelnik, 23, of Bat Yam was killed and two soldiers wounded when terrorists opened fire on their APC during a counter-terrorist operation in Tulkarm.

May 27, 2002 - Ruth Peled, 56, of Herzliya and her infant granddaughter Sinai Keinan, aged 14 months, of Petah Tikva were killed and 37 people were injured, some seriously, when a suicide bomber detonated himself near an ice cream parlor outside a shopping mall in Petah Tikva. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 28, 2002 - Albert Maloul, 50, of Jerusalem, was killed when shots were fired at the car in which he was traveling south on the Ramallah bypass road. Maloul and his cousin, who was lightly injured, were returning home to Jerusalem from Eli, where they operate the swimming pool. The Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 28, 2002 - Netanel Riachi, 17, of Kochav Ya'akov; Gilad Stiglitz, 14, of Yakir; and Avraham Siton, 17, of Shilo - three yeshiva high school students - were killed and two others wounded in Itamar, southeast of Nablus, when a Palestinian gunman infiltrated the community and opened fire on the teenagers playing basketball, before he was shot dead by a security guard. The Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 5, 2002 - 17 people were killed and 38 injured when a car packed with a large quantity of explosives struck Egged bus No. 830 traveling from Tel-Aviv to Tiberias at the Megiddo junction near Afula. The bus, which burst into flames, was completely destroyed. The terrorist, who drove the car bomb, was killed in the blast. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
The victims: Cpl. Liron Avitan, 19, of Hadera; Cpl. Avraham Barzilai, 19, of Netanya; Cpl. Dennis Blumin, 20, of Hadera; St.-Sgt. Eliran Buskila, 21, of Hadera; St.-Sgt. Zvi Gelberd, 20 of Hadera; Sgt. Violetta Hizgayev, 20, of Hadera; St.-Sgt. Ganadi Issakov, 21, of Hadera; Sgt. Sariel Katz, 21, of Netanya; Cpl. Vladimir Morari, 19, of Hadera; Sgt. Yigal Nedipur, 21, of Netanya; Sgt. Dotan Reisel, 22, of Hadera; St.-Sgt. David Stanislavksy, 23, of Netanya; Sgt. Sivan Wiener, 19, of Holon; Zion Agmon, 50, of Hadera; Adi Dahan, 17, of Afula; Shimon Timsit, 35, of Tel-Aviv.
* The 17th victim, Eliyahu Timsit, 32, of Sderot, was identified in December 2002.

June 6, 2002 - Erez Rund, 18, of Ofra died of gunshot wounds to the chest sustained in a shooting attack near Ofra, north of Ramallah, when Palestinian terrorists opened fire from an ambush.

June 8, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Eyal Sorek, 23, his wife Yael, 24 - 9 months pregnant - of Carmei Tzur, and St.-Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Shalom Mordechai, 35, of Nahariya were killed and five others injured when terrorists infiltrated the community of Carmei Tzur in the Gush Etzion bloc and opened fire at 2:30 A.M. on Friday night. The Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 11, 2002 - Hadar Hershkowitz, 14, of Herzliya was killed and 15 others were wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber set off a relatively small pipe bomb at a shwarma restaurant in Herzliya.

June 15, 2002 - St.-Sgt. Haim Yehezkel (Hezki) Gutman, 22, of Beit El, and St.-Sgt. Alexei Gladkov, 20, of Be'er Sheva were killed and four soldiers were wounded in a confrontation with terrorists near Alei Sinai and Dugit in the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Lt. Anatoly Krasik, 22, of Petah Tikva died of his wounds on June 22.

June 18, 2002 - 19 people were killed and 74 were injured - six seriously - in a suicide bombing at the Patt junction in

Pizza for Israeli Soldiers!

12.29.03 (6:05 pm)   [edit]
This is just great!

My friend's site had this on there and I thought it was one of the best things I'd ever seen:

http://pizzaidf.org/" title="http://pizzaidf.org/" target="_blank"http://pizzaidf.org/

Go to this site and send some hungry Israeli soldiers Pizza, soda, and soup! You can even send them pizza pies for a whole month in support of them! Check out the burger site at the bottom. You can even send them burgers!!!

I sent them soup...it's gonna get cold in Yerushalaim soon.

The site includes a special note, if you wish to send them one, of gratitude and support.

Best part is, the proceeds help support Israel as well. Because of terrorist attacks, tourism to Israel has gone down significantly. Not only can you warm the hearts and bellies of those who defend the Jewish state, you can keep the state alive too!

Have a look!

Abu Ala Tells Arafat: Enough Is Enough

12.29.03 (2:09 pm)   [edit]
You can find this and much more at: http://www.debka.com

[b]Abu Ala Tells Arafat: Enough Is Enough
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
December 29, 2003, 5:35 PM (GMT+02:00)[/b]

Last weekend, Ahmed Qureia aka Abu Ala became the second Palestinian prime minister to warn Yasser Arafat he was about to resign. He determined to throw in the sponge after discovering that the Palestinian Authority’s coffers were bare. There was nothing left to meet the January 1 payroll for 80,000 public workers and security personnel. In fact the PA has no operating funds at all.

Arafat, according to DEBKAfile’s Palestinian sources, greeted the threat in stony silence.

If Abu Ala quits now, he will have lasted a month and-a-half, compared with the four months his processor survived on the job before being driven out. Abu Mazen now spends most of his time in Amman and rarely ventures into the West Bank.

Abu Ala accused Arafat of exploiting the attention focused on fruitless discussions about a truce for an underhand move to help himself to the PA’s funds and whisk its financial system out of the hands of the pro-American Palestinian finance minister, Salem Fayed.

The evicted minister is left with nothing to do but twiddle his thumbs at home.

DEBKAfile’s sources note that Washington and Jerusalem would prefer to keep this development under their hats because, by removing Fayed, Arafat has put paid to the last remnant of the Palestinian reforms that were to have presaged the Middle East roadmap to peace. Those reforms, instituted by the Bush Administration, the Abu Mazen government and Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, were designed to block the flow of PA funds for terrorist use. This crucial step was solemnized at the tripartite Aqaba summit last June. President George W. Bush has been lavish in his praise of Fayed’s efforts to regulate Palestinian finances and make them transparent.

With the approach of January 1, a number of Palestinian officials appealed urgently to Americans, Europeans and Saudis for urgent handouts to pay out wages. Nothing has been forthcoming. The prime minister’s planned trip to Riyadh to plea for help has not so far come off.

The PA’s straitened finances were not Abu Ala’s only motive for threatening to resign – nor even Arafat’s control of Palestinian security forces and negotiating tactics, which made his job as prime minister no better than a sinecure.

DEBKAfile’s Palestinian and Middle East sources have learned that he also despaired of the dismal state of the Palestinian Authority’s foreign relations. Last week’s assault on visiting Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher in al Aqsa mosque has ricocheted disastrously on the traditionally close ties with Cairo. Egyptian officials refer furiously to Palestinian mismanagement of Temple Mount, while the Cairo press is throwing out hints that Arafat himself ordered the humiliating attack on Maher.

The low in Egyptian-Palestinian relations is unprecedented in the decade since the 1993 Oslo Accords brought PLO leaders into control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The situation looks like going from bad to worse. The word from Amman is that the Jordanians are preparing to add their voice to the Mubarak regime’s vilification of the Palestinian Authority’s presence on and administration of the Muslim shrines on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

Jordanian ex-Crown Prince Hassan confirmed the crisis when he Monday, December 29, in Amman: Sharon is a pragmatist, but he has no partner to talk to on the Palestinian side.

Some Truly Scarey Stuff!

12.28.03 (11:23 pm)   [edit]
Source (thanks to an outside user who commented elsewhere on my blog): http://www.findarticles.com/c...

[b]New Survey: Younger Americans Hold More Anti-Semitic Beliefs Than Previous Generation; Study Also Finds Nearly One-Third of Americans Would be Concerned About A Jewish U.S. President Being Fair About Israel.
PR Newswire, Jan 15, 2003[/b]

SAN FRANCISCO -- SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Reversing a post-World War II trend of declining anti-Semitic beliefs, a younger generation of Americans-those under age 35-hold more anti-Semitic beliefs than the previous generation, a new survey by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research reveals.

According to Dr. Gary Tobin, President of the Institute, "In the wake of the Holocaust, social norms in the United States and elsewhere in the world were more prohibitive of most overt expressions of anti-Semitism. The constraints against anti-Semitism are weakening, and the rise in anti-Semitic beliefs is part of that trend."

The survey, entitled, "Anti-Semitic Beliefs in the United States," by Dr. Gary A. Tobin and Dr. Sid Groeneman, also asked some other timely questions, and yielded some very surprising, relevant and important results.

In addition to the spike in anti-Semitic beliefs among younger Americans, the survey also found that:


-- Nearly one-third of Americans (32 percent) were concerned that a Jewish
president might not act in America's best interests if they conflict
with Israel's. This belief recalls the "dual loyalties" stigma
sometimes applied to American Jews-that Jewish Americans are at least
equally swayed by Israel's interests as by what is best for America.
-- Democrats tend to be more anti-Semitic than Republicans. For example,
Republicans are less likely to view Jews as caring only about
themselves (12 percent) than Democrats or Independents (20 percent
each). This finding may come as a surprise to many Jews, who are much
more heavily aligned with the Democratic party.
-- Thirty-seven percent of Americans agree that the Jews were responsible
for killing Jesus Christ. Historically the Christ-killing charge has
served as an ideological basis of anti-Semitism. Moreover, the
analysis shows that those holding the view that Jews killed Jesus
Christ are more likely to accept other anti-Jewish stereotypes, see
Jews as different from themselves, and also see Jews as a moral threat
to America.
In addition, the survey asked respondents about their beliefs regarding:
-- Jewish "control of the media"
-- Jewish lawyers
-- Holocaust denial
-- Jewish "influence on Wall Street"


The data from the survey also revealed a connection between anti-Israelism and anti-Semitism. "Much of anti-Israelism is thinly veiled anti-Semitism -- anti-Semitism in disguise. The same kinds of stereotypes are often used, such as Israel controls the media or Congress," Dr. Tobin said.

On the other hand, the research revealed that nearly one-half of the American public (49 percent) perceives Jews as "like themselves" in terms of basic beliefs and values. Jews are viewed as more similar in basic beliefs and values to other Americans than Muslims, Mormons, and atheists. However, Jews are seen as significantly less similar to other Americans than Blacks, Hispanics and Catholics. In other words, Catholics, Hispanics and Blacks are viewed as more "American" than Jews, while Mormons, Muslims and atheists are not.

What is the Biblical, rabbinical understanding of the Land of Israel?

12.28.03 (10:57 pm)   [edit]
You can find this information and much more at http://www.askmoses.com. This was a direct exerpt...Enjoy! If you have any issues, please direct them to the site mentioned! :D
[line]
[b]What is the Biblical, rabbinical understanding of the Land of Israel?[/b]

The Land of Israel was promised to our father Abraham and to his son, Isaac, who was born from his first wife Sarah. The Torah tells us that "In Isaac you will have seed" (Genesis 21:12). Shortly after that, God told Abraham to listen to his wife: to send Ishmael away from his household together with his Egyptian mother Hagar (ibid. 21:14 and on), which Abraham did. This was so Isaac, not Ishmael, would inherit the Holy Land.

The Torah tells us that Ishmael settled in the Paran Desert, and that his wife was from Egypt (ibid. 21:21; the Paran Desert is in Egypt, see Gen. 25:18 concerning the location and the fact that Ishmael went to live amongst his brothers in Egypt). The Torah also tells us that God repeated his promise regarding the land to Jacob (Isaac’s son) and his descendants (Genesis 28:13), and to Moses (Isaac’s great-grandchild) (Exodus 3:8.).

The Jewish claim to the Holy Land is much older then that of our Arab cousins. It has been our homeland for 3,000 years, and until the first Arab invaders arrived in the 700s, no descendants of Ishmael ever claimed any part of the land for themselves. Islam was established only 1300 years ago, more then 1700 years AFTER Jews made Jerusalem their capital! The Land of Israel is mentioned 2521 times in the Torah by its name “Israel”; other names such as Zion are mentioned thousands of times more. The city of Jerusalem is mentioned 821 times in the Torah by its name Jerusalem and is referred to thousands of times by other names. The land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem are NEVER mentioned in the Quran, the book held holiest by Ishmael's descendants—not as “Palestine,” not as “Israel” and not by ANY other name!

The Torah tells us of the limits of the Holy Land. As promised to Abraham, it is described as "…from the river of Egypt until the great river, the River Euphrates" (Gen. 15:18). (For details of the actual borders told to Moses, see Numbers 34:2-15).

The borders of the Holy Land extend beyond the current borders of the State of Israel. Two of Jacob’s children, Dan and Naphtali, are buried in the Lebanese city of Sidon, and the remains of the oldest Jewish synagogue—dating back 2500 years—were uncovered in the Golan Heights. The ancient city of Jericho, which Joshua conquered (see Joshua 6:20), hosts the very famous Shalom Al Israel synagogue, dating to the First Century. Some parts of the Kingdom of Jordan were settled by two-and-a-half of the Twelve Tribes, and Gaza (which has its own ancient synagogue) is ALL part of our Holy land of Israel. Our people actually lived and flourished in these sites for hundreds and thousands of years. Our right to the land did not expire because we were FORCED to leave.

However, some parts of the MODERN State of Israel are not holy since they are NOT part of our ancestors’ land, such as the Negev Desert and the city of Eilat.

We are required to PROTECT ourselves from danger, and cutting the land into pieces and giving OUR land away to people who are trying to destroy us (using the weapons WE provided them and the cities we gave them), are CLEARLY opposed by Jewish law. We are not permitted to give away land so that terrorism can be cultivated! In Jewish law, a Jew is not allowed to hand over ANY parts of the Holy Land to a non-Jew. Giving the land away only brings more danger upon our people, as we witness these days.

One of the Greatest Statements I've Heard in a While.

12.28.03 (11:58 am)   [edit]
So, my newest friend and fan to my weblog, J.P. Bradly said the most wonderful and profound thing. (I'm not just talking about the compliments to myself either)

I decided to post it because everyone should read it. Especially the part that I shall bold....

[i]Tigress love,

Thanks for my site mention (hasidic gentile), btw I'm not Jewish (yet) obviously but I love Isreal and her People all of them!

Living here in Amsterdam i'm always confronted with people who think its fashionable to critisize Israel, until they meet me, they can't win an argument (they don't know what hit them) ;-) I can't figure out weather there anti-semetic or just ignorant? probebly a bit of both.

[b]anyways it still disturbes me that people don't care or protest in the streets when an Arab dictator murders and tortures their own people, but Israel builds a wall when they get attackt all the time by suicide bombers and then they can only critisize Israel?[/b]

It boggles my mind actualy it makes so angry that i want to say words that i would not want to profane your wonderful site with. breathe in breathe out ok I'm fine well anyways keep up the good bloging!

shalom [/i]


Wise words, my friend. Wise words! Why doesn't it bother people enough to go protest in the streets when an Arab dictator gasses and murders his own people? Why is it that they protest in the streets against Israel when it protects itself? Why is the world backwards?

Any ideas, people? Leave answers below in the comments...

Searching...

12.27.03 (11:00 pm)   [edit]
Ok, so I guess now that I've changed my colours, I feel I must change my header too. Therefore, I'm now on a search for a new image.

I've changed it, but I want to put up something different. This one's only temporary...

I want to put up a painting, something classical. Either that of a tiger or a woman in red. If anyone comes accross an image like the kind I'm discribing, please let me know! Leave me the link in the comments please!

If you see another picture that doesn't even fit my discription but you think is pretty enough for me to use as my new header, please leave me the link anyhow!!

THANKS!

My search continues!

Ooooh!

12.27.03 (7:50 pm)   [edit]
This is VERY cool!

http://www.wwwcomcom.com/gallery.html" title="http://www.wwwcomcom.com/gallery.html" target="_blank"http://www.wwwcomcom.com/gall...

Someone is highly talanted!!!

This really makes me love the French now.

12.27.03 (6:53 pm)   [edit]
Why am I not surprised that the person who did this is from FRANCE? After all, they're so friendly with the Jews! :roll: At least someone had the sense to launch an inquirey. Read on...

[b]French Comic in Legal Probe for Anti-Jewish Sketch
Thu Dec 25, 8:55 AM ET [/b]

PARIS (Reuters) - A Paris prosecutor has launched an inquiry into a controversial TV sketch by a French comedian which many say was anti-Semitic.

Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala appeared wearing guerrilla clothing and a Jewish skullcap and made a Nazi salute in the live show on France 3 television on December 1.

As he made the salute he invited "youths watching today from suburban high-rises to join the American-Zionist axis." He then cried "IsraHeil," in an apparent reference to the "Heil Hitler" salute of Nazi Germany.

"The sketch and the words in question seem capable of constituting defamation of a racial character," Paris prosecutor Yves Bot said in a statement on Wednesday.

The preliminary inquiry could lead to prosecution for "racial defamation."

The CSA broadcasting watchdog in France, where there is concern about sporadic anti-Semitic attacks, has also asked France 3 for an explanation.

Dieudonne, born in the Paris suburbs to a French mother and a Cameroonian father, has previously landed in trouble after saying he "preferred Osama bin Laden's charisma to that of President Bush."

The presenter of the December 1 program, Marc-Olivier Fogiel, apologized to viewers the following week.

One of France's most popular comedians, Jamel Debbouze, who is Moroccan-born and a friend of Dieudonne, told the daily Liberation this week that the sketch was regrettable.

"His sketch was stupid and inappropriate. The last thing we need is to throw oil on the fire," he said.

Dieudonne, however, has demanded an apology from France 3, saying the channel has wrongly accused him of anti-Semitism.

Jewish lobby groups are concerned that what they see as biased views of Israel's treatment of Palestinians are whipping up anti-Semitism across Europe.

France, which is home to around five million Muslims and 600,000 Jews, is keen to maintain its secular status and is currently pushing for a highly controversial ban on overt religious symbols like Islamic veils and Jewish skullcaps in schools.
[line]

Gotta love the French. :x

Sicily Man Arranges Shooting to Woo Woman

12.27.03 (6:26 pm)   [edit]
I just had to post this story. It is SO hilarious. You gotta love Sicilians! <3>
I feel sorry for this poor dumb guy. I'm not a man, but I can't help but get sympathy pains just reading this. He must have REALLY been in love with her...


ROME (Reuters) - A man in Sicily asked a friend to shoot him in the groin in the hope of making his ex-girlfriend feel sorry for him, police said on Friday.

Police in the central Sicilian city of Piazza Armerina said they became suspicious when the 27-year-old went to hospital with wounds from a hunting rifle's pellets in the groin area.

At first he said the wounds had been caused in a hunting accident, but later admitted he had asked a friend, 16, to shoot him in an attempt to win back the affection of his girlfriend, who had apparently left him because of his violent character.

The man's wounds are expected to heal, doctors said.

Police said the man, and the 16-year-old, had been charged in connection with the shooting. Local reports said the man's ex-girlfriend had made clear she never wanted to see him again.

Site recommmendation.

12.27.03 (6:09 pm)   [edit]
This is the site of J.P. Bradly: http://homepage.mac.com/j.p.b...

You may have read his enlightening comment that he left a bit ago on my blog. His site is awesome and a must see. I've added it to my links as well, but I thought I'd make light of it so y'all should check it out here.

Gotta have love for a fellow mac user too. ;)

Palestinian Tribulations from Jerusalem’s al Aqsa to Baghdad

12.26.03 (1:05 pm)   [edit]
Source: http://www.debka.com/

[b]Palestinian Tribulations from Jerusalem’s al Aqsa to Baghdad
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
December 25, 2003, 4:28 PM (GMT+02:00)[/b]

Cairo is still fuming over the “flying shoe ambush” to which Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher was treated when he tried to pray Monday, December 12, at al Aqsa mosque on Temple Mount, Jerusalem. Mubarak regards the assault as a spiteful rejoinder from Yasser Arafat for the Egyptian minister’s failure to call on him in Ramallah. Since the incident, Palestinian delegations have been rushing to the Egyptian capital to grovel. DEBKAfile’s Palestinian sources report Cairo is not buying the show of remorse and Arafat has been told that the photos of a panic-stricken Maher may have faded from the news pages, but remain very vivid in Egyptian minds.

Moreover, Egypt has put a hard question to Arafat: Two separate security teams stand guard inside the mosque around the clock - one posted by the Wakf Muslim religious authority that administers the mosques on Temple Mount and one deployed by the Palestinian leader’s own Fatah group. “Where were they when our foreign minister needed them?” Egyptian officials asked Arafat. “Why was it left to Israeli security to rescue him?”

Cairo entertains a strong suspicion that there was more in the affair that meets the eye. Hints have been dropped that either the two teams had advance knowledge of the attack and orders not to intervene or, worse, Arafat and the Palestinian authorities have abandoned control of al-Aqsa mosque to radical Muslims.

The implications of this allegation, especially when it emanates from a top Arab leader’s presidential palace are too serious to be taken lightly and therefore elicited from Ramallah hasty damage control to prevent its public airing. It means very simply this: If the Palestinian Liberation Organization has forfeited control of Islam’s third holiest site, it is incapable of guarding the interests of the Arab world – or even its own. So why should an Arab government make any efforts on the Palestinians’ behalf?

The Palestinian case was also downgraded on another diplomatic front, at the meeting Wednesday, December 12 between Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Syrian leader Bashar Assad in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. DEBKAfile’s Middle Eastern sources report that Assad complained bitterly that his attempts to persuade Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to join him for peace talks had run into a blank wall.

”He doesn’t even bother to answer me,” Assad lamented. “I sent him at least three messages recently and he says nothing. I even offered to accept a return to the June 4, 1967 lines and drop any demand for a mutual reduction of forces. I said we could separate the Palestinian issue from the Syrian-Israel process and leave it out altogether. What else can I offer the man?” Assad asked.

Our sources report that Mubarak simply held out his hands and told Assad, welcome to the club.

”I don’t know what to tell you. I sent my foreign minister to Jerusalem and even agreed to leave Arafat out of the visit. I indicated to Sharon that I endorse your proposition of bilateral talks without involving the Palestinian problem. But he made no response to Maher. The man simply says nothing.”

DEBKAfile’s political sources call Sharon the silent man. Even when vice premier Ehud Olmert practically boasts of the prime minister’s support for his own sweeping West Bank withdrawal plan, Sharon neither confirms nor gainsays the assertion.

Many senior officials in Jerusalem think Sharon is carrying his silent routine too far. One told DEBKAfile: “The Americans have raised some pressing issues and they expect answers. But Sharon stays mum even to Washington. Maybe he is on the brink of making new decisions and is not yet ready to make them public.”

The Palestinians, therefore, are confronted with Mubarak’s rancor, Assad’s willingness to ditch them (he recently told American visitors to Damascus that the Palestinians entered into peace talks in Oslo and launched two uprisings without consulting Syria) and uncertainties in Jerusalem. In post-Saddam Iraq, their situation is tricky.

Some 140,000 Palestinians live in Baghdad along the eastern bank of the Euphrates, most concentrated on Haifa Street. Times were good when Saddam Hussein was in charge, and Palestinians were among his biggest supporters. The former Iraqi leader used them as middlemen for overseas business deals and treated them as a loyal elite.

Now they are paying the price. More and more Iraqis want to deport them and seize their property. Jordan, according to our sources, has spurned approaches to take them in. They are regarded with suspicion by the US civil administration and military commanders.

And now, according to DEBKAfile’s military sources, a Palestinian is found to have taken part in a suicide bombing on December 11 in the city of Ramadi. The bombers gained entry to the headquarters of the US 82nd Airborne Division disguised as deliverymen bringing furniture to the base. A U.S. soldier was killed and 14 wounded in the explosion.

Some Holiday Cheer From The Holy Land.

12.25.03 (11:34 am)   [edit]
Happy holidays, everyone. This is what Israelis were given as a gift....

Here's a picture for perhaps a holiday card: http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...

[b]Suicide Blast Kills 3 Outside Tel Aviv
AP
20 minutes ago[/b]

JERUSALEM - A suicide bombing near a bus stop outside Tel Aviv killed three people Thursday in the first such attack in more than two months, rescue workers said. It was unclear if there were one or two separate explosions.

"We believe that this was a terror attack," Yossi Sedbon, Tel Aviv district police commander told Israel's Channel 2 television.

Rescue workers, who were having difficulty in reaching the scene because of heavy rush hour traffic, said three people were killed in the attack as well as the bomber or bombers. The attack occurred during rush hour at Geha, a major junction just outside Tel Aviv.

The bombing was the first since an Oct. 4 bombing at a restaurant in the northern Israeli city of Haifa that killed 21 people.

Thursday's attack followed an Israeli helicopter strike in Gaza City that the army said was aimed at a senior Islamic Jihad militant.

Residents said an Apache helicopter fired two missiles at a white Subaru driving between Gaza and the Jebaliya refugee camp, killing two people.

The army confirmed the strike and said the militant it had targeted was planning an attack in the coming days.

Self-Portrait & New Blog-Colours...

12.25.03 (12:13 am)   [edit]
I didn't like the one that I drew out on a napkin at a restaurant the other day so I got rid of it. I really didn't like it because it wasn't too good at all. This one is a much better representation of myself. It's more detailed and even has some colour to it!

[image]RedTigress_7829443 67.jpg[/image]

Tell me what you think of the new colours! I just got them from the new palate available. I think they're deeper and more intense. Serves me well, I say. What say you?

Sharon tells Egyptian FM Israel will respond positively to truce

12.24.03 (11:32 pm)   [edit]
Good Article...

[b]Sharon tells Egyptian FM Israel will respond positively to truce
AFP
Mon Dec 22,10:56 AM ET[/b]

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Egypt's foreign minister that he remained committed to the US-backed roadmap peace plan and would respond in kind if Palestinian factions declared a truce.

"I have heard a commitment by Israeli officials to the roadmap, according to which steps have to be taken in parallel by both sides," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Monday after talks with both Sharon and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom.

"I told the prime minister (Sharon) that both parties have engagements to fill in a parallel manner in the roadmap, and he did not disagree."

Maher's visit, his first to Israel in more than two years, comes days after Sharon warned that he would disengage from the peace process within months if the Palestinians did not start meeting their obligations outlined in the roadmap.

Egyptian intelligence chiefs have been mediating efforts to persuade Palestinian groups such as Hamas to halt to their campaign of anti-Israeli attacks and a source close to Sharon said the prime minister had told Maher that Israel would hold back from major military actions if they succeeded.

"The prime minister made it very clear that he believes in the roadmap for peace," the source told AFP. "It's the only plan that's on the table.

"While Israel is not going to sign any agreement with the terror organisations, he (Sharon) stated that if there's quiet we will respond with quiet. We will refrain from our activity," the source added.

Sharon himself hailed Maher's visit as an opportunity to not only strengthen ties with Egypt but the Palestinian Authority as well.

"I am certain that the links between Israel and Egypt, the biggest and most important country in the Middle East, are going to be strengthened," Sharon said after talks with Maher which lasted over an hour.

"I am certain that it will also lead to the strengthening of our relations with the Palestinian Authority and the chances of our reaching an agreement with the Palestinians."

The visit was the first by Maher in more than two years and a sign of a thaw in relations between the two neighbours.

Egypt is, along with Jordan, one of only two Arab countries to have diplomatic ties with Israel but relations have been strained in recent years with Egypt withdrawing its ambassador after the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in September 2000.

Talks also focused on the possibility of an upcoming summit between Sharon and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who have not met since the Israeli premier came to power in 2001.

"I think that Egypt can use its influence to put an end to the conflict between Israel and the Arabs," Foreign Minister Shalom said in a joint press conference with Maher.

"We want to see the Palestinians back at the negotiations table. We are waiting for a summit between our prime minister and Abu Alaa (Palestinian premier Ahmed Qorei) but unfortunately no date has been set yet. I hope it will take place in the few upcoming days."

The two prime ministers have yet to meet since Qorei came to power in November and an oft-mooted summit has been frequently pushed back.

"I heard a commitment from Israel to resume negotiations as soon as possible," said Maher.

"I also heard a desire to ease the life of Palestinians and the impression I came out with is a desire to co-operate with us to bring about serious and fruitful negotiations."

Dvar Torah For Miketz.

12.24.03 (10:50 pm)   [edit]
This week's Parsha (chapter) is Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17).

In Miketz, we find Paroh (Pharaoh) having two dreams that none of his advisors can interpret satisfactorily. Yosef (Joseph) is then introduced, and he tells of the 7 years of plenty that will be followed with the 7 years of hunger. As part of the interpretation of the dreams, Yosef tells Paroh to appoint a man that is "smart and wise" to overlook the storage of food for the hunger years. Paroh promptly appoints Yosef as that person, reasoning that Yosef has the "spirit of God," and therefore is smart and wise.

Paroh then gives Yosef more power than anyone in the entire country. Many of these actions need explanation....

*Why would Paroh need a wise man to be in charge of storing food?
*Wouldn’t it be enough to have an efficient person?
*And if it WAS important to have a "smart and wise" person in charge, why did Paroh then choose Yosef because he had a ‘spirit
of God’, when it wasn’t even the requirement he was looking for?
*Furthermore, once he DID appoint Yosef, why was he so eager to give him SO much power?

To answer these questions, we first need to know Rav E. Lapian’s insight into the "smart and wise" requirement. He explains that although any bright person could have arranged for food to be stored, it takes a wise person to plan and implement for the future. It’s that extra bit of foresight a wise person has that gives him the
added push to do what he knows must be done, although the results are not immediate, or immediately apparent.

With this we can now explain what Paroh saw in Yosef… Not only was Yosef wise, but he also had the "spirit of God" – meaning - Not only was he wise enough to THINK of the future, but he had God’s help in knowing HOW to do it, which is an even higher level!!

That’s why Paroh was so eager to give him all that power. Paroh himself knew that he didn’t have the potential Yosef had, and it was all because Yosef had God’s guidance.

When we follow the guidelines of the Torah, we too show that we’re wise enough to not only think of what the Torah tells us that God wants, but use those actions to save up for our future (in the next world), which takes the spirit of God, and even more of a commitment.

It’s ironic that Paroh is the one that reminds us of how lucky we are to even have the Torah as our guide. We should all be wise enough to "store" all the Torah study and good deeds we can, and enjoy their reward when it counts – in the future world!

I hope everyone's Chanukah and holidays are going wonderfully! And as always, for those of us observing, have a wonderful Shabbos and a great weekend to the rest of you!

Happy Holidays!

Results From The "Tigress Challenge."

12.24.03 (8:02 pm)   [edit]
Last week I posted a blog that I called the "Tigress Challenge" where I asked YOU, the reader, a very important question:

[u][b]What should Israel do?[/b][/u]

Many of you responded with different answers. Here are the highlights from YOUR responses!

[b]Leftwatcher[/b] got streight to the point and voiced exactly what he felt:
[i][b]- Build a fence around the West Bank.
- Evict Arafat for terrorism (it's well-known that he's been doing it his whole career)
- Announce that for every Israeli that dies in a terrorist attack, Israel is going to take over one square mile of Lebanon.

When they run out of Lebanon, they can start with Syria.

If they get through Syria, we give them North Korea as a bonus.[/b][/i]

Others, like [b]UncPaul[/b], took a more spiritual and religious approach:
[i][b]Turn to God. Israel in general is a secular nation that has forgotten its roots as the people of God - the people of the book.[/b][/i]

An outside user, by the "name" of [b]Scorpion[/b] made this statement:
[i][b]Let's just go back to pre-1914 and see who were living there.[/b][/i]

Let me know when you get done with that time machine, my friend. Heehee. :) Personally, I would love to go back to pre-1914. We'd see a lot of Jews in Israel even during the Diaspora. Thanks for bringing that up! :D

While many good answers were given, some, like [b]whoisjohngalt[/b] were very...er...um...creative:
[b][i]Okay, now keep in mind that I'm really ignorant when it comes to all things religious, which is why I rarely comment on your Blog, Red. (Fortunately, here on Tblog's political board, ignorance isn't much of an inhibitor to stating ones' opinions. ;) )

Now, the way I see it, both sides are clammering over some land they both have historical claim to. Since they've tried, what, 30, 40, 50 years of talks with no succes, it's clearly time to try something new.

I got the idea from watching my parents deal with my brother and I as kids arguing over something. They just took it away!!! My plan operates under the same principle. But I've incorporated some good old-fashioned engineering thoroughness into the plan.

Okay, now before I go into the details of my plan, I think I need a disclaimer. Now, some may suggest my idea might be a bit "radical" or even "blasphemous" and say that I'll surely burn in the hellfires for even thinking of such a thing, yet alone suggesting it--but please, whatever you do, don't pre-judge my idea before you even hear it!!!

It's actually a simple 4-step recovery program.

First, we target the areas most holy to both sides and unleash enough MOABs to flatten these areas (after they've been evacuated, of course--21,000 pounds of high explosives could really ruin your day if dropped on your head!). Then, step two:

2) Empty out the obsolete inventory of "daisy cutter" 15,000 pound bombs onto these areas, just in case anything survived the pseudo-nuking by the MOABs, and softening the ground for step three:

3) We put every B-52 (all 94 of them) in the USAF into the air with maximum payloads of CBU-97s (30) and carpet-bomb these areas. This will be repeated 4 times a day for a whole week, thus seeding the contested area with approximately 15,949,920 "anti-personnel / anti-materiel shaped-charge fragmentation & incendiary" mines, rendering it the most uninhabitable place on God's green Earth.

4) We force both sides to agree that anyone who lays claim to the area must must live there. Then we'll see just how badly they still want it. It's foolproof, and more importantly, IT'S JUST CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK!!![/b][/i]

[b]question[/b] took a very sensible approach that I have heard pointed out before:
[b][i]How about this for a start: No more changes of any kind made right now. No more fences, no more bulldozing, no more anything. Perhaps then try something different. What has been done is not working. I know this is not a real solution, but it is a starting point. If there was an outside party that did not have financial gains from the military industrial process, nor any financial investments in the countries, then maybe that party could work with both sides. I guess it should be mediated, and both parties should think of this as a divorce, but will feel a little bit screwed, but no one gets everything they want. Honestly, I think that there is more going on than the public knows. I just cant understand how this could go on for so long unless someone is deliberately stirring the pot, so to speak. But some good communicators are needed, and they must keep talking, and see each other as humans. Thank you for having this topic. I will be curious to see if someone has a new idea. If more people asked this question that you have asked, then things would get better.[/i][/b]

My darling friend [b]seer[/b] pointed out a very important point: [b][i]Stop hating. :)[/b][/i]

I think that it is very important for that to apply to both parties involved. It's only fair. [u]Wonderful[/u] observation! :D

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate! All of your answers were thought provoking statements that lead to more thought as well as agreat answers! Well done, everyone!

So what was the reason for this challenge?

Well, all too often we all (myself included) get caught up with the negatives. We see what we don't like in something or someone and we criticize but we forget the real reason for being critical: Helping out our fellow human being. What do we do instead? We insult and downplay and forget how to be truly helpful. The only way to be truly helpful is put fourth another solution, that may or may not be very different from what we see, which we feel to be a better idea. We must always remember that one person can make a difference. Being constructive in our criticism instead of only being critical can help the condition of our universe far more than anything else.

We can apply constructive criticism to everything, not just this issue.

If more people get involved to be constrictive, we can fix the ills in the Middle East and elsewhere. All we need do is try.

Thanks again to all who responded and even all who just read. Even if you couldn't think of a response that you wanted to post, just the thought shows progressive attitudes willing and able to try and help.

Peace and love unto all,

Tigress

The Treatment of Jews

12.21.03 (11:53 am)   [edit]
Source:http://www.us-israel.org/jsou...(gen).html

[b]The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries
[i]By Mitchell Bard[/i][/b]

Arabs sometimes claim that, as "Semites," they cannot possibly be anti-Semitic. This, however, is a semantic distortion that ignores the reality of Arab discrimination and hostility toward Jews. Arabs, like any other people, can indeed be anti-Semitic.

The term "anti-Semite" was coined in Germany in 1879 by Wilhelm Marrih to refer to the anti-Jewish manifestations of the period and to give Jew-hatred a more scientific sounding name.(1) "Anti-Semitism" has been accepted and understood to mean hatred of the Jewish people.

While Jewish communities in Arab and Islamic countries fared better overall than those in Christian lands in Europe, Jews were no strangers to persecution and humiliation among the Arabs and Muslim. As Princeton University historian Bernard Lewis has written: "The Golden Age of equal rights was a myth, and belief in it was a result, more than a cause, of Jewish sympathy for Islam."(2)

Muhammad, the founder of Islam, traveled to Medina in 622 A.D. to attract followers to his new faith. When the Jews of Medina refused to convert and rejected Muhammad, two of the major Jewish tribes were expelled; in 627, Muhammad's followers killed between 600 and 900 of the men, and divided the surviving Jewish women and children amongst themselves.(3)

The Muslim attitude toward Jews is reflected in various verses throughout the Koran, the holy book of the Islamic faith. "They [the Children of Israel] were consigned to humiliation and wretchedness. They brought the wrath of God upon themselves, and this because they used to deny God's signs and kill His Prophets unjustly and because they disobeyed and were transgressors" (Sura 2:61). According to the Koran, the Jews try to introduce corruption (5:64), have always been disobedient (5:78), and are enemies of Allah, the Prophet and the angels (2:97­98).

The Dhimmi
Still, as "People of the Book," Jews (and Christians) are protected under Islamic law. The traditional concept of the "dhimma" ("writ of protection") was extended by Muslim conquerors to Christians and Jews in exchange for their subordination to the Muslims. Peoples subjected to Muslim rule usually had a choice between death and conversion, but Jews and Christians, who adhered to the Scriptures, were allowed as dhimmis (protected persons) to practice their faith. This "protection" did little, however, to insure that Jews and Christians were treated well by the Muslims. On the contrary, an integral aspect of the dhimma was that, being an infidel, he had to openly acknowledge the superiority of the true believer--the Muslim.

In the early years of the Islamic conquest, the "tribute" (or jizya), paid as a yearly poll tax, symbolized the subordination of the dhimmi. Later, the inferior status of Jews and Christians was reinforced through a series of regulations that governed the behavior of the dhimmi. Dhimmis, on pain of death, were forbidden to mock or criticize the Koran, Islam or Muhammad, to proselytize among Muslims or to touch a Muslim woman (though a Muslim man could take a non­Muslim as a wife).

Dhimmis were excluded from public office and armed service, and were forbidden to bear arms. They were not allowed to ride horses or camels, to build synagogues or churches taller than mosques, to construct houses higher than those of Muslims or to drink wine in public. They were not allowed to pray or mourn in loud voices-as that might offend the Muslims. The dhimmi had to show public deference toward Muslims-always yielding them the center of the road. The dhimmi was not allowed to give evidence in court against a Muslim, and his oath was unacceptable in an Islamic court. To defend himself, the dhimmi would have to purchase Muslim witnesses at great expense. This left the dhimmi with little legal recourse when harmed by a Muslim.(4)

Dhimmis were also forced to wear distinctive clothing. In the ninth century, for example, Baghdad's Caliph al-Mutawakkil designated a yellow badge for Jews, setting a precedent that would be followed centuries later in Nazi Germany.(5)

Violence Against Jews
At various times, Jews in Muslim lands were able to live in relative peace and thrive culturally and economically. The position of the Jews was never secure, however, and changes in the political or social climate would often lead to persecution, violence and death. Jews were generally viewed with contempt by their Muslim neighbors; peaceful coexistence between the two groups involved the subordination and degradation of the Jews.

When Jews were perceived as having achieved too comfortable a position in Islamic society, anti-Semitism would surface, often with devastating results: On December 30, 1066, Joseph HaNagid, the Jewish vizier of Granada, Spain, was crucified by an Arab mob that proceeded to raze the Jewish quarter of the city and slaughter its 5,000 inhabitants. The riot was incited by Muslim preachers who had angrily objected to what they saw as inordinate Jewish political power.

Similarly, in 1465, Arab mobs in Fez slaughtered thousands of Jews, leaving only 11 alive, after a Jewish deputy vizier treated a Muslim woman in "an offensive manner." The killings touched off a wave of similar massacres throughout Morocco.(6)

Other mass murders of Jews in Arab lands occurred in Morocco in the 8th century, where whole communities were wiped out by Muslim ruler Idris I; North Africa in the 12th century, where the Almohads either forcibly converted or decimated several communities; Libya in 1785, where Ali Burzi Pasha murdered hundreds of Jews; Algiers, where Jews were massacred in 1805, 1815 and 1830 and Marrakesh, Morocco, where more than 300 hundred Jews were murdered between 1864 and 1880.(7)

Decrees ordering the destruction of synagogues were enacted in Egypt and Syria (1014, 1293-4, 1301-2), Iraq (854-859, 1344) and Yemen (1676). Despite the Koran's prohibition, Jews were forced to convert to Islam or face death in Yemen (1165 and 1678), Morocco (1275, 1465 and 1790-92) and Baghdad (1333 and 1344).(

As distinguished Orientalist G.E. von Grunebaum has written:


It would not be difficult to put together the names of a very sizeable number of Jewish subjects or citizens of the Islamic area who have attained to high rank, to power, to great financial influence, to significant and recognized intellectual attainment; and the same could be done for Christians. But it would again not be difficult to compile a lengthy list of persecutions, arbitrary confiscations, attempted forced conversions, or pogroms.(9)

The situation of Jews in Arab lands reached a low point in the 19th century. Jews in most of North Africa (including Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Morocco) were forced to live in ghettos. In Morocco, which contained the largest Jewish community in the Islamic Diaspora, Jews were made to walk barefoot or wear shoes of straw when outside the ghetto. Even Muslim children participated in the degradation of Jews, by throwing stones at them or harassing them in other ways. The frequency of anti-Jewish violence increased, and many Jews were executed on charges of apostasy. Ritual murder accusations against the Jews became commonplace in the Ottoman Empire.(10)

By the twentieth century, the status of the dhimmi in Muslim lands had not significantly improved. H.E.W. Young, British Vice Consul in Mosul, wrote in 1909:


The attitude of the Muslims toward the Christians and the Jews is that of a master towards slaves, whom he treats with a certain lordly tolerance so long as they keep their place. Any sign of pretension to equality is promptly repressed.(11)

The danger for Jews became even greater as a showdown approached in the UN over partition in 1947. The Syrian delegate, Faris el-Khouri, warned: "Unless the Palestine problem is settled, we shall have difficulty in protecting and safeguarding the Jews in the Arab world."(12)

More than a thousand Jews were killed in anti-Jewish rioting during the 1940's in Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria and Yemen.(13) This helped trigger the mass exodus of Jews from Arab countries.

Notes


1. Vamberto Morais, A Short History of Anti-Semitism, (NY: W.W Norton and Co., 1976), p. 11; Bernard Lewis, Semites & Anti-Semites, (NY: WW Norton & Co., 1986), p. 81.

2. Bernard Lewis, "The Pro-Islamic Jews," Judaism, (Fall 1968), p. 401.

3. Bat Ye'or, The Dhimmi, (NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1985), pp. 43-44.

4. Bat Yeor, pp. 30, 56-57; Louis Gardet, La Cite Musulmane: Vie sociale et politique, (Paris: Etudes musulmanes, 1954), p. 348.

5. Bat Yeor, pp. 185-86, 191, 194.

6. Norman Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands, (PA: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1979), pp. 59, 284.

7. Maurice Roumani, The Case of the Jews from Arab Countries: A Neglected Issue, (Tel Aviv: World Organization of Jews from Arab Countries, 1977), pp. 26-27.

8. Bat Ye'or, p. 61

9. G.E. Von Grunebaum, "Eastern Jewry Under Islam," Viator, (1971), p. 369.

10. Bernard Lewis, The Jews of Islam, (NJ: Princeton University Press, 1984) p. 158.

11. Middle Eastern Studies, (1971), p. 232.

12. New York Times, (February 19, 1947).

13. Roumani, pp. 30-31.

My Current Frustrating Little Bug-A-Boo

12.18.03 (9:08 pm)   [edit]
I was reading someone else's blog about a protest. Among the reasons for the protest was the incident where Rachel Corrie, a "peace" protestor was run over (possibly by accident, neither alternatives have yet been proven) by an Israeli bulldozer during another protest in Israel. A fellow protester to Corrie was quoted as saying,

[i][b]"What the Israelis did to her (Rachel Corrie) was a terrible crime.”[/b][/i]

Wow.

As perhaps you can imagine, I have a couple problems with that statement alone.

First off, WOW. Those Israelis are very talanted! What with being able to fit the ENTIRE country into the drivers seat of ONE bulldozer and all. Must be some new-fangled Jewish black-magic er something...

[b][i]What........the.............Hell?[/i][/b]

If, I, a Jewish person, were to refer to all Palestinian terrorism without doing just that, qualifying it with the word "terrorism" after the word "Palestinian," I'd be the biggest facist, racist peice of garbage ever to walk the earth. I'd be bombarded with scolding immesurable! It would be assumed that I hate ALL Palestinians or something because, in less I made it clear, I must think that ALL Palestinians are terrorists!

But no. Instead of that point (or that statement) having ANY notice taken to it, those protestors (without getting into the same semantics--because Mr. Protestor man doesn't care to) who made that statement are praised as the "true patirotic" Americans. WHAT THE FUCKING HELL?

If they are "true patriotic" or "real" Americans, where's the innocent until proven guilty? Perhaps it was an accident? Perhaps the driver was completely insane? Isn't the driver of the bulldozer entitled to a trial to determine guilt and responsibilty for the tragedy? I guess that all doesn't apply when it's one Israeli or, as they'd like to make it, ALL Israelis whom are responsible. Why? Because they're Israelis, of course. We have to keep a strict eye and be extra brutal when it comes to them. After all, they're the oppressors. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial, in less they are percieved to be an evil oppressor. In which case, ALL of them are guilty for the crime because we, the protestors, are the judge, jury, and exocutioners. And we're sending "the Israelis" to the chair for Rachel Corrie's death!

That makes me sick.

My second little bug-a-boo with all this is, given the nature of such a statement and it's generalized (and unfair) nature, what is this protestor really protesting in the name of? Are they protesting supposed unfair treatment of some Palestinians or are they protesting "the Israelis" in general, since we're making general statements here?

I mean, if ALL Israelis did that terrible thing (and it was terrible, don't get me wrong) to Rachel Corrie, then wouldn't that mean that ALL Israelis are bad people, to say the very least? Given that, then wouldn't it be a fair assumption that we should get rid of, or not allow for the continuation of what the Israelis want; a state of Israel? Then, somewhere around the line, I'm sure the whole of the Jewish people's guilt for this incident would get introduced into all of this madness at some point as well....

Yea, that's looking for a fair and equal solution to the Middle East conflict. :evil: RIGHT!

I protest in public all the time. Do I stand in the way of heavy machinery? Not really. I don't think that's safe nor a generally good idea. Perhaps I'm just not that radical. I just don't think it's wise to endanger one's own life. [b]If I went and stood at the end of a Palestinian Terrorist's gunbarrel on his AK47 and got killed, do you think that a statement would be made that, "what the Palestinians did to RedTigress was a terrible crime"? Of course not! Anyone who said that would be a racist or worse![/b] Dontcha just love rediculous political double standards?

Better yet! How about when a homocide/suicide bomber completes a successful mission in martyrdom and kills 10 Jews? Would a statement come out that "What the Palestinians did to those people was a terrible crime"? Well, this scenario is actually (and unfortunatly) real and not just a scenario. And statements of the like are made, but they sound more like these: "What the Islamic fundamentalists did..." or "What the terrorists did..." or my personal favourite, "What the freedom fighters did..." That last one might be finished with something to the effect of: "...was completely justifyable for their fight agaisnt oppression."

[b]That is fucking sad.[/b]

Raguardless, what that ONE Israeli person at the driver's seat did was, of course, terrible. If it was on purpose, it's insane. If it was an accident, it was still very terrible and horrible. The [b]individual[/b] responsible should be punished accordingly. That's only fair.

Should the whole of Israel be blamed for it? Fuck no!

Just as [i]ALL[/i] Palestinian[i]S[/i] are [i]NOT[/i] terrorists, [i]ALL[/i] Israeli[i]S[/i] were not responsible for the terrible wrongdoing against Ms. Corrie.

If you're going to impose idiotic semantic standards on one group, it should be imposed on EVERYONE else as well. Israelis, Palestinians, and radical protestors who stand in front of bulldozers.

But I guess that really doesn't matter to the speaker of that statement. He only wants to protest in the name of fighting for what is right.

What is the Jewish approach to astrology, witchcraft, occult practice, idols, and peganism?

12.18.03 (5:53 pm)   [edit]
[b]What is the Jewish approach to astrology, witchcraft and occult practices?[/b]

A. The Torah outlaws peeking around the curtain concealing the future. Tarot cards, crystal balls, psychics, astrology, horoscopes, séances, and palm reading are therefore out. Necromancy or otherwise contacting the dead is considered a form of idol worship.

B. Contemporary culture shows an ongoing interest in the supernatural: TV shows (the X Files), movies (End of Days, the Ninth Gate), clubs, chat rooms, walk-in centers, stores, seminars, and when all else fails, comic books. The underlying questions are good, but the answers are not. Most of the stuff you’ll get in those venues is nonsense, although some of it is based on truth.

C. The point is, Judaism has been answering these questions for millenia, so before you get into New Age religion or studies of the supernatural, look to Judaism for your guide to life. It works.

Why is all that stuff prohibited by the Torah?

1. The Purpose of Good and Evil

God is The Force, and thus, there is a Dark Side, too. God can be accessed in two ways: through the Light Side, and through the Dark Side. The reason the Dark Side exists is so Man can have free choice and use his mind to choose good over evil. If only the Light Side existed, there would only be good, and Man would have no choice but to do good only—because that’s all there would be. So God created the Dark Side, and allowed Man to access His power through it, just so Man could choose between the good and the bad, the right and the wrong.

2. Stars Wars meets You

Witchcraft and black magic work, and some psychics (most are fakers) have genuine extrasensory capabilities. They’re for real—God made it that way. But, one must choose the Light Side of The Force. This is the reason the Torah prohibits witchcraft, black magic, communicating with the dead, sorcery, and other such spooky stuff: they feed off the Dark Side. Bottom line is, anything that taps into the Dark Side is no good. And who would you rather be—Darth Vader (well, he became good in the end, but you know what I mean), or Luke Skywalker?

3. Be a Real Hero

Staying with the Light Side of The Force may seem less exotic—you won’t gain supernatural powers or anything Star Wars-like. You’ll just be a regular Joe in that sense. In this world, G-d specifically made evil tantalizing—it takes a discerning mind to look past the magical allure of evil to see that G-d is behind it all, and to opt for the Light.

[b]How does Judaism feel about Idols & peganism?
What is idol worship?[/b]

A. Idol worship is a vast sweeping category of badness that human beings must not engage in.

B. Idol worship is sometimes referred to as “star worshipping,” because the original concept of idol worship began thousands of years ago when people began worshipping stars in the sky instead of God Himself. They figured, “Well, if God created them to demonstrate His power, they must be quite powerful themselves!” And they would stand outdoors at night and worship the stars as mighty knights of God. From outdoor ceremonies it went to indoor ceremonies, and from indoor ceremonies it went to indoor ceremonies using stone or wooden symbols of the stars and their “powers,” which were worshipped as “representatives” of the stars.

Over the years, the stars were gradually forgotten, and the symbols themselves began to be viewed as self-contained powers in their own right, creating the concept of idols and idol worship. Ceremonies ever increasing in complexity were built up around the idols and their indoor housings, and they soon spawned whole cultures, which regularly worshipped these man-made physical objects as gods.

C. What does idol worship mean today?

In Western society, authentic idol worship doesn’t really exist unless you look really hard. It is prevalent in Eastern communities and countries, primarily India and Asia (Buddhism worships idols), and among Native Americans (the totem pole is an idol). Idol worship begins in the mind—it starts with an incorrect perception of God. It says you can turn an abstract (God) into a concrete (or wood or plastic), which of course, is impossible. Idol worship doesn’t just mean singing and dancing and bowing in front of funny-looking little statues—it means believing in any force, object or item outside of the infinite God Himself: an angel, a constellation, a force of nature, a living creature—or a funny-looking little statue.

Everything is created by God, and to designate any piece of physical matter as “God” or a “Higher Power” is idol worship.

How do I not worship idols?

1. Idol worship 101

The commandment to not worship idols takes on several forms: besides praying to an idol, or bowing or otherwise showing obeisance to an idol, a Jew is prohibited from sculpting, building, shaping or otherwise creating the image, form or likeness of a human being (animals are generally fine), whether for his personal use or not. Although around 90% of what would be described as “idols” (such as lawn ornaments or gargoyles) are created for fun, decoration or architecture, not religion or spirituality, the Third Commandment and its entourage of laws specifically forbids one from creating a three-dimensional likeness of a human being.

One may neither buy nor sell idols, and is even forbidden from performing maintenance work on one. Also, reading idol worship manuals, instructional booklets or such publications of a religious nature is out. Before you get nervous about your lawn ornaments, don’t worry—although made of stone, many lawn ornaments are of animals or things, not people, which is OK. Secondly, lawn ornaments are generally not religious in nature, although some are.

Because of the vast proliferation of three-dimensional objects, it may become confusing as to what’s really an idol and what’s not. Here’s how to tell:

2. Do your homework

When you come across your typical suspect—a statue, woodcarving or whatever of a human or animal or member of the vegetable kingdom, inquire as to whether it was created solely for religious purposes. If it was, it is an idol, and you must steer clear of those. If, like most suspects, it was created for historical or nationalist purposes, such as the presidential faces of Mount Rushmore or the stone soldiers, horses and eagles of New York’s Grand Army Plaza, it’s OK. Dolls, chess pieces and other toys, created for recreation, not religion, are fine, too. But always remember…

3. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

When in doubt, do without. Sometimes, it’s really hard to tell. Some places once were religious in nature, but are now mere tourist attractions, such as certain well-known water fountains in modern-day Rome. Because they contain statues of “saints” and “angels” (usually spewing streams of water from their stone lips), they are at best highly questionable, and should not be used. Other things are similarly confusing; the laws of idolatry, as explained by Maimonides (Laws of Idol Worship, Chaps. 1-12), are not simple and require your perusal to be fully understood.

In summary, the law as expounded by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the late great halachist (d. 1984), states that any item in question is assumed to be secular in origin, and therefore kosher, until one knows for sure that it was created for truly idolatrous purposes.

I hope this all answered any questions! If more clarification is needed, ask me! :-D

A VERY Interesting Turn of Events: Arafat Hints Recognition of Jewish State

12.18.03 (5:31 pm)   [edit]
[b]Arafat Hints Recognition of Jewish State
AP
Thu Dec 11, 5:27 PM ET

[i]By MARK LAVIE, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

JERUSALEM - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat indicated he accepts Israel as a Jewish state and that Jews have a religious link to Jerusalem, according to the summary of an interview made available Thursday.

In the past, Palestinian officials have rejected the Jewish claim to a hotly disputed holy site in the Old City of Jerusalem by claiming that the biblical Jewish Temples never existed, and have not acknowledged that Israel should be a Jewish state.

American Jewish activist Henry Siegman talked with Arafat recently, and the veteran Palestinian leader addressed the concerns, according to the summary released by Siegman's group, the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Arafat said that the Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a state they want to create and insist on sovereignty over the disputed site, where the Al Aqsa Mosque compound is now located.

However, he said, Israel would receive sovereignty over the Western Wall — a remnant of the Second Temple compound — and the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, "because we recognize and respect the Jewish religion and the Jewish historical attachment to Palestine," according to the transcript.

Asked about Israel as a Jewish state, Arafat said that it was up to Israel to define itself, as long as it was democratic and guaranteed the rights of minorities.

Dore Gold, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said Arafat's comments were far from an endorsement of Israel as a Jewish state. He said Arafat has never given up the right of return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants — about 4 million people — to their homes in Israel.

"He wants to flood Israel with Palestinians and create an Arab majority," Gold said.

In the interview, Arafat indicated flexibility on the refugee issue, saying it should be solved on the basis of an Arab League resolution that calls for agreement among the parties.

Gold rejected the statement, saying that Arafat is "completely unreliable as a negotiator. He has never carried out an agreement."

Israel's government declared Arafat "irrelevant" several months ago and has been trying to bypass him, but Palestinians insist that he is their elected leader.

Good News for Jews of Istanbul, But Guard Can Not Be Let Down, Unfortunatly.

12.18.03 (5:21 pm)   [edit]
I pray for their newly continued safety and for all of our safety!

[b]Istanbul Synagogue Reopens After Bombings
AP
Sat Dec 13, 3:26 PM ET

[i]By JAMES C. HELICKE, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

ISTANBUL, Turkey - One of two synagogues bombed in Istanbul last month reopened for Sabbath prayers on Saturday, a service Turkish Jews said showed their resolve to overcome the devastating attacks.

Isak Haleva, the chief rabbi at the Beth Israel synagogue, delivered a sermon that stressed the importance of dialogue in this predominantly Muslim but secular country.

Haleva was one of those wounded in the nearly simultaneous suicide bombings at Beth Israel and the Neve Shalom synagogue during Sabbath prayers on Nov. 15. Those attacks were followed five days later by suicide bombings on the British Consulate in Istanbul and a London-based bank.

A total of 61 people, including the four bombers, were killed in the attacks, in which al-Qaida involvement is suspected. Six of the victims were Jewish.

"The fact that we opened this synagogue in such a short period shows that they (the terrorists) did not achieve what they wanted. We are continuing our lives here. This is a symbol of that," Jewish community spokesman Silvio Ovadya said of the service, which was closed to the press. "Our lives must go on."

Turkey's Jewish community of around 25,000 people is the largest in any Muslim country and is based mainly in Istanbul.

Ovadya said some 200 members of the Jewish community packed into Beth Israel on Saturday morning and said prayers for the victims of the attack. Local government officials also attended the service.

"The synagogue was full. If we were afraid, nobody would have come," Ovadya said.

Yasar Bildirici, 38, who suffered a head injury in the Beth Israel attack, said the attacks have brought the Jewish community closer together.

"We're sticking together much stronger now," said Bildirici, whose father and stepfather were also injured. "We've been living for 550 years here. I hope it will continue that way forever."

Most Turkish Jews trace their roots to Jews who fled the Spanish inquisition in the 15th century and were welcomed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire — a symbol for some of peaceful relations between Muslims and Jews.

Bildirici said the attack deeply affected the community.

"It was an attack on our small community," he said. But "we have to be tranquil. It's our goal to keep our people here."

The Neve Shalom synagogue, the main spiritual center of the community, still needs considerable work before it can reopen.

The front of the building was ripped off in the attacks and is still covered with plastic sheeting and plywood. Other synagogues in the city have remained open despite the attacks.

"Neve Shalom will reopen," Ovadya said.

Television footage showed workers repairing the brick street outside Beth Israel ahead of another ceremony scheduled for Sunday to mark the street's reopening. Muslim, Jewish, and Christian religious leaders are expected to attend.

Private CNN-Turk television said the street would be reopened to traffic, but that special security measures would be taken on Jewish days of worship.

Key suspects in the attacks are believed to have fled abroad. More than 30 people have been charged so far in the investigation, but most are believed to have played minor roles.

In the most important arrest so far, authorities charged a man, identified by the Turkish media as Yusuf Polat, with a crime amounting to treason. Polat, caught trying to slip into Iran using a fake ID, allegedly gave the final go-ahead for the attack at Beth Israel. Turkish newspapers said Polat has confessed to belonging to a Turkish al-Qaida cell.

This Is So Sad.

12.18.03 (5:14 pm)   [edit]
:cry:

[b]Seven Jews injured in attack near Nablus
Fri Dec 12, 2:37 AM ET[/b]

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Palestinian gunmen injured seven Jewish pilgrims in a pre-dawn attack close to Joseph's Tomb in the northern West Bank town of Nablus, Israeli military sources said.

The vehicle in which the religious Jews were travelling was hit by automatic arms fire. Two of the injured were said to be in serious condition with wounds to the head and chest. They were helicoptered out to an Israeli hospital.

The army has banned Jewish pilgrims from visiting the tomb, where a biblical patriarch is said to be buried, for security reasons.

Israeli police arrested nine other Jews travelling in the vehicle which was attacked, military radio said.

Joseph's Tomb was reoccupied by Israeli troops at the end of June along with almost all of the rest of the West Bank. Religious Jews have since staged a series of attempts to reach the site in defiance of the strict travel ban.

The site used to house a small synagogue until its evacuation by Israeli troops after heavy fighting in the second month of the Palestinian uprising in October 2000.

The synagogue was sacked and now the entire site has been taken over as a mosque.

Many historians argue that the tomb merely houses the grave of an Islamic religious leader.

D'var Torah for Vayeshev (and Chanukah too, which comes in Fri. night!)

12.18.03 (12:08 am)   [edit]
This week's Parsha (chapter) is Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40.23).

Vayeishev contains the famous story of Yosef (Joeseph) being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Yosef was sent down to Egypt, and as a result, the Jewish people wound up spending a few hundred years in brutal slavery.

The circumstances surrounding the sale of Yosef are most puzzling, and in some odd way it seems that the whole tragedy was destined to occur from the start. Consider these:

1) Yaakov (Jacob) clearly provoked his other sons by showing special favoritism toward Yosef.

2) Yosef stirs his brothers' animosity by delivering a bad report about them (37:2).

3) When Yosef has a dream indicating that he will eventually rule over his brothers, he provokes them further by telling them about the dream (37:5). As if this weren't bad enough, Yosef has a second, similar dream - and tells his brothers about that, too (37:9). On top of this, Yosef retells the dream to his father –-in front of the brothers (37:10).

4) Jacob, though he knows that relations are highly strained, nevertheless sends Yosef to check on the brothers' activities and report back. Despite the obvious danger, Yosef agrees - and goes alone (37:37:13)!

It is then that the brothers throw Yosef into the pit and sell him into slavery. As strange as it may sound, this series of provocations seems like an intentional effort by Jacob and Yosef to stir hatred. How can this possibly be?

The answer is found hidden in a textual subtlety. Bereishit (Genesis) 37:14 says that Yaakov sent Yosef from the "depths of Chevron." On a simple level, this makes no sense, because as anyone who has visited Israel knows, Chevron is located in the Judean hills--not in a valley! (See Joshua 14:12)

The Talmud (Sotah 11a) asks this question and answers that it means figuratively, that Yosef was sent from there because of the “plan” involving Avraham (who bought land and is buried in Chevron). Since it was Avraham who originally questioned God and wanted proof that he and his children will indeed be given the land (Genesis 15:7-8.), God deemed it necessary for the Jews to reach a point of realization that it is only God who can truly care for them.

Therefore, the process of exile was to happen one way or another, which is why Yaakov provoked his sons into doing what they did, hoping to rush things along and learn the lessons from the exile, and get it over with.

In our own lives as well, we have crucial life lessons to learn and challenges to overcome. Which is not to suggest that we should go out of our way to seek difficulties. But if there is a tough “Jew-challenge” facing us, then it is foolish to avoid it, and even worse to fail it. Too often we busy ourselves with petty distractions in order to escape the confrontation with reality. But it always catches up with us eventually, because it is part of our reason for being Jews!

This is the lesson of Chanukah as well. The Maccabees faced the challenge head-on. Matitiyahu did not run away. And this is the lesson for us today. If we have an issue in life, confront it, work it through, and conquer it!

Have an empowering Shabbos/Chanukah and a wonderful everything else!

Please, don't forget to take the "Tigress Challenge" below!!!

The "Tigress Challenge": What should Israel do?

12.16.03 (9:01 pm)   [edit]
Ok, so...

I've decided that we're going to do a psuedo "O'Rielly Factor" thing here at the Lair.

I'm posing a question and you may respond as you wish. I wanna hear from you, the reader!

Here's the question:[b][i]What should Israel do?[/i][/b]

Now this just is a plain and simple question. It's very streight foreward, yet very general. And I posed it this way for a reason; I want you, the reader, to interperate that as you like and give a streight answer--your answer.

Don't just give me facts about how Israel is or is not terrible. I'd prefer not to have personal attacks directed at myself either. Personal issues you may have with me or what I write about should be put aside for this: we're talking about Israel, not RedTigress.

I want an actual plan of ideas that deal with the here and now for Israel. I prefer details and a full explanation. Not just, "Keep the wall," or "They should tear down the wall." Be creative. I want to hear your full plan.

This is the one time that [b]NO posts will be deleted from readers, even if they are "hate-filled."[/b] I trust everyone to be rational and attempt to be kind and use proper discretion, but if something comes out sounding as you didn't quite intend, it won't be deleted.

This is your chance to use your voice.

I'm gonna post highlights from the responses in a later blog! Get cracking and have fun!

Much love,

Tigress

What Is A Mitzvah?

12.15.03 (11:39 pm)   [edit]
[i]by Rabbi Mendy Hecht (AskMoses.com: Available also in the links section!)[/i]

A. A mitzvah (pronounced MITZ-vah) is a Hebrew word which means “commandment” and “connection.” A mitzvah is a commandment. If I command you to serve me lunch, that’s a mitzvah from me to you. The mitzvot are God’s commandments to the Jewish people in the Torah--still applicable today.

B. There are two types of mitzvot mentioned in the Torah: Positive Mitzvot and Negative Mitzvot. Positive Mitzvot tell you, “Do this!”: give charity, eat matzah [on Pesach/Passover], return a lost object. Negative Mitzvot tell you, “Don’t do this!”: don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t eat on Yom Kippur. There are 248 Positive Mitzvot and 365 Negative Mitzvot, for a total of 613. Mitzvot also divvy up in Ethical and Ritual categories: Ethical Mitzvot lay down how to interact with fellow humans, such as not taking revenge or hurting orphans, and Ritual Mitzvot lay down how to interact with God, such as keeping Shabbat or building a sukkah. In addition, The Sages added seven mitzvot, bringing the total to 620.

C. A mitzvah is the ultimate expression of the Jewish philosophy towards religion. It’s not a specific time, or a specific place, or a specific thing, when or where or with which one has a relationship with God. Jazz great Herbie Hancock maintains a “religion room” in his home. In there, he’s religious. Everywhere else… well, you’ll have to ask Herbie about that. Judaism says you can, you should, have a relationship with God over the morning coffee—by drinking Kosher—as much as you do over the awe-inspiring day of Yom Kippur. There’s no set place and time that’s just for God, to the exclusion of all other places and times—every place and time can shout out “God!” And that’s just the idea of the mitzvah. For “mitzvah” doesn’t just mean “commandment”: it means “connection” too. You are connected to God. When you do a mitzvah, you’re expressing that connection. Whatever, whenever, you’re always connected to God, and you can express that connection by doing a mitzvah.

How do I do mitzvot?

1. Are You Positive?

Observing the negative mitzvot tends to be easier than observing the positive ones—after all, it’s simpler to not do something than it is to do something. On the other hand, sometimes you want to do those very things. You wanna sink your teeth into a pork sandwich—but you know it isn’t kosher, so you resist the urge. It ain’t easy—but it’s a mitzvah.

2. Are You Ethical?

Because of the danger of moral relativism, God lays down moral absolutism with the Ethical Mitzvot. Now, your mind is not the judge of who deserves death and who doesn't—God is. You don’t murder, period. The Torah decides what is ethical, not your conscience. So ethical mitzvot are often difficult to observe, because violating them is easy to rationalize. But observe them we must, for they carry just as much weight as any other mitzvah.

3. Quality vs. Quantity

If you’re new to doing mitzvot, take things one step at a time. Don’t take on a whole ton—work on getting comfortable with the one or two or three mitzvot you’ve adopted until you’ve incorporated them into your lifestyle. Then, start doing more. Don’t forget, of course, that every mitzvah has its entourage of halachot—you’ll need to know the relevant Jewish guidelines to be certain you’re doing the mitzvah right. Contact your local smiley Chabad rabbi for some affable assistance—that’s just what he’s there for. (Visit www.chabad.com for location info.)

Anti-Zionism as Antisemitism in Practice.

12.15.03 (11:06 pm)   [edit]
Though they constantly deny being antisemites, in their writings and speeches anti-Zionists rarely draw distinctions between Zionists and Jews.

To hide their antisemitism, enemies of the Jews nearly always use the word "Zionist" when they mean Jew. This substitution often has been ludicrous. As noted earlier, on October 21, 1973, the Soviet ambassador to the United Nations, Yakov Malik, declared: "The Zionists have come forward with the theory of the Chosen People, an absurd ideology." This was a typical example of antisemitism masquerading as anti-Zionism. An attack on Jewish chosenness is not an attack on Zionism: chosenness plays no role in Zionism. Rather, it is a basic doctrine of Judaism. Malik's attack was consistent with Soviet, Arab, and leftist opponents of the Jews who disguise their attacks on Jews and Judaism as attacks on Zionism. In the USSR Museum of Religion and Atheism in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), an exhibit about Zionism and Israel designated the following as anti-Soviet Zionist material: Jewish prayer shawls, tefillin (phylacteries), and Passover Haggadahs, all religious items used by Jews for thousands of years.

A similar and characteristic use of anti-Zionism to disguise antisemitism was made in the [i]Black Panther[/i] (Aug. 25, 1970), the newspaper of that late radical Black organization. Writing about the trials of Panther leader Huey Newton and of the "Chicago Eight," the paper concluded: "It was a Zionist judge, Judge Freedman, who sentanced Huey P. Newton to fifteen years in jail. It was a Zionist judge, Judge Hoffman, who allowed other Zionists to go free but has kept Bobby Seale in jail.... The other Zionists in the Conspiracy 8 trial were willing and did sacrifice Bobby Seale.... Once again we condemn Zionism as a racist doctrine." The men denounced as Zionists include Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, and William Kunstler, people who could best be described as "non-Jewish Jews." The [i]Black Panther[/i] attacked them because they were Jews by birth, not because they were Zionists.

Such thinking goes on. In Sept. 2002, Amira Baraka (the former LeRoi Jones), the official poet laureate of New Jersey, recited his poem "Somebody Blew Up America," at the renowned Dodge Poetry Festival in Waterloo, New Jersey. The poem asks:

[i]Who knew the World Trade Center was going to get bombed?
Who told 4,000 Israeli workers at the Twin Towers to stay home that day?
Why did Sharon stay away?[/i]

Baraka, who, in earlier years, wrote verses calling for "dagger poems in the slimey bellies of their owner-jews," has long claimed that he no longer is antisemitic, only opposed to Zionism and to Israel's right to exist. But in spreading the Islamist libel that Jews and Israel had adcance knowledge, which it withheld, of the 9/11 attacks, Baraka writes of "4,000 Israeli workers" who were warned to stay away from the WTC that day. But, of course, 4,000 Israelis never worked at the WTC; 4,000 or more Jews did, and about 400 of them died. In line with other anti-Zionist antisemites, Baraka speaks of Israel, Jews, and Zionists as indistinguishable.

In Italy, in 2002, the liberal daily [i]La Stampa[/i], in a cartoon supposedly directed against Israel (but actually intended to arouse hatred against all Jews), harked back to the most damaging canard of Christian antisemitism: deicide. The cartoon showed the infant Jesus looking up from his manger at an Israeli tank and pleading: "Don't tell me they want to kill me again." In England, at about the same time, A.N. Willson, the highly regarded British novelist and biographer, accused the Israeli army of "poisoning the water supplies" on the West Bank, a lie that obviously intended to put people in the mind of the medieval libel that Jews caused the Black Death by poisoning the wells of Europe.

In the Arab world, "anti-Zionists" have long adopted the calumnies of antisemitism and now spread them under the guise of anti-Zionism. The former president of Egypt, and the leading political figure in the Arab world, Gamal Abdel Nasser, repeatedly cited the [i]Protocols of the Elders of Zion[/i] to document his charge that three hundred Zionists rule the world (Now the [i]Protocols[/i], along with the Torah, are on display as Jewish holy books in an Egyptian museum).

Muhammad Baghdadi, the cowriter of a forty-one-episode Egyptian television series based on [i]The Protocols of the Elders of Zion[/i], insisted that the series respected Judaism as a religion: "We only criticize the Zionists," he told a [i]New York Times[/i] reporter (Dec. 26, 2002). Among those depicted in the series as a villain is a Jew in black hat, with side curls and a long beard. Since ultra-Orthodox Jews have overwhelmingly been non-Zionists, clearly it was the intention of the series to depict all Jews as evil and as enemies. Al-Jadida, the Palestinian Authority's official newspaper, ran a cartoon depicting an old man labeled "the 20th century," and a young man "the 21st century." Between them stands a dwarf wearing a Jewish skullcap and a star of David; he is labeled "the disease of the century."

Moral leaders of various faiths have repeatedly warned that anti-Zionism is antisemitism in practice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., upon hearing a Black student at Harvard launch a tirade against Zionists, said: "When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You're talking antisemitism."

In a similar vein, the president of the United Church of Christ, Dr. Robert Moss, commented on the anti-Zionist resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 1975: "We should not be decieved by the use of the term Zionism. The sponsors of this resolution mean by it Jews and Judaism as well as the state of Israel." The UN delegate from Costa Rica noted that the resolution was an invitation to genocide agaisnt the Jewish people.

Whether the destruction of the Jewish national movement and the Jewish state, a holocaust of the five million Jews of Israel, and the subsequent abandonment of world Jewry to the goodwill of the world with no refuge of its own are carried out in the name of anti-Zionism or antisemitism is quite irrelevant to Jews. That the people who want to do these things now call themselves anti-Zionists instead of antisemites is an interesting historical fact. There may be some differences in what aspects of Jewish life anti-Zionists and antisemites hate, but these differences are of interest only to historians.

For Jews the consequences are identical.
[LINE]
Sources and Notes for this and the previous posts about "Anti-Zionism" (In order of appearance):

[i]The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism[/i], by Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin.

[i]American Zionist[/i], March 1971

Amos Kenan, "New Left Go Home," in [i]The New Left and the Jews[/i], ed. Mordecai S. Chertoff

See Norman Podhoretz, "Now, Instant Zionism," in [i]New York Times Magazine[/i], Feb. 3, 1974

There is a fringe group of several hundred ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, known as the [i]neturei karta[/i], who are well-known enemies of Israel and of Zionism. At first, one might think that their positions are consistant with anti-Zionists'. But this is not so. These Jews believe that the Jews are a nation (Am Yisroel) and there should be a Jewish state. They insist, however, that this state should not come into existance until the Messiah personally establishes it, and since this was not the case with Israel (and furthermore, since the leaders of the state do not abide by the religious practices of the [i]neturei karta[/i]), they do not recognize the current state of Israel. In any case, the [i]neturei karta[/i] Jews are as representative of Jews as the snake-handling sects are of Christians.

William Korey's "Updating to Protocols," [i]Midstream[/i], May 1970

While the Left's antisemitism generally masquerades under the guise of anti-Zionism, the anti-Jewish writings of the Facist Right usually acknowledge their animosity toward the Jews, seeing Zionism correctly as a manifestation of Judaism. The late Gerald L. K. Smith, the major disseminator of antisemitic writings in the United States over the past four decades, wrote in the [i]Gerald L. K. Smith Newsletter[/i] of April 19, 1973: "The enemies of Christ are determined to capture the world-- not through the United Nations, not through what people call a World Government, but through the manipulating, financial and military power of World Zionism."

[i]New York Times[/i] Sept 28, 2002

"Israel and the Anti-Semites," by Gabriel Schoenfeld [i]Commentary[/i], June 2002.

Ibid., p. 17

"Practice of the Antisemites," Charles Krauthammer in the [i]Washington Post[/i], Jan. 7, 2000.

"The Socialism of Fools: The Left, the Jews and Israel," by Seymour Martin Lipset in [i]Chertoff's New Left.[/i]

"U.N. Resolution on Zionism" in the [i]American Jewish Year Book[/i] by Sidney Liskofsky. 1977, vol. 77, ed. Morris Fine and Milton Himmelfarb.

Anti-Zionism as Antisemitism in Theory

12.15.03 (11:04 pm)   [edit]
Can someone deny that Italians are a nation, work to destroy Italy, and all the while claim that he is not an enemy of the Italian people because he does not hate all Italians? The question is obviously absurd. If you deny Italian nationhood and any Italian rights to their homeland, and seek to destroy Italy, no matter how sincerely you may claim to love some Italians, you are an enemy of the Italian people. The same holds true for those who deny Jewish nationhood and the Jews' right to their state, and who advocate the destruction of Israel. Such people are enemies of the Jewish people, and the term for their attitudes, even when espoused by people who sincerely like some Jews, is [b]antisemitism.[/b]

An Anti-Zionist would likely respond that the analogy between Italy and Israel is invalid, because Italian has meaning as a nationality, while Judaism has meaning only as a religion. And since Judaism is only a religion and Zionism is a national movement, one can oppose Zionism without being an enemy of the Jews or Judaism.

...This argument is false on four scores.

First, it makes the extraordinary assumption that non-Jews can tell Jews what it means to be Jewish. As a prominent Orthodox Jewish theologian Rabbi Emanuel Rackman wrote: "I am a Jew and a Zionist. For me the two commitments are one. Furthermore, I hold this to be the position of historic Judaism...I must firmly ask [non-Jews] to respect my religious convictions as I see them an not as they see them."

Throughout its long history, Judaism has held that Jewish nationhood is, along with God, Torah and chosennes, a pillar of Judaism. In the words of an ancient Jewish text, "God, Torah and Israel are one." The Jews' self-definition as a nation with a homeland in Israel is not some new political belief of contemporary Jews but the essence of Judaism since biblical times.

Second, the contention that anti-Zionist are not enemies of the Jews, despite their advocacy of policies that would lead to the mass murder of Jews, is, to put it as generously as possible, disingenuous. If anti-Zionism succeeded in its goal of destroying Israel, nearly all of Israel's more than five million Jews plus an untold number of non-Israeli Jews would die in their effort to maintain Israel. Both the Israelis and their Arab enemies know this. Arab leaders, come Western oriented propaganda notwithstanding, have repeatedly called for the destruction of the Jews in Israel during a war with Israel. The Israelis, for the most part, would fight to the last, both to keep Israel alive and because they have reason to believe that death is preferable fate to capture by their Arab enemies. In the words of the Israeli leftist writer Amos Kenan, written in the aftermath of the Six-Day War: "Shukairy [the head of the PLO before Yasir Arafat] used to say that the Jews should be driven into the sea. After the 1967 defeat, it became apparent that a slogan of this sort was not good public relations for the Arab cause. So today, only the Zionists are to be thrown into the sea. The only trouble is that when the Arabs get through pushing all the Zionists into the sea, there won't be a Jew left in Israel. For not a single Jew in Israel will agree to less than political and national sovereignty."

Given, then, that if anti-Zionism realized its goal, another Jewish holocaust would take place, attempts to draw distinctions between anti-Zionism and antisemitism are simply meant to fool the naive.

Third, it was possible before the establishment of Israel in 1948 to oppose the Zionist movement and not be an enemy of the Jews, just as prior to 1776, one could have opposed American statehood without being an enemy of the Americans. Once the United States was established, however, anyone advocating its destruction would obviously be considered an enemy of Americans. So, too, once Israel was established, anyone advocating its destruction is an enemy of the Jews.

Fourth, anti-Zionists would be hard put to find any affirmatively identifying Jew who would not view them as mortal enemies. Studies and opinion polls have shown that over 95% of American Jewry identifies with the right of Jews to the Jewish state. For the overwhelming majority of religious Jews, Israel and Jewish nationhood are part of their religious creed. An anti-Zionist is therefore an enemy of religious Jews. As for secular Jews, anti-Zionists oppose the one aspect of Judaism that they most affirm--Israel.

Anti-Zionist Antisemitism.

12.15.03 (11:01 pm)   [edit]
Until the Holocaust, enemies of the Jews--whether pagan, Christian, Muslim, men of the Enlightenment, Leftist, or Nazi--proudly and publicly espoused their Jew-hatred. With the revelations of the Nazi crimes, it became taboo to call oneself an oponent of the Jews, and so, for the first time in history, most antisemites denied that they were antisemites. In fact, post-Holocaust antisemites have often gone further and insisted that they actually like Jews. Soviet leaders, for example, heads of one of the most antisemitic governments and societies in the world, not only denied being antisemitic, they actually boasted of being the only society to have actually eliminated antisemitism. The USSR also claimed to be the only country to have ourlawed antisemitism in its constitution, an act initiated by the well-known patron of the Jews, Joseph Stalin. Similarly, many of the Arabs whose proclaimed policy is to destroy the Jewish state virulently deny being antisemitic. If one were to take such people at their word, there are almost no more antisemites on earth. Since the revelations of the Holocaust, the most hated people in history no longer have enemies.

Clearly, only a change in rhetoric has taken place among antisemites. Hitler and Eichmann rendered the term "antisemite" almost universally ugly and therefore unusable, at least for the time being. Those who, prior to the Holocaust, would have called themselves, and certainly would have been called by others, antisemites now utilize the term "anti-Zionist." Thus, the Soviets, when they jailed Jews for Jewish activities, claimed to be only "anti-Zionist," and those who seek to destroy the Jewish state and deny the Jews their national identity likewise call themselves only anti-Zionist. They deny hating all Jews, only those who insist upon retaining their Jewish national beliefs and a Jewish state.

The Jews have always been both a nation and a religion, but to legitimize thier denial of the Jews' right to Israel, anti-Zioinists deny that the Jews are a nation or a people, and assert that they are members only of a religion. A typical such denial of Jewish peoplehood is this statement from the charter of the Palestinian Liberation Organization: "Judaism, in its character as a religion, is not a nationality with an independent existence. Likewise the Jews are not one people." (Article 20 of the Palestinian National Covenant).

Yet, this claim of anti-Zionists that they do not hate all Jews is not new to anti-Zionists. Virtually all modern antisemites have claimed that they oppose only the Jews who affirm Jewish nationhood. Only Hitler and the Nazis, among modern antisemites, have hated all Jews. Unless the Nazis are to be considered the only antisemites in modern history, anti-Zionists are as antisemitic as every other type of antisemite. Like all other antisemites, anti-Zionists are at war with nearly every identifying Jew.

Anti Zionism is unique in only one way: it is the first form of Jew-hatred to deny that it hates Jews. Accordingly, any discussion of anti-Zionism must begin with explaining why it is antisemitism.

In the next two posts, I shall do just that.

Personality Disorders

12.15.03 (8:56 pm)   [edit]
I'll be darned.

Israel is a Peculiar Democracy

12.15.03 (11:56 am)   [edit]
Eye opening opinions article...

[u][b]Israel is a Peculiar Democracy[/u]
[i]by Dr. Yoram Shifftan[/i]
Dec 15, '03 / 20 Kislev 5764[/b]

The essence of a democracy is a correlation between duties and rights. On the program of Arye Goose about the New Middle East on the Voice of Israel, on September 14, 2003, a representative of Israeli Arabs declared that it is inconceivable to consider enlisting Israeli Arabs into the army just as it was not asked of French and German Jews to serve in the army’s of their states. But this is untrue. In WWI, French and British Jews fought German Jews and none was free from military service because a Jew might kill another Jew.

Actually, Israel is the only country in the world that endows a community of its citizens with full voting rights, on both local and national levels, without also requiring them to serve in the army. This is deeply undemocratic.

Israeli Arabs even refuse an alternative - National Service. They even refuse a national service in their own communities and exercise intimidation against members of their community who raise the subject. For example, in 2001, a janitor in an Arab Israeli secondary school, who tried to convince pupils of the higher classes to consider volunteering to do national service in their community, was fired from his job for this 'unpatriotic' attempt.

It is to be emphasized that the case of ultra-orthodox Jews is different, since it is not a case where a whole community of citizens is free from military service, but only part of this community is free to postpone their military service under well-defined conditions.

There is something deeply undemocratic in the fact that Israeli Arabs can, for example, decide whether there will be a withdrawal from the Golan without themselves being willing to pay the price in blood, in case of a decision gone wrong.

The question of what will happen if all of a sudden Israeli Arabs will have a complete change of heart and they suddenly become keen to do military service is so improbable that it is, at present, impractical even to consider such eventuality. At present all the MKs (members of the Israeli parliament) of the Arab parties are against the notion of a Jewish state. It is also the case that increasing numbers of Israeli Arabs manifest disloyalty to the state of Israel and some of them even take an active part in helping and carrying out terrorism. It is thus hard to envisage how they could serve in the Israeli army even if they wanted to.

Yet the reason for not serving in the army is immaterial. If they are judged to be disloyal enough so as not be allowed to serve in the army, so be it. What counts is that it is undemocratic to endow a well-defined community of the population with full voting rights on the national level and simultaneously not to require them, or to be in a position to require them, to serve in the army.

Why is it so important to behave in a really democratic way and to remove voting rights on the national level from Israeli Arabs?

There are three major reasons. First, there is the moral reason. That Israel will be even more democratic, in the sense that there will be a better correlation between rights and duties with respect to a greater proportion of its citizens. That the singular position of Israel among all democracies, which entails giving full voting rights to a whole community that is not required to do military service, will be abolished.

Israeli Jews begin their studies or working life three years later than Israeli Arabs. In addition to three years of compulsory military service, they face decades of reserve duty every year, which disrupts their family and working life, and their attractiveness to employers. And, of course, many of them lose their life and health during these long decades. Is it moral that those that are not subject to these duties and dangers will exercise the same voting rights on the national level, where the consequence of their vote will not primarily affect them, but only the Jewish part of the population ?

Second, this will remove the pretext that we cannot densely settle Western Palestine with Jews - a settlement that is encouraged by international law - because of the demographic danger. The Arabs themselves claim to be one nation and therefore deserve one state only, but, singularly, they have already 22 states to fulfil their national aspirations. All Arabs in Western Palestine could vote to a parliament in Amman. Jordan is a Palestinian Arab state that occupies the greater part of Palestine (and this while all of Palestine was destined by international law to become a Jewish state; see http://jewishinternetasso ciat...).

Third, there is no doubt that many decisions that do not serve the interest of the Jewish nation are taken by Israeli politicians in an effort to court the Arab vote on the national level. And the best way to court this vote is to advance towards the goal of Israel ceasing to be a Jewish state. The process of removing Jewish emblems, titles etc. is already under way. For example, already the name of the Histadrut, the general trade union, was changed so as to omit the word Eretz Israel. The destruction of Jewish archaeology is already underway. This courting includes the setting up of various inquiring committees. It also includes decisions not to exercise self-defense in a manner exercised by other Western democracies, which results in a great loss in Jewish life.

A typical example was the decision not to use the air force (after a warning to civilians to evacuate the area) in Jenin in April 2002, with the ensuing loss of 23 reservists. From the point of view of Israel’s image in the world, this sacrifice - as the many analogous sacrifices - was in vain. For example, in the British House of Lords, a certain Lord Achmed repeatedly talked to the BBC about the massacre in Jenin and was not challenged.

And in the super-liberal democracy that Israel is, an Israeli Arab, who has members of his family admitting to support for terrorism - they were convicted in court - and who has not expressed regret over their behavior, was allowed to produce and screen a film about Jenin that is a pack of lies. And this is done with the blessing of Israel's Supreme Court, in the name of freedom of expression. Israel is a democracy under siege that has to defend itself, but it allows itself a 'liberal' approach that even democracies at peace do not afford themselves. The effect on IDF morale and motivation is suicidal.

The courting of the Arab vote includes concealing pro-Israel facts in Israel’s internal and external Hasbara (PR and information) policy and in its education policy. A central example of this is that, while the criticism of Israel focuses on the illegality of the settlements, there is a stubborn refusal on the part of official Israel for at least a decade to declare the truth - that the settlements are not only legal, but are to be encouraged according to international law. (See http://www.think-israel.org/s...) This working against one's national interests continues even these days, when the Bush administration reduces the loan guarantees because of the fence and the settlements, when the UN General Assembly moves the question of the fence to the court in the Hague, and the European community wants to tax products from the settlements. Had Israel's official representatives openly told us and the world that international law requires the encouragement of Jewish settlements in the whole of Western Palestine (see http://jewishinternetasso ciat... ) , these anti-Israel moves could be effectively counteracted.

Furthermore, at a time of increasing fears from WMD, including from Iran's nuclear capability, a logical approach would entail explaining to the Israeli public and to the world at large the- greater-than-usual importance of densely settling Jews in the whole of Western Palestine and in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (YESHA) in particular. An Arab settlement next to a Jewish one just increases the deterrence against the use of WMD. Instead, the government wants to do the opposite and concentrate Jews in a very limited area with a minimum amount of Arabs around. The Jews will then constitute a more attractive target.

One way to see how things have changed since the beginning of the Oslo process, and the extent of the psychological warfare directed at Israel, is to observe that before the nineties "Lenin's fools" such as Yossi Sharid and Shulamit Aloni would not be considered for Minister of Education or Yossi Beilin for Minister of Justice. This would be inconceivable, for example, even under a 'left-wing' Labor government of David Ben Gurion. The real danger posed to Israel by Lenin's useful idiots is surveyed in: Israel and the Post-Zionists: a Nation at Risk (2003; Edited by Shlomo Sharan. Sussex Academic Press).

Perhaps the best example of the catastrophic effect of the courting of the Arab vote was the generation of the Oslo Process. As was detailed in the newspaper Hadashot in 1992, Yossi Beilin was sent by Shimon Peres to Arafat telling him that if Arafat will convince Israeli Arabs to vote for Labor, then, as a reward, contacts with the PLO will be made legal and the road to a "Palestinian State" will be initiated. And this is indeed what happened. Even later, the Oslo Accords would not have passed in the Knesset without the Arab vote. To realize the absurdity of allowing Arab voters a say in the acceptance of the Oslo Accords, one has to recall that this Arab vote would object to the existence of a Jewish State in 1948, and ever since.

Furthermore, when it became clear that the Palestinians are not keeping their part of the agreement, this, and the ongoing incitement in the Palestinian media, were actively hidden from the Israeli public all through the nineties. Amazingly, all along, and even recently, Peres justified the giving of the Nobel Peace Prize to Arafat (indeed, if Arafat's Nobel Prize is not justifiable, then automatically, Peres' Nobel Prize is not justified). There is no need to detail the cost in Jewish blood and other assets as a result of the catastrophic Oslo agreement. It simply makes sense that the Jewish vote alone be determinate in decisions such as whether to accept or reject such an accord as Oslo.

The demoralizing and misleading effect of allowing the Arabs who do not serve in the army - as distinct from the Druse community - a vote on the national level is reflected in the multitude of polls carried out recently by Haaretz and by the Voice of Israel. The leftist commentators discuss with great enthusiasm, and marvel at, results such as: "30% of the Israeli public are for the Geneva Program of Yossi Beilin"; "30% of the Israeli public support the 27 renegade Israeli pilots," and many other similar polls. On the basis of such polls, the commentators then go on to advocate pro-Arab policies that most sane Israeli Jews would not even consider. What the public is not told, explicitly, is that these polls include the Arab Israeli public (20% of the population), which does not serve in the army and would automatically support any move that would weaken Israel as a Jewish State. When the Voice of Israel was approached about this, its spokespersons responded that it would be almost racist to state it explicitly. But this is hypocritical, since they normally do many sub-polls; e.g., how many voters from a particular party support a certain opinion. This is a serious matter, in particular since most of the public in Israel and abroad does not think that you have to reduce 20% from such polls. For example, in the example above, only 10% meaningfully support the propositions. It is also serious because of "acharei rabim lehatot"; i.e. because of the human tendency to support what the majority supports.

The Israeli public does not seem even to realize the aberrations in its super-liberal-and-suicida l democracy. The reasons for this could involve a certain provincial streak and also the psychological warfare directed at the Israeli public by external agencies, via the services of Lenin's fools, who often also get a material reward. It could also involve a type of Stockholm Syndrome, aggravated by the weariness of years of conflict and a desperate search for peace, that results in a tendency to ignore reality and to cultivate wishful thinking.

For example, it is inconceivable that a British citizen would be an advisor to Hitler and immediately afterwards become a British member of Parliament. Or, even though the Irish underground never threatened the existence of the British state, it is inconceivable that a British citizen would be an advisor to the Irish underground and immediately afterwards would become a British member of Parliament. But in Israel, an Israeli Arab (Achmed Tibi) is allowed to be an advisor to Arafat and immediately afterwards, with no cooling period, is allowed to become a member of the Israeli parliament (Knesset). There was not even a discussion about the conflict of interest involved.

Israeli Arab MKs go to Syria and other Arab countries and meet with terrorist leaders and express in public their support for those leaders’ activities, denote the deliberate killing of defenceless civilians and children as freedom fighting, act explicitly against the dominant Jewish nature of the state of Israel, praise Hizballah as patriots and describe those Lebanese and other Arabs who are friendly to Israel as “traitors”, etc., but they are secure in their seats in the Knesset because of parliamentary immunity. The Arab Israeli MKs use the democratic tools, which they would never have enjoyed in any Arab country, in order to subvert the only Jewish State. And it is the super-liberal, unparalleled and suicidal nature of Israeli democracy that allows them to do it.

Among Haifa’s Arabs and Jews, winter holidays occasion for unity

12.15.03 (11:50 am)   [edit]
I thought this little story was just wonderful. I wish more people would make the effort to get together like this more often. Read on...

[u][b]Among Haifa’s Arabs and Jews, winter holidays occasion for unity [/u]

[i]By Dina Kraft [/b][/i]


HAIFA, Dec. 14 (JTA) — Thousands of Jews and Arabs fill the winding stone alleyways of a Haifa neighborhood sampling latkes, roasted chestnuts and pastries dripping in honey at a coexistence festival to mark the holidays of Chanukah, Christmas and Ramadan.
Walking a path lined with poems by Arab and Jewish poets, celebrants take in sculptures strung over archways and perched on street corners, colorful murals painted on walls and photographs based on this year’s theme, Utopia.

“It’s all about the longing for something better,” says Hana Kofler, curator of the festival’s exhibition, which featured some 100 Israeli artists. “Everyone wants a better future, both Jews and Arabs.”

Now in its 10th year, The Festival of Festivals provides a rare occasion of unity for Arabs and Jews, who have grown increasingly wary of each other during the three years of intifada.

Residents of Wadi Nisnas, the majority-Arab working-class neighborhood that hosts the festival, say Israel and others around the world can learn a lot from their community and from the city of Haifa, a mixed Arab-Jewish city.

Locals here are proud of a long tradition of Jews and Arabs working and living together in peace.

“We have always gotten along here, and to see all these people from around the country coming here is fun,” says Hassan Zatut, a mechanic who lives in Wadi Nisnas.

As he speaks, a steady stream of people walk up the hill outside his family home, which is crowded with merchants selling toys and crafts.

“We are proud of what we have — this is the way it should be,” he says.

Dan Chamizer, a Jewish artist and member of the Beit Ha’Gafen Arab-Jewish Center, which organizes the event, says, “It’s an amazing sight to see so many Jews coming to an Arab neighborhood when most Jews in the country are terrified to go anywhere Arab.”

“This is the only spot in the Middle East — maybe in the world — where Arabs and Jews not only live together, but like each other, work together, make art together.”

In honor of this year’s theme, Chamizer designed a giant pair of rose-colored glasses made from iron and swirled pink-and-white glass.

Painted yellow footprints on the pavement lead visitors throughout the neighborhood where artwork from festivals of previous years mixes with new installations.

One artist posted a traffic light called “The Messiah.” When the light turns green, the words “He is coming” light up; when it turns red, “He is not coming” appears.

The mix of the whimsical and the serious characterize the collection of art that fills Wadi Nisnas and expands every year. Because of the festival, tourists come visit year-round.

On Saturday, church bells tolled and children in Santa Claus hats rung bells and sang Christmas carols in Arabic under a canopy of gold tinsel.

During the week of Chanukah, children’s plays are performed.

To mark the recent end of the Ramadan fast, the public was invited to join in the feasts and celebrations known as Eid al-Fitr.

Festival organizers say the winter festivals of the three faiths is the ideal opportunity to throw a party.

Each year the festival grows, and nowadays tens of thousands of people come for each of the five consecutive weekends of celebration. Dance productions, concerts, and plays are part of the festival, which also includes coexistence workshops.

The streets are lined with locals selling grilled meats, Middle Eastern salads and cotton candy. The smell of cardamon wafts overhead as strong cups of steaming Arabic coffee are poured into cups.

“It’s nice to see the folklore and traditions of both Jews and Arabs,” says Michael Kandero, an Israeli Jewish factory worker from Afula who brings his family to the festival. “To connect with Arabs close up is something we have missed out on in the last few years.”

© JTA. Reproduction of material without written permission is strictly prohibited.

A Less Formal Education

12.15.03 (11:24 am)   [edit]
This is a wonderful article. It shows you a different view of Chanukah. Enjoy! :)

[u][b]A Less Formal Education[/b][/u]

[i][b]By: Yisroel Rice[/b][/i]

One of the meanings of the word Chanukah is education. Appropriately, during Chanukah it is customary to give gelt (Chanukah money) to children to teach them to increase in charity and good deeds; and to add to the festive holiday spirit.

How did it begin?

In his record of the Chanukah events, Maimonides writes: "The Greeks laid their hands upon the possessions of Israel."

The Greeks invaded the possessions of Israel in the same spirit in which they defiled the oil in the Holy Temple. They did not destroy the oil; they defiled it. They did not rob the Jewish people; they attempted to infuse their possessions with Greek ideals—that they be used for impure ends, rather than holy pursuits.

Chanukah gelt celebrates the freedom and mandate to channel material wealth toward spiritual ends.

Some have the custom of gelt-giving each night of Chanukah (except for Shabbat), handing out a heftier sum on the fifth day. Why is five special? The fifth day calls for added celebration because of the brilliance of the fifth candle. Since the fifth day can never fall on Shabbat, this candle has the ability to illuminate the darkest of realms.

The education of Chanukah does not stop at gifts of gelt. The game of dreidel is one of the oldest recorded games in history. Tracing its origins to the story of Chanukah, dreidel was invented to disguise children’s study of Torah, which was prohibited by the Greeks and punishable by death. The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, marked with the Hebrew letters "Nun," "Gimmel," "Hei," and "Shin"—an acronym for the words, "Nes Gadol Haya Sham" ("A great miracle happened there"). On dreidels in the Land of Israel, "Pei" replaces the "Shin" to form the phrase, "A great miracle happened ‘poh’—here." These letters were added after the Chanukah saga, as the game became an ever more popular reminder of the Chanukah struggle and ensuing miracles. Here’s how it’s played: Each player begins the game with the same number of tokens, generally 10 to 15. Tokens can be anything—pennies, nuts or old-fashioned gelt. Each player puts one token into the pot. The youngest player spins the dreidel once. When the dreidel stops, the letter facing upward determines the player's pay-off.

For "Nun," the player wins nothing; "Gimmel" wins the entire pot; "Hei" wins half the pot; "Shin"—the player must add two tokens to the pot.

Once you run out of tokens, you’re out of the game. The game ends when one player has collected all the tokens.

The letters of the dreidel appear in the Torah to spell the word "Goshnah," meaning "to Goshen." Goshen was the city where the Jews lived during their slavery in Egypt. When Jacob went to meet his son Joseph in Egypt, he realized that his descent marked the beginning of the Exile. To ensure that his descendents would maintain their heritage even in a foreign and oppressive land, he sent his son Judah "to Goshen" to build a center for Torah study. Goshen symbolized "the first dreidel,"—where holiness is pursued in the most unlikely places.

More Quizzies

12.12.03 (12:23 am)   [edit]
Ooh!


You are Liv Tyler! You're not a skank. You might
dress to impress once in a while, but you are
above skanking out. You are beautiful and you
have class. Kudos.


What famous skank are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

You are a RAT - you like to cuddle with your owner
but also enjoy exploring on your own.


What Kind of Rodent Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


You represent the planet MARS! The 4th planet from
the sun.


Which planet do you represent? (9 possible outcomes/all with pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

Do Jews believe in an afterlife?

12.11.03 (11:48 pm)   [edit]
Well, here isn't anything after life, because life never ends. It just goes higher and higher. The soul is liberated from the body and returns closer to her source than ever before.

The Torah assumes this in its language many times—describing Abraham’s death, for example, as "going to rest with his fathers" and similar phrases. The Talmud discusses the experiences of several people who made the trip there and back.

Classic Jewish works such as Maavor Yabok describe the process of entering the higher world of life as a reflection of the soul's experiences while within the body: If the soul has become entrenched in material pleasures, she experiences the pain of ripping herself away from them so that she can experience the infinitely higher pleasure of basking in Godly light. If she is "soiled" and injured by acts that sundered her from her true self while below, then she must be cleansed and healed. That is Gehenom. What many call the Jewish "Hell." But it really isn't "Hell." There's no torture, no fire. Think of it as that scene in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy and her friends first enter the Emerald City. What does the Tinman do? He goes and get's his steel all polished up. So too, all souls go and get "polished up" in Gehenom and they return to God's light.

On the other hand, the good deeds and wisdom the soul has gained on her mission below serve as a protection for her journey upwards. You want a real good spacesuit to make this trip.

The Zohar tells us that if it were not for the intercession of the pure souls above, our world could not endure for even a moment. Each of our lives is strongly impacted by the work of our ancestors in that other world. Grandma’s still watching over you.

Why should souls basking in divine light above be at all concerned about what’s happening in your mundane life below? Because, there they feel the truth that is so easy to overlook while down here, that this lowly, material world is the center-stage of God’s purpose in creating all that exists.

That is also why, at the final resolution, ALL souls will return to physical bodies in this world.

The Weekly D'var Torah for Vayishlach

12.11.03 (2:34 am)   [edit]
This week's Parsha (chapter) is Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:40).

As he flees his brother Esav, God promises Yaakov (Jacob) that he
would return safely to Canaan (Genesis 28:15). Then why in this week's Parsha is Yaakov afraid? Doesn't Yaakov's fear reflect a lack of belief in God?

The Abrabanel suggests that fear is a not sign of weakness, but rather a part of the human dimension, a feeling that is neither right nor wrong. A person who is afraid should not be judged harshly, for whom among us has never been afraid?

The real question is what do we do when we're afraid? Do we become immobilized, unable to go forward, or do we gather strength in an attempt to meet the challenges that lie ahead?

Feelings may be involuntary but actions can be controlled. Yaakov's greatness was his preparedness to act contrary to his natural feelings; to come back to Canaan even though it meant confronting Esav.

Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav once said, "the whole world is a very narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to be afraid at all."

Yaakov’s actions teach us that when we are afraid, it doesn’t mean we’re lacking in faith or convictions. Rather, it means that we have an opportunity to gather our strength and conquer our fears by confronting them!

We won’t act afraid, unless we are afraid to act!

Have a wonderful weekend, and for those of us observing, have a wonderful Shabbos! :)

I Can't Believe We Made It!

12.10.03 (12:34 am)   [edit]
According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or even the early 80s, probably shouldn't have survived.

Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.

We had no childproof lids or locks on medicine bottles, doors, or
cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors!

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.

We shared one soft drink with four friends , from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.


We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable!

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms.

We had friends! We went outside and found them.

We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt.

We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents . They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out any eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors!

Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.

The idea of parents bailing us out if we got in trouble in school or
broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the school or the law. Imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors, ever.

We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility --- and we
learned how to deal with it.

Congratulations to us! We made it!

Please pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before lawyers and government regulated our lives for our own good!!!

Some really great quotes!

12.10.03 (12:21 am)   [edit]
Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?

Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live
forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever."
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest [Wanna bet on her hair
color?]


"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." --Mariah Carey [Now we know why she's such a sensitive actress.]


"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part
of your life." --Brooke Shields [during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign]


"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body." --Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward


"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country," --Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC. [It helps to read crime stats when you're stoned.]


"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." --Jason Kidd [upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks]


"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it." --A congressional candidate in Texas.


"I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from
them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves." --John Wayne [Just because they've been here 10,000 years, you'd think they had rights or something.]


"Half this game is ninety percent mental." --Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark [Danny was never really good at the stats part of baseball.]


"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." --Al Gore, Former Vice President


"If you let that sort of thing go on, your bread and butter will be
cut right out from under your feet," --Ernest Bevin, former British Foreign Minister


"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." --Dan Quayle [days like this....I really miss Dan.]


"It's no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one way or another" --George Bush, US President


"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?" --Lee Iacocca [Not all of us can afford mink lined oxygen masks, Lee.]


"I was provided with additional input that was radically different
from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version." --Colonel Oliver North [from his Iran-Contra testimony]


"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy
like Norman Einstein." --Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback and sports analyst


"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people." --Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instructor


"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." --Bill Clinton, President


"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur." --Al Gore, VP


"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas." --Keppel Enderbery


"The loss of life will be irreplaceable." --Dan Quayle


"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have is that I didn't study my Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people." --Dan Quayle, VP [I mean it, I really do miss him!]


"It is wonderful to be here in the great State of Chicago!" --Dan Quayle, VP


"Hawaii is a unique state. It is a small state. It is a state that is
by itself. It is different from the other 49 states. Well, all states are different, but it's got a particularly unique situation." --Dan Quayle, VP [They made him swim home after that one.]


"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." --Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina [right
after you call the New York Times]


"We apologize for the error in last week's paper in which we stated
that Mr. Arnold Dogbody was a defective in the police force. We meant, of course, that Mr. Dogbody is a detective in the police farce." --Correction Notice in the Ely Standard, a British newspaper


"If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at night as they go to bed and it will monitor their heart throughout the night. And the next morning, when they wake up dead, there'll be a record." --Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman [And they'll cut off your food stamps.]

A little side D'var for Chanukah! (It starts the evening of Dec. 19th this yr!)

12.09.03 (11:46 pm)   [edit]
Chanukah marks the miraculous victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabees, against Greek persecution. In addition to being victorious in war, when the Maccabees came to rededicate the Temple, they found only one flask of oil with which to light the Menorah. This small flask lasted for eight days. In order to commemorate this miracle, we light a Menorah for the eight days of Chanukah.

While this story sounds very much like other victories the Jews had over their foes, one of the great mysteries of this Holiday is the focus placed on what appears, at first glance, to be a relatively minor miracle which occurred during the rededication of the Temple, after its defilement by the Greeks, instead of the great military victory of the vastly outnumbered Maccabees defeating the Greeks.

What stands out about this tyrant of the Jews is that unlike other enemies, the Greeks didn't try to injure or kill the Jews, but aimed at the very core of their Judaism. This displays an understanding of the Jews that no other villain has ever had - they knew that it's our Judaism that sustains us!

With this understanding, we can now link this attempted genocide with the concept of a "Menorah" and of fire. Fire has two very unique and distinct qualities that other elements don't:

1) It light up anything around them, without discrimination
2) you can use this fire to start another, without diminishing the source.

This concept of fire is exactly what helped us get through the Greek's persecution, and why the Menorah and fire were chosen as the focal point of this Holiday! It's our Judaism that lights our world, and it's our Judaism that allows our family, friends and associates to feed off of our energy, commitment, and everything else that Judaism represents.

Our charge for Chanukah is to have our Judaism represent even more! The more goodness we represent, the "brighter" our world will be!

Save Me...

12.09.03 (2:45 pm)   [edit]
Dave Matthews is so wonderful! This song tells you, no matter what faith you are, that no one can "save" you. I don't look at it as pertaining to any particular religion or faith. It's true in all facets of day-to-day life: Whatever you want to do, you have to do it for yourself, by yourself.

I'm hooked on this one song right now...

[b]Save Me[/b] [i]by Dave Matthews[/i]

Driving through the dessert,
I met a man who
Told me of his crazy plan
He'd been walking there for 20 days
He was gonna walk on
For 20 more
I said, "How bout a drink or a bite to eat?"
He said, "No, my faith is all I need."

I said, "Then save me.
Save me, Mr. walking man--if you can.
You don't need to prove a thing to me,
Just give me faith, make me believe.
C'mon save me!
Save me Mr. walking man--if you can.
C'mon, save me!
Save me, sir stranger, if you please.
Save me! Save me, stranger, if you please...
Or am I too far gone
To get back home?

How 'bout you take a ride with me?
We could kill some time or shoot the breeze."
He said, "Every whispering wind and second counts
Maybe if ya walk, but you should drive around."

"Save me, Mr. walking man--if you can.
C'mon save me!
Save me, sir stranger,
If you please!
Save me!
Save me, stranger, if you please!
Or am I too far gone
To get back home?

Hey, I don't need you to stop the sunshine.
No.
I don't need you to turn water into wine.
No.
I don't need you to fly
I'm just asking you to save me--"

"You might try saving yourself."
"Oh, God, save me!"
"You might try saving yourself."
"I swear those lips shine."
"You might try saving yourself."
"As if the moon shines"
"You might try saving yourself."
"Why don't you save me?!"
"You might try saving yourself."
"C'mon and save me!"
"You might try saving yourself."
"Oh!!"
"You might try saving yourself."
"Why don' you save me?"
"You might try saving yourself."

"Save me!"

Militants Won't Offer Truce to Israel

12.08.03 (11:42 pm)   [edit]
Pretend for a moment that you are the Prime Minister of Israel. You are told that the only cease-fire that is offered to you officially by the Palestinians is a halt on attacks in Israel but civilians outside Israel, be it in settlements or those who get lost in the Gaza strip, are fair game--that includes civilian men, women, and CHILDREN. What would you expect yourself to do?

"Ok, I'll leave some of my people behind and throw them to the wolves! It's ok for them to kill less than year old babies as long as they don't do it in Israel proper!"

NOOOO!

I'll say it again: There is NO such thing as a partial cease-fire! ALL violence must stop or Israel will and has the right to defend itself, it's citizens, and innocents!

News story below:


[b]Militants Won't Offer Truce to Israel
Mon Dec 8, 7:38 AM ET

[i]By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

CAIRO, Egypt - In a setback to Middle East peace efforts, Palestinian militants rejected a comprehensive truce offer to Israel despite intense pressure from Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Egypt to sign onto a deal.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath insisted, however, that there is "a general readiness" for a truce and said Qureia would go to the Israelis to see if they were willing to halt military actions.

Shaath told The Associated Press that the militants had told Qureia "go continue your negotiations with the Israelis, if you feel they are ready to reciprocate, come back."

Palestinian delegates said further talks also were planned among Palestinian factions but no date was set.

Israel reacted by saying the militants' intransigence presented a growing danger to Qureia's government. Officials warned that Israeli forces would take "necessary steps" if faced with a threat of new suicide bombings.

One Palestinian militant faction said the talks failed for a lack of any guarantee that Israel would join a cease-fire.

The breakdown of the talks Sunday underlined the growing power of the militant factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad to shape conditions for a truce. The two groups have carried out most of the suicide bombings that have killed hundreds of Israelis during more than three years of violence.

In addition to resisting a cease-fire, the militant groups refused to give Qureia a mandate to negotiate an overall peace with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Qureia and the Egyptian sponsors of the talks had hoped for a halt in violence that would jump-start the stalled "road map," the peace plan backed by the international community to create a Palestinian state by 2005.

Israel, which had said it would accept only a complete cease-fire, criticized the Palestinians for failing to reach a deal, saying that working with the militants was pointless.

"Hamas today is a danger more to the Palestinian Authority than it is to us," said Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin.

"The only way to deal with terrorists is to put them behind bars and dismantle their organizations and take away their weapons," he told The Associated Press.

Israel also said it would continue to talk to Qureia but would act if its security was threatened. Although no suicide bombers have struck inside Israel for more than two months, Gissin said militants were continuing to plan for attacks.

"If there is no cease-fire and we continue to get (security) alerts we will take the necessary steps," he said.

Nafez Azzam, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, said the militants would not go along with a comprehensive truce without Israeli guarantees to halt military action. He noted a cease-fire initiated by Palestinians in June fell apart when Israel kept up attacks.

"It was difficult for us and other factions to accept a new truce without guarantees from the Israeli side, because the previous truce failed in the same way," he said.

Azzam said neither Qureia nor Brig. Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian intelligence chief who mediated the talks, presented any Israeli guarantees.

He said Israel should agree to stop targeted killings of militant leaders, raids into Palestinian areas and house demolitions, as well as lifting blockades around Palestinian towns and freeing prisoners.

Asked whether the militants would launch more attacks, Azzam said: "The cycle of violence and escalation depends on Israel and we are only defending ourselves."

Egypt had had called together the Palestinian groups in the hope that the meetings would produce a halt to all attacks. Suleiman wanted to present the truce to Washington this week in a broad proposal that could win U.S. backing and put pressure on Israel.

But as soon the secret talks got underway, divisions emerged and the Palestinians, ranging from Yasser Arafat's mainstream Fatah to the Islamic militants and leftists, split into two camps.

Fatah and its allies wanted a full cease-fire along with giving Qureia authorization to negotiate terms with the Israelis. Preparations are being made for the Palestinian prime minister to meet with Sharon, but the date has not been decided yet.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad would agree only to end attacks on civilians in Israel but not on Jewish settlers or Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Sue Bush?

12.08.03 (11:34 pm)   [edit]
I'm not sure if this is real or a Joke. It's funny either way.

Some woman is suing George W. Bush, our president, for the death of her husband.

Check it out here: http://www.nancho.net/911/mar...

Something I drew when I was in High School.

12.08.03 (9:40 pm)   [edit]
So I drew this one in High School. Scanned her in a long time ago. Kind of a mental self portrait. I don't really physically look much like that at all, it was just how I saw myself in contrast to the world around me. Leave me a note and tell me what you think!

[image]RedTigress_2011632 31.jpg[/image]

What exactly is this "Shabbos" you speak of and how are we to have it?

12.08.03 (5:29 pm)   [edit]
Many have been wondering what is the "Shabbos" I speak of at the end of my D'var Torahs every week. They've been asking me, "What does it mean, 'Have a peaceful Shabbos'?"

So in my eagerness to help, I wanted to shed some light on those in the dark, so to speak.

Shabbos (or Shabbat) means "Sabbath" or "rest" in hebrew.

The Jewish concept of "the Sabbath" begins with the story of creation. God made the world in 6 days and on the 7th day, he rested. The 10 commandments tell us to "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy."

So, every Saturday observant Jews celebreate the Sabbath and emulate God's "rest."

Shabbos is the best day of the week. It's a day of rest, a day of play, and a day of [i]No Work![/i] Not that working is bad. Without it, we wouldn't have houses, food, and families. But sometimes we get carried away with being busy. We forget to take time just to enjoy our lives. Shabbos is a reminder to stop [i]doing[/i] and relax one day a week.

The Jewish people began to celebrate Shabbos over three thousand years ago. The Greeks and Romans couldn't understand how resting could be holy, a way to honor God. But the observance of Shabbos may be the most important law in the Torah. By resting on the seventh day, we imitate God and appreciate the work we've done all week.

What is resst? What is work? The Torah offers a hint. First, it gives a detailed description of the work required to build a house of prayor, followed by the commandment to keep the Sabbath. Because these two paragraphs are next to each other, we learn that anything you have to do to construct a building, including building a fire, is forbidden on the Sabbath.

On Shabbos, no one is supposed to work, including animals. Even the land gets to rest, because we don't even pick a flower on Shabbos. It's the one day human beings don't interfere with the world -- we behave as if everything was perfect.

Not doing work is only half of Shabbos. The absence of work allows time for the leisurely moments that make the day a delight. Every [i]no[/i] allows for a [i]yes[/i]. Imagine slipping off a backpack full of books and papers on Friday afternoon, knowing you are ommanded not even to think about its contents until the following evening. Now you have lots of time to visit friends, play games, and read anything you like.

The laws of Shabbos, which tell you what to do and not to do, make everything you do on that day special -- it's the difference between Saturday and Shabbos. The rules take getting used to, but after a while, you begin to look forward to "going" to this peaceful place. Shabbos becomes a home that shelters, warms, and comforts us from the setting of the sun on Friday night until three stars appear in the darkening sky the following evening. The tradition built a day, not a structure, for its people. How many buildings have lasted for over 3,000 years?

U.N. General Assembly voted on Monday for a Palestinian-initiated resolution

12.08.03 (3:04 pm)   [edit]
These are troubling times we live in.


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly voted on Monday for a Palestinian-initiated resolution asking the International Court of Justice whether Israel was legally obligated to tear down its barrier in the West Bank.

The vote was 90 to 8 with 74 abstentions, an unusually high number reflecting doubts about seeking an advisory opinion from the U.N. court, based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Opposing the resolution were the United States, Israel, Australia, Ethiopia and the Pacific islands of Nauri, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.

Israel says the 90-mile barrier of fences, razor wire, concrete walls and trenches, is needed to keep out suicide bombers, who have killed more than 400 Israelis over the past three years. Palestinians say the structure, which juts deep into the West Bank, is a land grab by Israel and prejudges border of a future state.

In Jerusalem, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Raanan Gissin, said Israel would go before the court to "show we have the full right to exercise our right to self-defense."

But Israeli Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, leader of the centrist Shinui Party, asked the Cabinet to reopen debate on whether the barrier's planned route cuts too deeply into Palestinian areas.

All nations, including the United States, spoke against the barrier. Europeans were among the abstentions, arguing that negotiations and not a tribunal had to settle issues.

The International Court of Justice was set up to settle legal disputes between states and give advisory opinions.

An opinion by the court would add to diplomatic pressure on Israel and carries more legal weight than a General Assembly resolution, which is nonbinding.

Arab nations asked for the emergency session after U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported on Nov. 28 that building the barrier was causing serious harm to Palestinians. He said Israel had a right to defend its citizens but that duty should not contradict international law.

"The wall is a false excuse used as a justification for colonizing our land and establishing settlements," Palestinian U.N. observer Nasser al-Kidwa told the Assembly.

He said that until the barrier came down, there would be no peace settlement according to the U.S.-backed "road map."

"For us it is either the wall or the road map. If Israel continues building the wall, this will be the end of the road map," al-Kidwa said.

"WAR CRIME" VS "ARAFAT FENCE"

He called the Israeli government a "fascist occupier" and the barrier "an immense war crime."

Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman laid the blame for the barrier on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

"Let me be perfectly clear. This is the Arafat fence. This is the fence that Arafat built. His terrorism initiated it, and made its construction inevitable. If there were no Arafat, there would be no fence," Gillerman said.

Gillerman called the vote a "moral victory," as nearly half of the U.N. membership either abstained or voted against. He called nations who voted in favor "mostly tyrannical dictatorships, corrupt and human rights-defying regimes" while most democratic states were on the other side.

James Cunningham, the U.S. representative, said the Bush administration opposed the barrier. But he said the resolution was "one-sided and completely unbalanced" and did not even "mention the word terrorism."

Monday's resolution, sponsored by 27 nations, said the barrier violated the 1949 U.N.-brokered armistice boundary, known as the Green Line, and "de facto annexes large areas of territory."

The resolution asks the International Court of Justice "to urgently render an advisory opinion on the following question:

"What are the legal consequences arising from the construction of the wall being built by Israel ... described in the report of the secretary-general, considering the rules and principles of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions?"



Reuters
Dec 8 2003 3:39PM

Boycott the liars that spread hate!

12.08.03 (2:56 pm)   [edit]
There has been a blogsite recently added to tblog that is appauling. This site. It's discusting. Everything that peace stands for they are against with the loving cloak of so called "oppression" to give them some kind of legitimacy.

DO NOT BE FOOLED!

Israel and the Palestinians have a right to exist! Anyone who feels otherwise is wrong! Those who dedicate a blog to the destruction of Israel are EVIL and should not be given the time of day!

Boycott the liars that spread hate and injustice!

There can not be a peaceful resolution when these lies are spread by hateful philistines and believed by those who don't know otherwise.

Below is a truth I have published here before. Please look through my archives to find so many more truths that must be revealed! Check out all links and never take anything at face value, even what I say. Research and find the truth! Do not believe the liars!

LIE: Palestinians turned to violence against Israel out of desperation

Truth/B'Emes: If the issue were desperation, then why would the Palestinians have turned against Israel after it offered to create a Palestinian state on more than 95% of the West Bank and Gaza? And why would they have launched a campaign of suicide/homocide bombings--in which over six hundred Israelis (with thousands more targeted), the large majority of them civilians, including children, have been murdered--during the time of the most dovish, most accommodating government (that of Prime Minister Ehud Barak) in Israel's history?

The answer is self-evident. As Palestinian polls repeatedly revealed, the great majority of Palestinians, like their leadership, seek to destroy Israel, not settle for a West Bank-Gaza Palestinian state. As Sheik Ibrahim Madhi declared on the Palestinian Authority's national television (August 7, 2001): "In several years, Allah willing, we will enter Jerusalem as conquerors. To Haifa as conquerors, to Ashkelon as conquerors."

Despite the aim of most Palestinians and many other Arabs of destroying Israel, it is assumed among many in the West that the suicide/homocide bombings in Israel are driven by desperation and hopelessness, not antisemitism and religious extremism. As Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, expressed it: "As long as young people feel they have got no hope but to blow themselves up, you are never going to make progress."

To some of Israel's harshest critics, Arab "desperation" is seen not only as understandable, but acceptable and, for some, even praiseworthy. Juergen Moelleman, an official of Germany's Free Democrats, speaking about Palestinian terrorism, declared: "I would resist too and use force to do so. . .no just in my country, but in the aggressor's country as well." Claire Rayner, president of the British Humanist Association, stated in April 2002 that the idea of Israel as a Jewish homeland was "a load of crap," and therefore there was nothing wrong with targeting Israeli restaurants and buses: "If you treat a group of people the way Palestinians have been treated, they will use the only weapon they have, which is their individual lives."

The ultimate statement of defense for the "suicide" killers was provided by Jose Saramago, the Portuguese Nobel laureate in literature: "We can compare what is happening in the Palestinian territories with Auschwitz."

Aside from the fact that resistance fighters in far more desperate circumstances than the Palestinians (who actually enjoy more rights than did Arabs in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Syria, Lybia, and other countries) have not targeted civilians (e.g., anti-Nazi resistance fighters), it is clear from the families of the terrorists themselves that what drives the terrorists is religious passion. In the dozens of interviews with mothers of "suicide" bombers, one never hears mention of poverty. Rather, as one proud mother characteristically put it:

"I am a compassionate mother to my children. Because I love my son, I encouraged him to die a martyr's death for the sake of Allah. . .Jihad is a religious obligation incumbent upon us, and we must carry it out. I sacrificed Muhammad as part of my obligation. This is an easy thing. There is no disagreement [among religious scholars] on such matters. The happiness in this world is an incomplete happiness, eternal happiness is life in the world to come, through martyrdom. Allah be praised, my son has attained this happiness. . .I prayed from the depths of my hear that Allah would cause the success of his operation. I asked Allah to give me 10 [Israelis] for Muhammad, and Allah granted my request and Muhammad made his dream come true, killing 10 Israeli settlers and soldiers. Our God honored him even more in that there were many Israelis wounded. [When his brothers informed me of his martyrdom], I began to cry 'Allah is the greatest,' and prayed and thanked Allah for the success of the operation. I began to utter cries of joy and we declared that we were happy. The young people began to fire into the air out of joy over the success of his operation, as this is what we had hoped for him."

Likewise, the nineteen terrorists who murdered some three thousand Americans on Sept. 11, 2001, came from affluent, in most cases particularly affluent, backgrounds. Fifteen, after all, were Saudis.

What has motivated Palestinian and other Islamic terrorists has not been despair but hope and religious fervor. It is the hope of heavenly reward for extending the territory of Islam and doing Allah's will. It is the belief that murdering Jews (and Americans) is a virtuous act, a belief that has been continually propounded in Palestinian mosques and on the Palestinian Authority's national television station. For example, on Oct. 14, 2000, the PA broadcast a sermon by Sheik Ahmed Abu Halabiya that declared: "Have no mercy on the Jews, no matter where they are, in any country. Fight them, wherever you are. Wherever you meet them, kill them." On another PA broadcast (Aug. 7, 2001) Sheik Ibrahim Madhi declared: "The Koran is very clear on this. The greatest enemies of the Islamic nation are the Jews, may Allah fight them . . . Whoever can fight them with his weapons, should go out; whoever can fight them with a sword or knife, should go out."

Islamic terrorists murder and maim Jews because of ideology. They believe it is God's will to do so. Only Westerners trained to believe that evil always comes from desperate socioeconomic circumstances believe otherwise.

Quiz!

12.08.03 (1:09 am)   [edit]
Yep.


You are a CAT!! You're very laid back and don't
care what anyone thinks. It's your way or the
highway! You decide what's good for you, and if
it's not good enough, then you won't want
anything to do with it. Sometimes you may be
selfish or snobby, but you just want what you
believe is best for you. People enjoy the way
you are seemingly care-free and eaygoing.


~What animal are you most like?~
brought to you by Quizilla


you are a born fighter and you love it


what kind of fighter are you???
brought to you by Quizilla


You are a loving hug


What type of hug are you
brought to you by Quizilla

Antisemitism: Links, education, and much more!

12.08.03 (12:25 am)   [edit]
Some interesting links...

This site offers a country-by-country report on antisemitism, racism and xenophobia: http://www.axt.org.uk/

Did you know that Vidal Sassoon had a center for the study of Antisemitism? Well it does. Check that out here: http://sicsa.huji.ac.il/

This site is the Arab Antisemitism Documentation Project: http://www.memri.org/antisemi...

You can find many similar links with more education about Antisemitism by looking at the links to the left of my blog!

Knowlege is power that fuels us to fight for what is right! Antisemitism is wrong and must be vanquished!

Palestinian Militants Reject Cease-Fire: There's something I never expected. O_o

12.08.03 (12:07 am)   [edit]
The Palestinian "militants" only wish to harm innocents. Israel is willing to cease-fire if there is a promise of no violence from the Palestinian side as well. Hamas wishes to have the right to attack innocent civilians.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PARTIAL CEASE-FIRE.

ALL shooting stops or Israel WILL defend itself! Israel has that right! Sharon is more than willing to come to the negotiation table during a FULL cease-fire. The "militants" wish for nothing more than for Israel to bend over as it rapes her. They do not wish for peace! Only distruction. History and the news story below shows us this!!!

[b]Palestinian Militants Reject Cease-Fire
12 minutes ago

[i]By LARA SUKHTIAN, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

CAIRO, Egypt - Palestinian militants rejected a halt on attacks without security guarantees from Israel, spoiling the Palestinian prime minister's bid to jump-start Mideast peace talks with a full cease-fire.

After three days of talks in Egypt, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have carried out most suicide attacks against Israel, would agree only to a limited truce Sunday: ending attacks on civilians in Israel, but not on Jewish settlers or Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia had hoped a full cease-fire would help lay the groundwork to jump-start the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan. But the militant groups said they would only agree to a more comprehensive truce if Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) made similar guarantees.

"Let Abu Ala (Qureia) talk with Sharon and ask him if he is ready to make a cease-fire. If Sharon is ready to make a cease-fire, we will study it," senior Hamas official Mohammed Nazzal said.

Egypt had called together the Palestinian factions — more than a dozen, ranging from Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement to the Islamic groups and smaller leftist movements — in hopes of producing a halt to all attacks. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Gen. Omar Suleiman wanted to present the truce to Washington next week in a broad proposal that could win U.S. backing and pressure Israel.

An official from Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian delegates said a further meeting was planned but no date for it was set.

Israel said it would accept only a comprehensive halt. "There's no halfway cease-fire," said Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He said Israel is willing to stop shooting if there was a total Palestinian truce.

Qureia, who joined the talks Sunday in the hopes of bridging the gap, left the Egyptian capital, and several delegates acknowledged the talks produced no concrete results.

"There are disagreements about the nature of a cease-fire," Maher Taher, a senior delegate for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, told The Associated Press. "The factions have different positions on the issue."

Even when Qureia and Suleiman applied new pressure in a three-hour meeting Sunday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad refused to buckle. The two groups have killed hundreds of Israelis during more than three years of violence.

The militant factions also rejected giving Qureia authority to speak for them in any negotiations with Israel.

In June, the Palestinians declared a cease-fire on attacks within Israel that also was negotiated in Egypt. Israel was not formally part of that truce, and it collapsed after seven weeks, with Israel attacking Palestinians and Palestinians resuming suicide bombings.

"It was difficult for us and other factions to accept a new truce without guarantees from the Israeli side, because the previous truce failed in the same way, because of no Israeli guarantees," said Nafez Azzam, an Islamic Jihad spokesman in Gaza.

In the end, delegates said the Cairo meetings would only produce a final statement, but no deal.

In exchange for the full truce, Egypt and Fatah were demanding that Israel stop building settlements, pull its troops out of Palestinian areas reoccupied during the uprising and halt construction of its so-called security barrier along the borders with Palestinian areas, which juts into Palestinian land.

[b]Sharon said Israel is still interested in a cease-fire.[/b]

"The solution is that if there is total quiet and there won't be terror, Israel will make every effort to abstain from its activity against terrorists," he said. He made the comments before the Cairo talks ended.

The Palestinian suicide/homocide attacks have targeted buses, cafes, restaurants, shopping malls and outdoor markets inside Israeli territory, drawing condemnation from the international community as well as from the Palestinian Authority. But no deadly suicide bombings have occurred in Israel for more than two months.

What is Chanukah?

12.07.03 (1:39 pm)   [edit]
There are many misinformations or lack of information for many people on what exactly Chanukah is. Recently, I was asked, "What is Chanukah?"

Chanukah, which begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (in the Jewish calander) and lasts eight days, is known mainly for the ritual of lighting the Menorah, an eight branched candelabra. Before we discuss this and other rituals and observances associated with Chanukah, a little historical background about Chanukah is in order.

Chanukah, unlike the other Rabbinically ordained observances (Purim, the Four Fasts), is not mentioned explicitly at all in Scripture. Even in the Talmud, there is little discussion about Chanukah. The Gemora in the tractate of Shabbos (21b) writes: "What is (the reason for) Chanukah? For our Rabbis have taught 'On the 25th of Kislev, the days of Chanukah, which are eight (start), on which eulogies and fasting are not permitted.' - For when the Greeks entered the sanctuary of the Temple, they made all of the oil there ritually impure (and therefore unfit for use in the Temple). When the Hashmonean dynasty gained the upper hand and defeated them, they searched and found only one flask of oil on which the seal of the High Priest remained (which indicated it was not defiled). There was only enough in this flask to light (the Menorah in the Temple) for one day. A miracle occurred and they were able to light (the Menorah) with it for eight days. The next year, they established and made (these days) a holiday, with Hallel (praises of God) and expressions of thanks (to God)."

There are many commentators who elaborate on the Gemora. One of these is the Aruch HaShulchan. His words, which follow, add to the very general description that the Gemora offers. There are more detailed historical works which deal with the background of Chanukah. However, the general description of the Aruch HaShulchan is a good starting place for the discussion of Chanukah which will follow in later issues.

The Aruch HaShulchan (Orech Chayim 670) writes that: At the time of the Second Temple, during the reign of the wicked kings known as Antiochus, decrees were issued on the nation of Israel. These decrees had the effect of anulling the practice of the holy Jewish religion. The Jews were not permitted to study Torah or perform Mitzvos. The money of the Jews was confiscated, and the Jewish daughters were snatched. They went into the Temple where they performed improper acts and defiled the ritually pure. They pained the nation of Israel and pressured them immensely until the point where Hashem, the God of their forefathers, had mercy on them and saved them from the evil hands that were persecuting them. Hashem saved them through the hands of the holy and pure Hasmoneans, who were high priests, with Mattisyahu and his sons, who fought with Antiochus. The victory occurred in a way that went against the laws of nature, as the Hashmoneans, with their righteous troops, were very small in number, while Antiochus fell upon them with a great number of people, with many elephants, and with horsemen and chariots. However, Hashem (God) favored His nation of Israel and therefore let the strong fall into the hands of the weak, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, the impure into the hands of the pure. Furthermore, those traitors from the nation of Israel who sided with Antiochus fell into the hands of those who studied Torah. Then, the name of God was elevated and sanctified in the world, and the light of Torah with its purity shined, and the name of the nation of Israel reached a level of great stature amongst the nations of the world .

This miracle came to a completion on the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calander. There was, however, another miracle. When the nation of Israel entered the Temple to purify it, all of the people were ritually impure because they came into contact with the dead during the course of the battles. A person who is impure because of contact with the dead can only become pure through a process which takes seven days. It was only after these seven days that people were able to obtain a supply of pure oil. Furthermore, it took 8 days to make the round-trip needed to obtain pure oil. Only one flask of pure oil, which still bore the unbroken seal of the High Priest, was found in the Temple. Hashem performed a miracle, and this flask of oil which should only have lasted for one day was able to be used to light the Menorah in the Temple for eight days, until which time no additional pure oil was available. We therefore have eight days on which we praise and give thanks to Hashem.

This year, 5764 (2003-2004) Chanukah begins on December 19, and ends on December 27, 2003. On the evening before each one of the days, the corresponding number of Chanukah candles are lit.

This is hilarious.

12.06.03 (7:03 pm)   [edit]
I thought this was hilarious. Saw this on Scarface26's blog and had to share it! I especially love the one for Judaism!


[u]How the 'isms' reconcile 'shit happening.[/u]'


Agnosticism: I'm not sure about this shit

Taoism: Shit happens.

Confucianism: Confucius say, "Shit happens."

Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit.

Zen Buddhism: Shit is, and is not.

Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of shit happening?

Hinduism: This shit has happened before.

Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah.

Islam #2: If shit happens, kill the person responsible.

Islam #3: If shit happens, blame Israel.

Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it.

Protestantism: Let shit happen to someone else.

Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen.

Episcopalian: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it.

Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it.

Congregationalist: Shit that happens to one person is just as good as shit that happens to another.

Unitarian: Shit that happens to one person is just as bad as shit that happens to another.

Lutheran: If shit happens, don't talk about it.

Fundamentalism: If shit happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!)

Fundamentalism #2: If shit happens to a televangelist, it's okay.

Fundamentalism #3: Shit must be born again.

[b]Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us?[/b]

Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work.

Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Saturday.

Creationism: God made all shit.

Secular Humanism: Shit evolves.

Christian Science: When shit happens, don't call a doctor - pray!

Christian Science #2: Shit happening is all in your mind.

Unitarianism: Come let us reason together about this shit.

Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit.

Utopianism: This shit does not stink.

Darwinism: This shit was once food.

Capitalism: That's MY shit.

Communism: It's everybody's shit.

Feminism: Men are shit.

Chauvinism: We may be shit, but you can't live without us...

Commercialism: Let's package this shit.

Impressionism: From a distance, shit looks like a garden.

Idolism: Let's bronze this shit.

Illogism: Food is shit, therefore I must shit out my mouth

Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS.

Existentialism #2: What is shit, anyway?

Stoicism: This shit is good for me.

Hedonism: There is nothing like a good shit happening!

Mormonism: God sent us this shit.

Mormonism #2: This shit is going to happen again.

Wiccan: An it harm none, let shit happen.

Scientology: If shit happens, see "Dianetics", p.157.

Jehovah's Witnesses: Knock< >Knock< Shit happens. >
Jehovah's Witnesses #2: May we have a moment of your time to show you some of our shit?

Jehovah's Witnesses #3: Shit has been prophesied and is imminent; only the righteous shall survive its happening.

Moonies: Only really happy shit happens.

Hare Krishna: Shit happens, rama rama.

Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit!

Zoroastrianism: Shit happens half on the time.

A little something that I drew: What should I name her?

12.05.03 (12:03 pm)   [edit]
I drew her last night. I'm pretty proud of myself for this one.

[image]RedTigress_1056481 277.jpg[/image]

I'm not sure what to call her.

Anyone have any ideas?

Yasser Arafat exposed

12.05.03 (11:41 am)   [edit]
You can find this story and MUCH more at: jewsweek.com



[b]Yasser Arafat exposed

In his book Arafat's War, Efraim Karsh details not only Arafat the man, but also his crusade for nothing less than the destruction of Israel.

[i]by Ellis Shuman November 23, 2003[/i][/b]

Last week CBS News reported that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat diverted $800 million of funds provided to help the Palestinians into his private bank account. In September, an International Monetary Fund audit came to the same conclusion.

Should we be surprised that the Palestinian leader is corrupt? Maybe instead we should be surprised that Israel once considered Arafat a peace partner and that much of the world continues to do so.

Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian leadership never really intended to reach a two-state solution, says London-based professor Efraim Karsh in his recently released Arafat's War: The Man and His Battle for Israeli Conquest (Grove Press, October 2003). All along, Arafat and his associates have been openly stating their "phased strategy" for Israel's destruction; we have been too blinded by hopes for peace to hear what they said.

Arafat's War offers an authoritative and provocative portrait of one of the most controversial leaders of the 20th century, and along the way proves the adage, "Once a terrorist, always a terrorist." For this is the real Arafat exposed, with his relentless crusade for the destruction of Israel.

The book, offering in parallel a biography of the Egyptian-born "Palestinian" leader and a comprehensive account of the collapse of the Oslo peace process, is meticulously documented, referring extensively to Palestinian leaders and media as its sources. The nearly thirty pages of notes at the book's end could possibly have been more effective if they were presented alongside Karsh's compulsively readable and well-researched work.

Presenting an account of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace process in chronological order, the book explores how the Palestinians under Arafat's leadership refused to renounce their eventual goal of Israel's destruction, how they bolstered their terrorist infrastructure and glorified the armed struggle, and created a hate and contempt for Israeli people.

Was Yasser Arafat ever serious about peace? "For Arafat... the Oslo process has always been a strategic means not to a two-state solution... but to the substitution of a Palestinian state for that of Israel," Karsh says. Acting on the PLO's 1974 "phased strategy," Arafat endeavored to take whatever territory was surrendered by Israel, and then use it as a springboard for further territorial gains until achieving the "complete liberation of Palestine."

Why did Arafat reject Israel's peace offer at Camp David? "Arafat could not, and would not" accept the end of the conflict, Karsh says. "There was absolutely no way for Arafat to peacefully sign away the conflict without attaining the destruction of the State of Israel, through its withdrawal to indefensible borders and its flooding with millions of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the 'right of return.'"

Exposed and documented for the reader is Arafat's duplicity, how he tells the international audience in English one thing, and then says something altogether different in Arabic to his supporters. Arafat condemns the Dolphinarium suicide bombing only due to European pressure, but sends a letter to the bomber's family praising the "heroic martyrdom operation." Arafat blames another suicide bombing on then-IDF chief of staff Shaul Mofaz and tells UN envoy Terje Roed-Larson that the Mossad ordered the Karine A weapons shipment, which was actually bound for Hizbullah in Lebanon and not to Arafat's Palestinian forces.

Arafat's War is distinguished from other writings on the topic, says Israel Insider contributor Daniel Pipes, author of Militant Islam Reaches America and director of the Middle East Forum, because Karsh's "sprightly, fact-filled and insightful review of the Palestinian leader's life presents him as he really is: 'a bloodthirsty terrorist with no respect for human lives, impervious to his own people's needs and aspirations, and absolutely committed to Israel's destruction.'" This book will help the reader "understand the Arab war against Israel," Pipes writes.

Israel Involved in Olympics Security Plan

12.05.03 (11:30 am)   [edit]
Well, if you fear terrorist attack, bring in the people who deal with it the most to help security. Brilliant, I think. Israeli intelligence and military are the best around. Sadly, because Israel is involved at all, most likely there will be even more chance of a threat. It's a catch 22.


[b]Israel Involved in Olympics Security Plan
Fri Dec 5, 9:37 AM ET

[i]By GAVIN RABINOWITZ, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

JERUSALEM - Israeli security and intelligence services are playing key roles in planning for the 2004 Athens Olympics, Israeli and Greek officials said Friday.

Fearing the international event could be a tempting target for terror attacks, Athens has budgeted more than $750 million on protecting the games. Greece also plans to deploy nearly 42,000 soldiers, police and other personnel.

Israel is one of seven countries helping Greece prepare its security plan for the Aug. 13-29 Olympics. The others are the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia and Spain.

A high level Israeli team, led by Israeli police chief Shlomo Aharonishky, visited Greece last month to help train the Greek forces, said Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman.

Kleiman said security evaluations have identified Greece's long coast line as a weak point, and Israel was also providing training for the Greek coast guard.

Security precautions for Greece took on an added urgency after a series of suicide bombings claimed by al-Qaida in neighboring Turkey last month.

Greece's Public Order Minister Giorgos Floridis told the Israeli Haaretz daily in an interview published Friday that "Israel is a key country with respect to providing intelligence information and training and drilling the Greek security forces."

Floridis said his country had turned to Israel for help in developing feasibility studies on security, developing plans for handling suicide bombers and getting information on terror groups and potential threats.

"We are preparing for two sorts of threats," Floridis told Haaretz. "Targeted threats by terror organizations against national delegations — for example a Chechen threat to the Russian delegation, or a Palestinian threat to Israel — and a comprehensive threat to the delegations and the games that originates with al-Qaida."

Haaretz reported that later this month a team from Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency would lead a training seminar for senior Greek officers in Greece and that officers from the Greek anti-terror unit had undergone training in Israel.

Kleiman declined to confirm these reports.

Arabs and Jews.

12.04.03 (3:18 pm)   [edit]
This is rediculous.

These are the kinds of games palestinian children play and are encouraged to play: http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...

Does anyone else see a problem with this?

Sad Pictures.

12.04.03 (2:32 pm)   [edit]
*sigh*

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/03 1204/481/jrl10212041404" title="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/03 1204/481/jrl10212041404" target="_blank"http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/03 1122/photos_wl_me_afp/031 122141345_b3wi9xj7_photo0 " title="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/03 1122/photos_wl_me_afp/031 122141345_b3wi9xj7_photo0 " target="_blank"http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...



When will it stop?

Suspect in museum fire has history of hate, arson

12.04.03 (2:24 pm)   [edit]
Betcha wouldn't have heard about this little tidbit. Such stories get burried in the news...


[b]Suspect in museum fire has history of hate, arson
Tue Dec 2, 9:04 AM ET

[i]By Fred Kelly, fred.kelly@indystar.com[/i][/b]

The primary suspect in a fire that destroyed a Holocaust museum in Terre Haute once was accused of threatening President Bush and told acquaintances he was prepared to kill Jews to protect his race, prosecutors said Monday.

During a hearing in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, prosecutors described Joseph Charles Stockett, 57, as a Nazi-sympathizer who has burned down abortion clinics and has been investigated for allegedly threatening then-Vice President Dan Quayle.

A Nov. 18 arson destroyed the CANDLES museum in Terre Haute. The museum, established by a Holocaust survivor, is dedicated to the children who survived medical experiments performed on them while being detained in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

More quizzes! YAY!

12.04.03 (12:52 am)   [edit]
WOOT!


Apple


What Kind of Fruit are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


You are a Mischievous Faerie! You have that
twinkle in your eye when you're up to something
and you usually have that twinkle. You're
generally playful and optimistic.


What type of faerie are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Right wing: You are a Savage kind of guy!!! This is
the best way to be!!!


What end of the political spectrum are YOU on???
brought to you by Quizilla

You are Hatshepsut, the only female to ever sit
upon the Horus Throne.


Which New Kingdom Pharaoh are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


You love cheese!!! Go you!!!!


How much do you like cheese?
brought to you by Quizilla


Youre the Fire Fairy You love fire of course! You
burn everthing you see, but youre very cheerful
and easy going. Now please vote for me even if
its a 1!!! Please!!


Which Beautiful Amy Brown Fairy Are You? (with pretty pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

Israeli Military Cancels Terror Alert

12.03.03 (11:59 pm)   [edit]
Good.


[b]Israeli Military Cancels Terror Alert
Wed Dec 3, 4:01 PM ET

[i]By STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

JERUSALEM - Israeli police raided a West Bank mosque on Wednesday, capturing two Palestinians who allegedly were planning to attack a school. One was reportedly wearing an explosives belt.

Security forces went on high alert in the northern Israeli towns of Afula and Beit Shean after what the army said were "numerous" warnings of Palestinian attacks. One main road was closed and roadblocks posted on others.

The restrictions were lifted after Israeli troops raided the mosque in the West Bank village of Bardala, nine miles south of Beit Shean. Tadji Sawafta, a local official, said two men were arrested.

Gold, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said those arrested planned a suicide bombing in a school in the Israeli town of Yokneam. He said it "demonstrates the necessity of Israel's ongoing security measures including the completion of its security fence," a barrier Israel is building which has drawn criticism because its route cuts deep into the West Bank to encircle Israeli settlements.

Earlier, the military said 27 suspected militants were arrested overnight, 17 in the Jenin area. A statement said they were part of the "Islamic Jihad infrastructure" there. Army spokeswoman Maj. Sharon Feingold said information from the overnight raid led to capture of the would-be bombers in Bardala.

Also Wednesday, Israeli soldiers arrested four armed Palestinians in a car south of Hebron. The military said the four had rifles and a pistol and were about to carry out an attack.

In a separate development, the Israeli military removed a barricade from a main road near the West Bank town of Ramallah. The army said the action was part of a program to ease restrictions on Palestinian movement.

The Weekly D'var Torah: Vayetzei

12.03.03 (5:50 pm)   [edit]
[b]This week's Parsha (chapter) is Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3)[/b]

In Parshat Vayetzei, Yaakov (Jacob) begins a journey to find himself a wife, and essentially begin his life. But when he sleeps and dreams of God telling him that the land he's sleeping on is Holy, he is compelled to bring sacrifices, and promises to give a percentage of what he has back to God as Maaser (tithe - which we still practice today).

In the Torah, however, it says that "Yaakov woke up from his sleep and said 'Surely Hashem(God) is present in this place and I did not know!'" (28:16), and shortly later it says that "Yaakov woke up early in the morning and took the stone that he placed around his head and set it up as a pillar" (28:18). Did Yaakov go back to sleep? It seems that he woke up twice!? Furthermore, why did he suddenly feel compelled to promise to give a percentage of what he earns?

One way to answer these questions is by examining the dream Yaakov had. In the dream, God told Yaakov that the land he was sleeping on would be his, for his children, that He would protect Yaakov, and eventually return him to his land. Why would the land, which is the least spiritual thing in the world, be so important that God had to assure Yaakov that it would be his, and that he would be returned to it? The answer to this question is also the reason Yaakov 'woke up' the first time...He didn't physically wake up, but merely realized how much potential the land had!! As Yaakov put it...."This is the gate to heaven".

Through working on the land, and through using it to fulfill God's will, we can create a gate to heaven! Land is no longer just land, but has now become more spiritual, simply because it gives us more opportunities to do Mitzvot (positive deeds), thereby becoming more spiritual. Giving a percentage of what we earn to charity is ALSO a way of using a very earthly item (money) for a higher purpose, which is why Yaakov saw it necessary to commit to it right then.

We too must realize that there is NOTHING in this world that can't be used to elevate us spiritually, and it's our job to find ways to do just that! So we use the Internet to read Dvar Torahs, which is great, but it shouldn't stop there. We must use food, clothes, money, and even nice scenery to bring us closer to the "gates of heaven". The sooner we realize how much potential there is for us to grow spiritually in this world, the sooner we can "get growing!"

May we all perform Tikun Olam (Bettering the World)!

Have a wonderful evening and pass this message on!
For those of us observing, share this bit of insight at your Shabbos table and have a wonderful Shabbos!

World On Fire

12.03.03 (4:59 pm)   [edit]
I just got the new Sarah McLaughlin CD lastnight, "Afterglow."

The second track of this album is [b]SO inspiring[/b]. It's a song to enpower you to do more than you usually would to help the world and other humans in this horrible state our world is in. She's venting to kind of give a voice to those distraught by all the terrible goings on. At least that's what I get out of it. I don't know, it just struck a chord with me because of the post 9-11 imagry and the overall need for us to make a difference on our planet for the better. It also reminds me of the recent fires that devistated my area a month ago. I find this song charging and very therapeutic. I think it's gonna be my new personal theme song.
I give you the lyrics:

[u][b]"World On Fire"[/b][/u]
[i]by Sarah McLaughlin[/i]

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in these stories' pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and dying
And I'll try to hold it in
Yeah I'll try to hold it in

The world's on fire it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water try and bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table
Bring what I am able

I watch the heavens but I find no calling
Something I can do to change what's coming
Stay close to me while the sky's falling
I don't wanna be left alone
Don't wanna be left alone

The world's on fire it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water try and bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table
Bring what I am able

Hearts break
Hearts mend
love still hurts
Visions clash
Planes Crash
Still there's talk of saving souls
Still cold's closing in on us

Play on
Play on

We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take the less we become
The fortune of one man means less for some

The world's on fire it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water try and bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table
Bring what I am able

Just some news for you at the top of the hour: Israel Urges Syria to End Terror Support

12.03.03 (10:42 am)   [edit]
You can view this and much more at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...

[b]Israel Urges Syria to End Terror Support
Tue Dec 2, 9:11 AM ET

[i]By GAVIN RABINOWITZ, Associated Press Writer[/i][/b]

JERUSALEM - Israel reacted with caution Tuesday to Syrian President Bashar Assad's call for renewed peace talks, saying Syria should prove its intentions by ending support for militant groups.

Assad asked the United States to push for renewal of peace talks between his country and Israel in an interview with The New York Times published Sunday. The Syrian leader said a peace deal was 80 percent complete when talks broke down in early 2000.

Both Syria and Israel have said they were willing to resume negotiations. Syria wants to begin at the stage where talks left off. Israel says there can be no preconditions.

"We welcome any initiative or approach by any Arab leader to talk about or renew peace negotiations with Israel and this includes Syria," said Zalman Shoval, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"But to create the right atmosphere Syria must stop its support for terrorist groups," Shoval said.

In early October, Israeli warplanes bombed a base near the Syrian capital of Damascus, charging that it was being used to train Palestinian militants. The Syrians said the base was long abandoned. Israel also accuses Syria of supporting the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to impose economic penalties against Syria, reflecting broad agreement among lawmakers that Syria has been a detriment to the fight against terrorism in the Middle East.

Israelis suspect Assad's call for talks was a largely aimed at easing U.S. pressure. "Israel has to look into the proposal," said Dore Gold, another Sharon adviser. "Clearly he (Assad) is in a very difficult situation and that is also something we have to understand."

Eyal Zisser, an Israeli expert on Syria, said Assad is mainly interested in easing U.S. pressure. The Syrian president "is more interested in a (peace) process than a peace agreement," Zisser told Israel Radio.

In the Times interview, Assad said again the talks with Israel must begin where they left off in 2000 and that negotiations on return of the Golan Heights to Damascus were 80 percent complete. The talks were halted a few months before he succeeded his father, the late Hafez Assad, as Syria's president, the Times reported.

The talks centered on Israel returning the Golan Heights, which it seized in the 1967 Middle East war, in exchange for security guarantees from Syria. The talks broke down, in part, because Syria wanted assurances the land would be returned before discussing peace arrangements, and Israel wanted to first define relations between the two countries.

Israelis involved in the talks agree with Assad that a solution was close and said both sides missed an important opportunity.

Uri Saguy, who headed the Israeli delegation at the 2000 talks, told Israel Army Radio that negotiators had even resolved the final issue of the border line, but that then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Hafez Assad both got cold feet at the last minute.

"There was an agreed (border) line that satisfied both sides," Saguy said.

"We are talking about a giant missed opportunity for both sides ... of a deal that was already closed," said Raviv Drucker, an Israeli journalist who covered the talks and wrote a book on Barak.

According to Drucker, Barak pulled back from the deal after polls showed that the Israeli public wanted a tougher stance at the talks.

However, Drucker said hopes for a new agreement on similar lines are unrealistic, doubting both Assad's sincerity and the willingness of Sharon to make the kind of concessions that Barak considered.

"Assad knows that Sharon will never give up the Golan Heights unless something dramatic and unexpected happens," Drucker told Army Radio.

More quizzes....

12.03.03 (1:11 am)   [edit]
BORED 2day!


You're pretty


How UGLY are you?
brought to you by Quizilla



YOUR RED!!!! Now there's a really energetic Person
(or fraggle if you prefur) who knows where
their going and what they want to
do!.....people may think you should SLOW
DOWN!!!!


Which Fraggle Rock Character Are You? (lotsa outcomes...w/pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

Tampon Quiz!

12.02.03 (10:48 pm)   [edit]
HAHA!!! Wut tha hell?




Tampon Doll


Which Tampon are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Another Survey: Wow, I'm bored.

12.02.03 (3:00 pm)   [edit]
Date of Birth: April 19, 1983
Age: 20, or you could just do the math from my birthdate. . . Height: 5'3"
Weight: 117-120lbs
Sex: WO-man!
Hair Color: Rosso capelli
Eye Color: Verdi
Where do you live: California.
What's your education: I'm going to college right now.
Astrological Sign: Aries
Favorite car: I like the 1948 ford roadsters, like the ones in Dick Tracey! I have a 1984 oldsmobile delta 88 royale. It's a pimpmobile, oh yea.
Favorite color: Dark red.
Favorite food: CHOCOLATE!
Favorite animal: Why, the Tiger of course. Pretty much all cats.
Favorite scent: Fresh air! ...and chocolate! Oooh, ooh! How about choc chip cookies baking in the oven!! oooooooh!
Favorite sex position: Erm, moving on. . .
Favorite dental floss: Mint? I duno. I hate flossing.
Favorite Soda: Berry blast Nekkid Juice!! Soda's gross.
Favorite candy bar: Snickers and then anything that has peanut butter!
Favorite perfume/cologne: Hugo boss.
Favorite fast food: Um, I make my own sammiches.
Favorite movie: "Shrek!" I also loved "School of Rock!" Ok, so I gues i'm a little kid.
Favorite music: Rock, alternative, punk. I <3 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND!>Favorite restaurant: Nathan's Coney Island Hotdogs.
Favorite T.V. show: "Scrubs."
Favorite alcohol beverage: Godiva liquor or a nice stiff shot of single malt whisky. Put some Baily's Irish Creme in my hotchocolate and I'll love you forever.
Coke OR Pepsi: Coke's bottle is prettier. I don't drink either.
Shower OR Bath: shower
Brussel sprouts OR Alfalfa: Mmmm, both! Veggies are your friends.
Sex on the beach OR Sand in your crotch: I've only drank a sex on the beach. Sand in your crotch doesn't sound like it'd be to good, or maybe it does. . .
Poop OR Pee: I do both, thanks.
Day OR Night: Night
Shy OR Outgoing: I'm pretty outgoing.
Guys OR Girls: I like guys if that's what you're getting at.
No phone or No T.V.: No tv, I must have human contact!
Summer OR Winter: I like both.
Do you have a crush: Mike
If yes to that last one, then who: Erm, Mike!
Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend: Yes, damn it!
If yes to the last one, then who+how old is he/she: MIKE!! Hard of hearing, much? He's 28.
What is it that you like in him/her: Just about everything. I like who I am when I'm with him.
What is it that you dislike about him/her: Sometimes he can be a little critical, but he loves me and he want's what's best.
Ever kissed some: Some what?
If yes to the last one, then who: My ex boyfriends. My current boyfriend. Um, yea. . .
Describe your first kiss: I was 13 and afraid I would be bad at it.
Are you a virgin: Heh.
Did you like this survey: No.
Are you still bored: Yes

EU inaction against anti-Semitism threatens European Jews: Sharon

12.02.03 (1:43 pm)   [edit]
FIGHT ANTISEMITISM! This can NOT go on!



[b]EU inaction against anti-Semitism threatens European Jews: Sharon
Mon Nov 24, 9:26 AM ET[/b]


BRUSSELS (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has accused the EU of inaction against rising anti-Semitism and alleged Muslims in Europe pose a threat to the lives of Jews.

Sharon told EUpolitix.com that new Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei was a "polished politician" but that he would judge him by his actions in clamping down on militants.

The European Union's approach to the Middle East "is not balanced right now", the Israeli leader was quoted as saying by the website.

"The state of Israel cannot afford to deposit its destiny in the hands of the Europeans who are known for their unbalanced policy," he said Monday.

Sharon highlighted an opinion poll of 7,500 people in the EU's 15 member states this month that suggested Europeans believe Israel is the biggest threat to world peace -- ahead of North Korea, Iran and the United States.

"I would say, in my opinion, EU governments are not doing enough to tackle anti-Semitism," he said, while praising Italy -- which holds the EU's rotating presidency -- for taking a "more balanced position" on the peace process.

Sharon last week paid a three-day visit to Italy, which under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has much warmer relations with Israel than does the European Union as a whole.

During annual EU-Israel talks in Brussels last week attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, differences between the two sides were on clear display.

Shalom said that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was a terrorist who should be sidelined, while the EU condemned Israel's construction of a security barrier along the West Bank.

In his EUpolitix.com interview, Sharon insisted that disapproval of Israel in Europe was the same as hatred of Jews.

"You cannot separate here; Israel is treated as a Jewish state," Sharon said.

"This anti-Semitism exists (in Europe) and what pushes it is a collective anti-semitism that incorporates Israel into this equation."

He added: "An ever stronger Muslim presence in Europe is certainly endangering the life of Jewish people. This attempt of dismissing our legitimacy to self-defence is testimony to anti-Semitism.

"Of course the sheer fact that there are a huge amount of Muslims, approximately 17 million in the EU, this issue has also turned into a political matter."

According to Saturday's Financial Times, the EU's racism watchdog has refused to publish a report on anti-Semitism that said Muslims and pro-Palestinian groups were behind many attacks on Jewish sites.

On November 15, Jewish school building near Paris was the target of an apparent arson attack.

Sharon meanwhile described Qorei as "a seasoned man, a polished politician".


"I value him as a man who believes that the end to the conflict is not via war, and I will be happy to negotiate with him," he said.

But the Israeli leader added that Qorei "will not be judged by his declarations or statements, but clearly by the steps he will take to end the Palestinian terror".

"As long as the terror continues there will be no progress towards the fulfilment of the Palestinian state."

Mel Gibson movie blamed for Jewish hate mail

12.02.03 (1:25 pm)   [edit]
Well, we have a right to be concerned. Jewish group leaders should be allowed to at least view the movie. Gibson should respond and have a diologue with Rabbi Heir of the Wiesenthal Centre. There should be talk and understanding. Otherwise, it only makes suspicians rise as the refusals to talk continue. Read below. Though it is an older article, not much has changed regarding this issue since the article's publication.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/article...


[b]Mel Gibson movie blamed for Jewish hate mail
August 21, 2003 - 11:55AM[/b]


The Simon Wiesenthal Centre has been targeted by an unprecedented wave of hate mail after protesting against the controversial film by Mel Gibson about the life of Jesus which contained anti-Semitic scenes, the dean and founder said today.

Rabbi Marvin Hier said the organisation had received hundreds of emails, letters and telephone calls after protesting against scenes in The Passion, Mel Gibson's controversial film about the death of Jesus.

The centre, which fights anti-Semitism around the world, has not complained to police about the onslaught of messages, Hier said.

Though Hier has not seen the film, which as yet has been shown only to invited audiences, he said the script was based partly on the writings of Mary of Agreda and Catherine Emmerich whose works contain many anti-Semitic and blood-libel references.

"For two thousand years we have been falsely accused of deicide (killing a being of devine nature) and we have a right to be concerned," he told the German Press Agency, DPA.

"If it's not portrayed accurately, people will look for someone to blame, and since the Romans are not around any more it will be the Jews."

Hier said he had received no response from a letter to Gibson asking to discuss his objections, but said he was hopeful the matter could be resolved.

"We don't in any way believe that Gibson is an anti-Semite," he said.

Hier's objections to the movie are part of a growing wave of concern about The Passion, which vividly depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus' life. The movie was produced, co-written, directed and financed by Gibson, who is part of a fundamentalist Catholic sect.

Critics say the film distorts accepted versions of Jesus' demise to portray Jews as bloodthirsty, vengeful and money-hungry. They also accuse Gibson of downplaying the role of Roman ruler Pontius Pilate, who ordered the crucifixion of Christ.

Gibson rejected the film's criticisms in an interview with the industry publication Daily Variety.

"Neither I, nor my film, are anti-Semitic," said the director.

He said the movie stayed true to the message of the New Testament and dealt with the positive messages of "faith, hope, love and forgiveness".

DPA

Grave Digger

12.02.03 (12:56 pm)   [edit]
I just thought I'd jot down the lyrics to Dave Matthews' song on his new CD, "Some Devil," called "Gravedigger." I love this song.

[u][b]"Gravedigger"[/b][/ u]
by [i]Dave Matthews[/i]

Sirus Jones, 1810-1913
Made his great-grandchildren believe
You could live to 103
103 is forever when your just a little kid
So Sirus Jones lived forever

Gravedigger,
when you dig my grave,
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain.

Gravedigger.

Muriel Stonewall 1903-1954
She lost both of her babies
In the second great war.
Now you should never have to watch
As your only children
Are lowever in the ground.
I mean, never have to bury your own babies.

Gravedigger,
when you dig my grave,
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain.

Gravedigger.

Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posies.
Ashes to ashes,
We all fall down.

Gravedigger,
when you dig my grave,
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain.

Gravedigger.

Little Mikey Carson '67-'75
He rode his bike like the devil
Until the day he died.
When he grows up he wants to be Mr. vertigo
On the flying trapese
Or
1940-1990 too.

Gravedigger,
when you dig my grave,
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain.

Gravedigger.

Gravedigger.

When you dig my grave,
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain.
I can feel the rain!
I can feel the rain!

Gravedigger!

The New Geneva Peace Initiative & The Road Map: My Personal Commentary

12.02.03 (12:23 am)   [edit]
Now there is much talk about a new Geneva Peace Initiative that shall be different from the 'Road Map,' somehow. In different ways this new initiative puts pressures on Bush, Arafat, and Sharon.

Aprx 13 hours ago, the document was placed on three doorsteps; one in Jerusalem, one in Washington, and one in Ramallah. So who came up with this plan? Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) civilians. The document is critical of all three leaders' roles in not being able to come up with 'creative' ways to solve the conflicts.

The accord, negotiated with diplomatic assistance from the Swiss government, takes a radically different approach from other recent efforts, eschewing the drawn out step-by-step “confidence building” formula that characterized the Oslo process in the 1990s in favor of solving the whole thing in one fell swoop. “They’re applying the wise man’s advice about ending a bad marriage,” one Israeli government official said. “Either live with a cancer for the rest of your life, or cut off your arm and get it over with” (MSNBC).

Major concessions on both sides would be codified. Among the most stunning:
-Jerusalem would be designated the capital of both states, with the Temple Mount assigned to Palestinian sovereignty but patrolled by a multinational military force;
-The Palestinians would give up the “right of return,” the increasingly untenable demand that Israel allow the return of (or compensate financially) all Palestinians and their dependents who resided in the British mandate and subsequently fled or were expelled after Israeli independence.
-Israel would agree to live within its pre-1967 borders, with important exceptions that would forestall the destruction of some of the largest and most contiguous West Bank settlements, in return for land concessions inside pre-1967 Israel.
-A multinational force would be deployed for a time in the Palestinian state, and a three-member commission — Israeli, Palestinian and American, formed to ensure that terrorism or incitement to violence is punished appropriately.
(This is but a taste of the sweeping compromises entailed in the agreement.)

The 'Road Map' isn't much different as I defer to an article (which I have linked to on the left side of my blog as well): http://nyjtimes.com/Heritage/...
That basically sums up how I personally feel about that little idea.

So how do I feel about all of this new stuff, someone asked me recently.

Well, not too good.

I, like anyone else, can appreciate the parties who have brought fourth these ideas' intent. I'm glad that people of all walks are taking this seriously and into their own hands, so to speak. Do I like everything they have to say? No, not really. I am empathetic to both sides. I understand that an end is wanted to the madness. I, too, feel the same way on that account!!! I commend those who are not just sitting back and criticizing (like so many people have done, and continue to do) and are actually doing something about this mess!!!

But let's examine what the new plan suggests:

First, this plan is intended take care of things in one foul swoop. Impossible. The road to peace is a long road that takes time to heal the many wounds. It can't be done overnight. Negotiations must be worked out. Palestinians must make sacrifice too.

The Temple Mount goes for Palestinian sovereignty but a multinational guardian patrols: Forget it. I'm sorry, but as I've mentioned before in another blog, that is the holiest place for Jews. Not Muslims. It is mentioned in the Koran once. While it's a central part of Jewish theology, ritual, and life that is mentioned int the Torah (which predates Islam) several times.. I defer to that blog I wrote, here: http://www.tblog.com/template... for a full explanation of this issue.

Israel in the pre-1967 borders: No. Land concessions can be made, but there are settlements that should not be uprooted. Where will those people go? The 'illegal occupation,' in my eyes, isn't illegal nor is it a true occupation anyhow. For a full explanation I defer to my past blog on that subject: http://www.tblog.com/template...

Israel really shouldn't have to give away anything. Jordan was originally what was supposed to be the "Palestinian state" but the Jordanians kicked out the Palestinians years ago. But that's a whole other story. Israel, due to pressure (some of which is, yes, antisemitic) is forced to give land for peace. There is no way of getting around it at this point, unfortunately. Israel must make up for the mistreatment of the Palestinians by their Arab "brethren." I am a soul believer in fairness. So we must be fair to all parties. Even if it's not really our responsibility. It's unfortunate, but Israel must be the better 'person' on this, so tp speak

With that, now if I were in charge, I'd give them the Gaza strip if they:

*Accept in word (i.e., in what Arab leaders say to their people in Arabic, and not what they say to Westerners in English) and deed Israel's right to exist;

*Relinquish Palestinian claims to any part of Israel;

*End its dissemination of antisemitic hate;

*Settle the refugee problem without "resettlement" in Israel;

*Stop terrorism against Israel and severely punish those who plan or perpetrate it.

*Remove Yasir Arafat from any kind of position of influence.

That's it. It's not too much to ask, really. Considering the pains Israel must go through to accommodate.

Don't get me wrong, there are some good points from these new Geneva initiatives. For one, I like the "Palestinians would give up the 'right of return,' the increasingly untenable demand that Israel allow the return of (or compensate financially) all Palestinians and their dependents who resided in the British mandate and subsequently fled or were expelled after Israeli independence" thing. That makes note of some of my concerns. I also REALLY LOVE the "multinational force would be deployed for a time in the Palestinian state, and a three-member commission — Israeli, Palestinian and American, formed to ensure that terrorism or incitement to violence is punished appropriately"! That's like saying "we're sending in UN police to moniter terrorist activity and we shall punish it!" I LOVE THAT!

I do think this all is a definite start on a long journey. The day that the Palestinians accept in word (i.e., in what Arab leaders say to their people in Arabic, and not what they say to Westerners in English) and deed Israel's right to exist; relinquish Palestinian claims to any part of Israel proper; end its dissemination of antisemitic hate; settle the refugee problem without "resettlement" in Israel; and stop terrorism against Israel and severely punish those who plan or perpetrate it, is the day that true progress will be made.

Until then, Israel is morally obligated to keep it's citizens safe. Be it by temporary wall or the arrest of Hamas' Jihadist militants. Negotiations MUST continue as well in the mean time. However, I will say this: the road to peace in the Middle East winds the way of a bullet through Arafat's head--And you may quote me on that one!

That is my opinion. Take it or leave it.

THE BLOOD LIBEL LIVES: State Dept. Condemns Episode of Arabic TV Series

12.01.03 (6:18 pm)   [edit]
LIES! The blood libel lives in Islamist hatred! It must stop NOW! How many more Jewish children must die because of lies spread by hateful zealots?!

[b]State Dept. Condemns Episode of Arabic TV Series
Wed Nov 19, 3:15 PM ET[/b]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The State Department on Wednesday condemned as libelous and despicable an episode in an Arabic-language television series which it said showed Jews sacrificing a Christian boy to use his blood in a Passover ritual.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the Beirut-based television station al-Manar, which is run by the guerrilla group Hizbollah, broadcast the episode on Tuesday night as part of the Ramadan series al-Shatat (the Diaspora).

"This is a libelous presentation by al-Manar. ... It is despicable and merits the strongest condemnation possible," Ereli told a daily briefing.

"Such venomous anti-Semitism has absolutely no place in the civilized world. Such programs, I think it's an understatement to say, do not contribute to the climate of mutual understanding and tolerance that the Middle East needs," the spokesman added.

The United States had already complained to the Lebanese and Syrian governments at the start of the Syrian-made series, which portrays the history of the Zionist movement.

U.S. ambassador Vincent Battle brought it up in Beirut, while charge d'affaires Gene Cretz raised it in Damascus.

"We will be underscoring our concerns once again in light of this latest outrageous episode of the program," Ereli said.

The idea that Jews kidnapped and sacrificed Christian children and used their blood to make Passover bread was a conspiracy theory widespread in medieval Europe. The story seems to have started in eastern England in the 12th century.

Jews bigger target of anti-religious bias in US than Muslims: FBI

12.01.03 (6:08 pm)   [edit]
"Yes, we all don't want to be attacking innocent Muslims and appear racist. But it's open season on the damn dirty Jews!"

[b]One[/b] person can make a difference! [b]Together[/b] we must all stand against antisemitism!

[b][u]Jews[/u] bigger target of anti-religious bias in US than Muslims: FBI
Wed Nov 12, 2:39 PM ET[/b]


WASHINGTON (AFP) - Jews remain far more likely than Muslims to be the victims of anti-religious attacks in the United States, though the number of reported hate crimes against both groups declined significantly in 2002, according to an FBI report.

Justice Department officials credited tougher enforcement for an overall decline in crimes motivated by racial, religious, ethnic and antigay prejudice, but Muslim and Jewish civil rights groups noted that the report excluded incidents of harassment and discrimination not barred by law.

Attacks against Jews and Muslims accounted for more than 76 percent of all anti-religious hate crimes in 2002, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual report, which compiles data from more than 12,000 law-enforcement agencies from across the United States.

Vandalism and intimidation were the most frequently reported incidents.

Incidents of anti-Jewish bias declined 10.7 percent, from 1,043 to 931, and incidents of anti-Muslim bias dropped 67.7 percent, from 481 to 155.

Overall, the number of hate crimes declined from 9,730 in 2001 to 7,462 in 2002, according to the report. Racial bias is the single largest reason for hate crimes, accounting for 48.8 percent of all incidents.

Anti-Muslim violence surged in the wake of the deadly September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States by Islamist militants. US authorities moved quickly to stem the violence, with President George W. Bush repeatedly taking pains to note that the US-led war on terrorism is not a war against Muslims.

The Justice Department created a special task force to deal with retaliatory attacks on Arabs, Muslims and others perceived to be responsible for the suicide attacks with hijacked airliners, which killed some 3,000 people.

Justice Department spokesman Jorge Martinez said the task force has so far investigated 530 such incidents and earned 13 convictions in federal court. Task force members have aided in the prosecution of some 120 other cases in local and state courts, he said.

"We will vigorously investigate and prosecute these types of cases," Martinez said.

Rights groups however say the number of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents is on the rise if harassment and discrimination is taken into account, though both credit authorities for cracking down on criminal acts.

"It's been one after another since 9-11," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, which has noted a 15-percent increase in violence, discrimination and harassment of Muslims in the past year.

A study by the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith found a four-percent decline in anti-Semitic violence in 2002, but a 17-percent increase in reports of harassment.

"As you can see there's kind of a mixed picture there," said Alan Schwartz, the group's research director.

The group also has expressed concern about growing anti-Semitism worldwide and the targeting of Jews by Islamist militants.

Hooper said his group also receives many complaints not reported to authorities, because many Muslims also fear the government in the wake of security measures imposed since September 11, including crackdowns on illegal immigrants and Muslim charities and new visa restrictions for visitors from Islamic countries.

Martinez noted that Justice officials have reached out to Muslims and Arabs following the attacks to ensure they know their rights under US law.

"If you have done nothing wrong there is nothing that a person should be afraid about," he said.

THIS IS TERRIBLE: Istanbul Jews go underground for Sabbath worship

12.01.03 (5:43 pm)   [edit]
Is THIS what our world has come to? Jews are now forced to hide in order to practice and live?! How DARE anyone allow this injustice to go on! Will this be the future for the Jewish people? Another Holocaust?! We must fight this terror wherever it lies!

Please check out my charity links to the left side of my blog when you finnish reading this and help out the oppressed!

View at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...

[b]Istanbul Jews go underground for Sabbath worship
Sat Nov 22, 9:13 AM ET[/b]

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Istanbul Jews closed all 18 of their synagogues and met secretly for Sabbath prayers for fear of attack, a week after two truck bombs targeted their community.

"You can't do a thing against suicide attacks. That's why we, the Jews of Istanbul, have decided to hold our Sabbath in 10 secret locations that no one else knows about," Silvio Ovadya, a spokesman for the Jewish community told AFP.

Two suicide bombers detonated huge truck bombs outside the Beth Israel and the Neve Shalom synagogues, in the heart of the city, during Saturday's day of prayers a week ago.

A total of 25 people, mostly Muslims in the street, were killed and some 300 people injured.

The attacks, which were followed on Thursday by two more suicide attacks against the British consulate and a London-based bank, were claimed on behalf of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and a small Turkish Islamist group.

The Beth Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues were so badly damaged they will not be used for some time, but the other synagogues were closed in the wake of Thursday's second wave of bombings for fear of further attacks.

"The attacks targeting the Jewish community frightened us, but we continued to pray and to go normally about our lives. But Thursday's attacks convinced us it could happen again anywhere, at anytime," Ovadya said.

"Our leaders decided that this Saturday we should meet in safe places, out of reach of suicide bombers. We hope to be able to reopen our synagogues as of next week," he added.

Mainly Muslim Turkey has a 35,000-strong Jewish community, most of them living in Istanbul. Most trace their roots back to Jews expelled from Spain five centuries ago during the Inquisition.

Since the attacks, both Muslims and Jews have sought to emphasise their long history of peaceful cohabitation, and Turkey remains Israel's only ally in the Middle East region.

The Lady & The Tiger

12.01.03 (5:02 pm)   [edit]
Now this is a work of art that I've had hanging in my room since as long as I could remember. I just scanned it in. It's just so beautiful.

Jewish Human Rights Group Meets With Pope

12.01.03 (3:17 pm)   [edit]
The more people and authority figures we get to recognize this problem that is terrorism and antisemitism, the closer we come to bettering our world!


View story at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/n...

[b]Jewish Human Rights Group Meets With Pope
Mon Dec 1, 1:27 PM ET[/b]

[i]By VICTOR L. SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer[/i]

VATICAN CITY - A Jewish human rights group met Monday with Pope John Paul II, launching a campaign to urge the international community to treat suicide bombing as a "crime against humanity."

Calling suicide bombing "the crime of the 21st century," delegation members from the Simon Wiesenthal Center said they will begin lobbying governments for a U.N. resolution so that those who plan the bombings can be brought to justice.

"The world turns to you, Your Holiness, to declare such acts as both crimes against God and crimes against humanity," the center's founder, Rabbi Marvin Hier, said in a speech to the pope.

The Los Angeles-based group also presented the pope with its humanitarian award for his "lifelong friendship to the Jewish people."

In brief remarks released by the Vatican, John Paul said, "In these difficult times let us pray that all peoples everywhere will be strengthened in their commitment to mutual understanding, reconciliation and peace."

The pope did not mention the group's proposal, but Hier later told reporters: "I believe he will take it into consideration."

He said the delegation sought the pope's support because of his role as a "moral force" in the world.

Hier said that the use of suicide bombing, a tactic of Palestinian militants in their conflict with Israel, has now spread, cutting across national and religious lines. He noted that recent suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia and Iraq have killed Muslims.

In his address to John Paul, Hier also raised the problem of the "proliferation" of anti-Semitism in Europe and the world, calling it a "malignancy that must be challenged."