Hamas War

Monday, June 21, 2010

Another Wimpy Policy Switch From the Bibi Government

Israel's Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu can be a very convincing speaker/orator.  Those Americans who worship their President Barack Hussein Obama should be bright apple green with jealousy if they ever bothered to listen to the two.


I just think that Bibi's a great actor, and if you ignore his lack of bulk, he'd do a great job with Winston Churchill's patriotic war speeches.


But, unfortunately, push comes to shove and he's a feathery lightweight.  Even though Gilad Shalit is still imprisoned by the Arab terrorists, and their threats against us haven't lessened, we've poked more holes in the Gaza blockade:




20/06/2010

Israel’s policy is to protect its citizens against terror, rocket and other attacks from Gaza. In seeking to keep weapons and war materiel out of Gaza while liberalizing the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza, the Government of Israel has decided to implement the following steps as quickly as possible:


1. Publish a list of items not permitted into Gaza that is limited to weapons and war materiel, including problematic dual-use items. All items not on this list will be permitted to enter Gaza.


2. Enable and expand the inflow of dual-use construction materials for approved PA-authorized projects (schools, health facilities, water, sanitation, etc.) that are under international supervision and for housing projects such as the U.N. housing development being completed at Khan Yunis. Israel intends to accelerate the approval of such projects in accordance with accepted mechanisms and procedures.


3. Expand operations at the existing operating land crossings, thereby enabling the processing of a significantly greater volume of goods through the crossings and the expansion of economic activity.


4. Add substantial capacity at the existing operating land crossings and, as more processing capacity becomes necessary and when security concerns are fully addressed, open additional land crossings.


5. Streamline the policy of permitting the entry and exit of people for humanitarian and medical reasons and that of employees of international aid organizations that are recognized by the GOI. As conditions improve, Israel will consider additional ways to facilitate the movement of people to and from Gaza.


6. Israel will continue to facilitate the expeditious inspection and delivery of goods bound for Gaza through the port of Ashdod. Israel welcomes cooperation and coordination with its international and regional partners in implementing this policy and will continue to discuss with them additional ways to advance this policy.


The current security regime for Gaza will be maintained. Israel reiterates that along with the U.S., EU and others, it considers Hamas a terrorist organization. The international community must insist on a strict adherence to the Quartet principles regarding Hamas.
Hamas took over Gaza and turned it into a hostile territory from which Hamas prepares and carries out attacks against Israel and its citizens.


The Israel Defense Forces will continue to prevent the flow into and out of Gaza of terrorist operatives, weapons, war material and dual use items which enhance the military capability of Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza. Israel calls on the international community to stop the smuggling of weapons and war materials into Gaza.


Gilad Shalit is approaching four years in captivity. The international community should join Israel in strongly condemning those who hold him captive and in redoubling their efforts to secure his immediate release.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bibi a "great actor"?

No.

The Israeli public have poor taste in entertainment.

Which is actually true.

Anonymous said...

the big test will be how he deals with the construction freeze, due to end in a few months.

Batya said...

Shy, the Israeli public is pretty weak at picking out the snake oil salesmen, which is why crooked politicians do well here, including Bibi.

a, good point, but I'm not optimistic at all.

Anonymous said...

Who would be a good prime minister? Definetely not Moshe Feiglin, he is too extreme. You need someone who will stick up for Israel's interests but do it in a way that won't mess Israel up in the international arena. That is what is missing from Bibi. He needs to show the world that WE have the right to do ANYTHING to defend ourselves and we don't have to prove ownership to ANYBODY.

It's a very fine line.

Truthfully, I doubt you will ever find a politician like that.

Anonymous said...

Feiglin too extreme?

I find this Mommy of 3 too extreme.

What you complain Bibi isn't doing is exactly what people like Feiglin (and he is not the only one) have been advocating for years.

You've just blatantly contradicted yourself.

Anonymous said...

What I was trying to say was.. that Israel needs a cross between the two. We need somewhat of a politician AND someone who is very strong on defending Israel's interests.

Feiglin might be strong in the defending Israel part but he is no politician.Bibi has the politician part down pat. Now only if they would work together , we might actually have something there.

Anonymous said...

There is nothing to work together with Bibi. He's a has been and has been a has been from the time he was Prime Minister the first time around.

As for Feiglin's political abilities, we agree to disagree.

Batya said...

Shy, creative, Feiglin can't and will never be PM, because he's not a politician. Bibi is a politician, but he's not a mensch.

What's Feiglin? Good question. According to a recent article he's a great fund-raiser.

Anonymous said...

I can tell you that he's no more or less a great fundraiser than anyone else.

I see no reason why Feiglin is no less a politician that other failures who are to your personal liking.

Netivotgirl said...

Bibi talks the talk, but he sure don't walk the walk....'cuz he's so easily intimidated by the bullies on the block!

Sadly, I feel that since Begin there has been NO politician proud of being Jewish!

I'll never forget once the US he appeared live on "Meet the Press" on Tisha B'Av in the '70s. He was asked the first question. Instead of answering, he gave a short D'var Torah on Tisha B'av and it's relevance to the Jewish people especially those in Israel.

There is not a single politician I personally feel excited about; it's simply choosing the lesser of two (three, four, five...) evils.

Keli Ata said...

Just a couple of thoughts from the diaspora peanut gallery:

1. Israel really needs a constitution.

2. A more democratic republic form of government instead of parlimentary government. A government of the people, by the people and for the people. The US isn't perfect but it's pretty good.

I realize drafting a constitution in Israel would be a legal nightmare, and probably impossible to enforce since its politicians seem to sway with the wind.

I hate bashing Israel in any form (especially since our president is atrocious) but the Israeli government isn't right. Unlike the US, the terrorism threats are much more acute.

At least here we have extreme liberals, extreme conservatives and the moderates are few.

Anonymous said...

1. Israel needs no constitution. They have the Torah, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, Mishneh Berurah,Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Shulchan Aruch Harav..

2.We don't need the gov't like the US. We need a Sanhedrin!

Batya said...

Nitivotgirl, Menachem Begin? After his Camp David?

OK, Shy, true, the effective politicians have the morals of the snake in Bereshit. And those with morals... blog?

Keli Ata said...

Yes, but until Moshiach comes or leaders become religious Israel needs a secular government.

Every nation needs a Constitution to protect inalienable (sp) rights given to them by their Creator.


I am not bashing Israel or the Torah (G-d forbid) but the government is secular at this point and a government should have a Constitution and some stability in electing leaders.

It just seems that Israel goes through a lot of leaders in short time periods. Just in the five years I've been following what happens in Israel you've gone through Sharon, Olmert, and Bibi.

That seems like an awful lot. Besides, if Israel got a really good PM what's to say some opposition wouldn't rise against him and out he goes? He and his great policies.


On the plus side, it also allows for a horrendous leader to be removed from office. Wish we had that option with Obama! But no matter, 2012 isn't that far away.

Anonymous said...

Keli Ata said...

But no matter, 2012 isn't that far away.

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If I could stick time in a bottle...