Hamas/Gaza War Musings #19: Disgusting Condemnation by Biden and Schumer Expected, Because...Simple Math

Most Israelis are furious about the outrageously chutzpadik words of  US Senator Chuck Schumer, his unabashed interference in internal Israeli politics, which has been given full backing by US President Biden. Prime Minister Netanyahu, among others, are ranting that "we're not a banana republic" and other complaints.

But to be perfectly honest, Bibi's constant consultations with Biden, Blinken and other American officials during this dangerous war for our very survival made us looks weak and dependent. As a long-time Israeli, I felt embarrassed, and I'm not the only one. And worse than embarrassed, I felt endangered and then not surprised, as simple as 1+1=2, when the elected head of a country keeps taking advice from another country, he doesn't look like a strong, competent, sovereign leader, so why should he expect to be treated with respect?

Considering that the USA has never fought a war on its own territory for its very survival against terrorists who rape, decapitate etc, I don't see what expertise they have. And the minute Biden started talking about his plans for establishing "Palestine" sic in Israel after the war, Bibi should have cut off all contact. But that topic is for another war musing.

The truth is that the Democrats don't like Bibi and they never have. The Clintons loved Peres, and Obama couldn't even fake a smile when Bibi was in the same room. Biden has a ready smile, but it's fake. He knows the saying:

"You can get catch more flies with honey than vinegar.."

It makes Biden more dangerous, because people don't expect a knife in the back. And now Bibi got stabbed. 

Biden isn't the first American President to be involved with interfering in Israeli elections. Barack Obama's administration financially supported the "anyone but Bibi" crowd nine years ago. Follow the money... I have no doubt that American money has been supporting all of the anti- Bibi/Likud demonstrations which have plagued Israel for years. They've also been supporting the anti-Judicial Reform movement, even though the present Israeli judicial system goes against every fair proper justice principle American law demands. 

The only American President who has treated Israel with proper respect was Donald Trump, who couldn't/can't understand why American Jews continue to support the Democrats who have always treated Israel so poorly.

It's time for the State of Israel to cut its dependence on the United States. Every "gift" we get has strings attached which are really a noose. We get "shop in America only" shopping coupons. Other countries get actual money to spend wherever. These shopping coupons have weakened Israeli military industries. We could be exporting weapons all over the world. Instead we're begging the USA for more bombs. 

Enough is enough! Let's finally be a fully independent country. That's the only way we'll be safe and win this war. We don't need America! 

In 1967 we had no allies, and we won in six days. I remember it well. That's because Gd helped. Yes, simple math...

The Street vs Democracy-- FOLLOW THE MONEY

 

screenshot from Channel 14 News
Last night's antigovernment demonstration

It seems like the whole world has heard that the legally, democratically elected Israeli Government has passed a very necessary law to reform the judiciary, which has set itself up as the alternative government vetoing laws. The judiciary is very political. One law for the Left and another for the Right.

To be perfectly honest and accurate the demonstrations predate the present government's bill for judicial reform. 

For those trying to understand the basic issue here in Israel. Very simple. Judges have put themselves above the parliament and rule according to their opinions and ideologies, rather than laws. They have declared themselves above the law with rights to veto according to their personal feelings aka reasonableness. They can perpetuate their politics by choosing their successors. Basically this has disenfranchised the voters and made a farce out of elections. Yes, the judges and their supporters are the antidemocracy group.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy. We vote for political parties. After most elections, the leader of the party that has received the most votes manages to negotiate a coalition with other parties which has more than half of the 120 Members of Knesset. The Likud has gotten the most votes/seats in most recent elections including the November, 2022 elections, in which he and a few other political parties campaigned as a block promising to form a stable coalition. That's what happened, so therefore according to Israeli law and democracy Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu is the legal Prime Minister of the State of Israel. 

For the past few years, definitely predating those recent elections, there has been a well-funded movement to push Bibi out of his number one position in Likud and out the office of Prime Minister. It's called "ANYONE BUT BIBI." For years when he had previously been PM, including the COVID lockdown, there had been weekly demonstrations near the official prime minister's residence calling for Bibi's ouster. This was hell for the neighbors, since the courts/judges insisted that in their superior wisdom, the demonstrators' rights trumped theirs. And when during the COVID lockdown schools, synagogues and many places of work had been forced to be closed, the judges decided that demonstrations must continue...

There was quiet during the year that Naftali Bennett's government stood, which continued when it fell and Yair Lapid was interim Prime Minister. Since Netanyahu returned to office not only have the demonstrations returned bigger and better equipped than before, but their spokespeople/leaders have become louder and more outrageous. Led by two former disgraced Prime Ministers, Ehud Olmert* and Ehud Barak** we now hear unabashed calls for rebellion and refusal to serve in the IDF. This is treason, no less. They are basically calling on the Israeli public to destroy the country. But the courts are in their favor and find nothing wrong.

These antigovernment demonstrations are very expensive to run. Who's funding them? It's no secret that money is coming from abroad, and some of that money has been traced to the American Government. Administrations led by Democrat Party Presidents do not like working with Netanyahu. Obama couldn't find his famous smile when posing with Bibi.

It's clear that there's something very dirty going on. These demonstrations, riots etc. have nothing to do with wanting democracy for the State of Israel. The leaders are bamboozling their followers with slogans. The street isn't democracy. Let's find out who's really behind this.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

*Olmert had spent time in jail convicted on corruption charges. 

**Barak is known to have been a good friend of disgraced Jeffrey Epstein, besides other problematic relationships

GUEST POST: Time Magazine vs Truth

Time Magazine vs Truth
(a guest post by Mr. Cohen)

This essay is a critical analysis of the article titled:

“World Beyond Hope” by Karl Vick, published in

Time Magazine, on 2018 May 28, on page 26.

______________________________________________
In this article about the Palestinians in Gaza, 3 of the 4 pictures
show Palestinians suffering. There are no pictures of Palestinians
holding weapons. Their protests are described twice as peaceful.
______________________________________________
In this article, there was no mention of the fact that the
Palestinian protesters in Gaza repeatedly attempted
to destroy the security wall that protects Israel from terrorists.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that the

protesters were armed with knives, clubs and Molotov Cocktails.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that the

Palestinians in Gaza have repeatedly dug underground

tunnels into Israel, so they could kill and kidnap Israeli civilians.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that the

Palestinians in Gaza have repeatedly sent kites loaded

with flammables into Israel, which has caused numerous

fires, which has destroyed both crops and nature preserves.

 

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that the

Palestinians in Gaza shot thousands of rockets and

missiles into Israel, mostly aimed at civilian targets.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that the

Palestinians have repeatedly rejected peace offers from

Israel, peace offers that would have given them 99%

of what they wanted.

[Or more accurately, the Palestinians were offered 99%

of what they told Western audiences they wanted,

to mislead the Western audiences to believe that

they would accept something less than the total

destruction of Israel, to make themselves seem reasonable.]
 

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Muslim hatred against Israel and Jews is often inspired

by Islam’s most important sacred writings: the Koran

and Hadiths. Additionally, Muslim hatred against Israel

and Jews is often inspired by the famous anti-Jewish

forgery titled: “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”,

which is a perennial best-seller in the Muslim world.

This article never mentions the fact that Palestinian

schools and Palestinian mosques teach hate

and lethal violence against Israel and Jews.

This article never mentions the fact that the

Palestinian Authority (PA) gives cash rewards

to the families of terrorists who died while killing Jews.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that
thousands of Israeli Jews have been murdered by
Muslims, with countless bombings, car-rammings,
knifings and shootings; the victims have included
teenagers and children and pregnant women.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Hamas, the organization that rules Gaza, is officially

committed to killing ALL Jews, all around the world:

even those Jews who never visited Israel, even those

Jews who are not Zionist, even those Jews who are

anti-Zionist. This is written in the Hamas Charter.

______________________________________________

This article said: “Hamas is SEEN AS
a terrorist group by the US and Europe.”

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Hamas has repeatedly pushed Palestinian civilians,

including children, directly into the line-of-gunfire,

so the news-media could report that Palestinians

were killed by Israeli gunfire.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Hamas uses children to dig underground tunnels into

Israel, so they can kill and kidnap Israeli civilians.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Hamas creates shelters to protect themselves,

but no shelters for Palestinian civilians.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Hamas uses Palestinian civilians, including children,

as Human Shields.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Hamas killed hundreds of Arabs and Muslims,

without trial and without civil rights, because

they were seen as violating Islamic law [Sharia]

or because they were viewed as opponents of Hamas.

All this, and author Karl Vick describes Hamas not

as a terrorist group, but merely as being “SEEN AS

a terrorist group”, as if their status as terrorists

were a mere opinion, that is subject to debate.

______________________________________________
Last, but not least, we speak about the Israelis, who
are the only people portrayed as villains in this article.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israelis warned Palestinian civilians in advance about

their military activities, to reduce civilian casualties. 

This kind of warning is extremely rare,

and you can count on one hand the number

of armies that offer this type of warning.
 

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

every day, Israel sends trucks filled with food and

medical supplies to Gaza. This inconvenient fact

is routinely omitted by news reporters who want

to promote the false idea that Israel is trying to

kill all the Palestinians.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israel supplies Gaza with water and electricity,
even when terrorists from Gaza shoot dozens
of missiles and rockets at Israeli civilians.

What The New York Times Isn’t Telling You
About Israel’s Gaza ‘Blockade’
www.algemeiner.com/2018/04/08/what-the-new-york-times-isnt-telling-you-about-israels-gaza-blockade/

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israelis practiced great restraint; they waited for many

months to respond with military force, even when

they were being attacked with thousands of rockets

and missiles from Gaza, which were mostly aimed

at civilian targets.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israelis practiced great restraint; they waited for many

months to respond with military force, even when

they were being attacked with underground terror tunnels,

designed to kill and kidnap Israeli civilians.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israelis practiced great restraint; by waiting for many

months to respond with military force, even when

they were being attacked with kites loaded with

flammable materials, flammable materials that

started big forest fires and crop fires.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israeli is the only democracy in the entire Middle East,

and the only country in the entire Middle East

with modern standards of civil rights, including

freedom of religion and equality for women.

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

in Israel, Arab citizens have voting rights and are

elected to membership in the Israeli Supreme Court

and membership in the Israeli parliament [the Knesset].

In this article, there was no mention of the fact that

Israel’s government gives money to mosques,

where Muslims gather for prayer.

______________________________________________
CONCLUSION:  The article “World Beyond Hope”
by Karl Vick contains no context and no balance;
it is a one-sided propaganda essay that whitewashes
the numerous wrongdoings of Arabs and Muslims,
while portraying Israel and Jews and one-dimensional
villains who just want to kill innocent people for no reason.

Another article, which was featured on the front cover

of Time Magazine, attributed 100% of the blame for

Middle East violence on Israel and Jews, while attributing

0% of the blame for Middle East violence on Arabs

and Muslims. I do not remember the name of this article,

but the front cover displayed a large six-pointed star,

like the six-pointed star on the flag of Israel.

______________________________________________
“Furthermore, journalists located in any Arab town
know that if they write anything not favorable to
the Arabs, they can face physical danger.”

SOURCE: article by Ralph Dobrin:
Why Peace in the Middle East Remains Illusive
www.jns.org/why-peace-in-the-middle-east-remains-illusive/
______________________________________________

Dennis Prager said:

“Israel, it ought to be recalled, is the only country in
the world targeted for annihilation.  That has been true
from the day it was proclaimed as a state in 1948 until today.

It was true before Israel was forced to conquer East Jerusalem,
Gaza and the West Bank. 

It was true after three Israeli prime ministers: Yitzchak Rabin,

Ehud Barak, and Ehud Olmert, agreed to give up virtually all of

Gaza and the West Bank to the Palestinians to set up a Palestinian state. 

It was [still] true after Israel have every inch of Gaza to the Palestinians.

All of which proves that when Palestinian spokesmen say

they want peace, they do not mean peace WITH Israel,

they mean peace WITHOUT Israel.”

SOURCE: Why I am in Israel and you should be

by Dennis Prager, December 2015, Country Yossi

magazine, December 2015, page 48

 

***********************************

Articles about Media Bias against Israel
from Aish HaTorah:
***********************************

Why is the Media Biased?
www.aish.com/jw/mo/48917482.html

4 Reasons Why the Media is Biased against Israel:

www.aish.com/jw/mo/4-Reasons-Why-the-Media-is-Biased-against-Israel.html

Dishonest Reporting: Media Bias Against Israel:

www.aish.com/jw/mo/48932327.html

The Media: Destroying Jerusalem Again:

www.aish.com/shraga_blog/The-Media-Destroying-Jerusalem-Again.html

European Media and Anti-Israel Bias:

www.aish.com/jw/mo/48924097.html

Palestinians: Western Media's Ignorance and Bias Palestinians:

www.aish.com/jw/mo/Palestinians-Western-Medias-Ignorance-and-Bias.html

------------------------------------------------------------------

Huge source of high-quality pro-Israel videos:

www.youtube.com/user/PragerUniversity
------------------------------------------------------------------

An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth

by Matti Friedman, 2014/8/26
www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/183033/israel-insider-guide

SUMMARY: This article exposes intentional anti-Israel bias in the news media.

It is still VERY relevant, even though it was written in 2014.

==================================

Facts about Israel from Daily Forest dot com:

==================================

“Israelis invented voice mail technology.”

Israel is proud to have the world’s highest rate of
entrepreneurship of women and people over the age of 55.

“The Jewish State has more museums per capita

than any other country in the world.”

Out of all the countries in the Arab-Muslim world,

Israel has the highest life expectancy for Arabs.
The life expectancy is 79 years.

“If you were to take a look inside a Pakistani passport,

you would see that it read, “This passport is valid for
all countries in the world, except Israel.”

==================================

Please check out these pro-Israel web sites:
==================================
www.camera.org

www.HonestReporting.com

www.memri.org

www.ActForAmerica.org

www.aish.com

www.IsraelLawCenter.org

==================================

Pro-Israel Articles from Aish HaTorah:

==================================

www.aish.com/jw/me/Ten-Ways-Israel-Is-Treated-Differently.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/13-Facts-about-Israel--the-Middle-East.html

 

www.aish.com/jw/s/The_Pro-Palestinians_Real_Agenda.html

 

www.aish.com/ho/i/Menachem-Begin-on-the-Lessons-of-the-Holocaust.html

 

www.aish.com/jw/me/Why-Are-There-Still-Palestinian-Refugees.html
 
www.aish.com/jw/me/The-Arabs-Real-Grievance-against-the-Jews.html

 
www.aish.com/jw/me/Col-Richard-Kemp-on-Israels-Moral-Army.html

http://5tjt.com/why-israel-is-the-worlds-best-nation-an-amazing-article-in-an-italian-paper/

==================================

Articles Refuting BDS from Aish HaTorah:
==================================
www.aish.com/jw/me/The-BDS-Smokescreen.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/BDS-The-Attempt-to-Strangle-Israel.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/BDS-and-Anti-Semitism.html
 

www.aish.com/jw/me/Fighting-BDS-in-the-Name-of-Human-Rights.html
 

www.aish.com/jw/s/Winning-the-BDS-Battle.html
 

www.aish.com/jw/s/10-Ways-You-Can-Fight-BDS.html

www.algemeiner.com/2018/07/13/bds-founder-confirms-movement-is-about-ending-the-jewish-state/
==================================

Articles about the Palestinians
from Aish HaTorah:
==================================
www.aish.com/jw/me/Golda-Meir-on-the-Palestinians.html

www.aish.com/shraga_blog/The_Palestinian_Money_Pit.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/The-Truth-about-Palestinians.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/Believing-Palestinian-Lies.html

www.aish.com/jw/mo/Staged-Palestinian-Photos.html

www.aish.com/jw/s/The_Pro-Palestinians_Real_Agenda.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/48882577.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/48897862.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/48883522.html

www.aish.com/jw/me/48908777.html

==================================

Articles from Mr. Cohen:
==================================

Who are the Palestinians?

https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2018/06/who-are-palestinians.html

Did Captain Kirk believe in negotiating with terrorists?

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/08/can-jews-learn-from-captain-kirk.html

Why Israel’s 1967 Borders are Undefendable:

www.algemeiner.com/2017/10/27/israel-cannot-withdraw-from-the-west-bank/
https://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2017/03/guest-post-why-1967-borders-are-suicide.html

www.jns.org/in-gaza-flare-up-new-york-times-obscures-cause-and-effect/

==================================
Mr. Patrick Condell has no Jewish ancestors
and no religion that might cause him to favor Jews.

Please read these short pro-Israel articles that

expose the Palestinians by Mr. Patrick Condell:
==================================
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/boo-hoo-palestine-by-pat-condell.html

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/patronising-palestinians.html

 

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-great-palestinian-lie.html

 

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/useful-idiots-for-palestine.html

 

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/israel-and-united-nations.html

 

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/why-do-muslims-always-blame-jews.html

 

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2016/09/liberal-hypocrisy-over-gaza.html

Thank you!

"Netanyahu's Finest Hour" by Caroline Glick

I definitely recommend reading COLUMN ONE: NETANYAHU’S FINEST HOUR by Caroline Glick. No doubt it's one of her best and very timely.

Blog Round-Up, Lots to Read

Even though Havel Havelim no longer exists as a weekly round-up of international Jewish and Israeli blog posts, I still periodically post links to other blogs. I've changed the format somewhat and hope that readers and bloggers enjoy the posts.

Anyone on the internet can read, share and comment. Please feel free to do so. I also appreciate suggestions of new blogs, which aren't on the blogrolls of my two blogs. In order to encourage/tempt you to read different blogs, I just list the titles without identifying the blog.

Please read, comment and share thanks. Here we go:

The New World
Israel 70 Years: Past and Future
Best Wine Producer in Israel
Merlot" Great Shiloh Dairy Restaurant
Nine (9) things I wouldn't have to tell a Canadian neighbour
Wonderful Aliyah Story, "From Big Whine to Big Grapes"
New Starts and Fresh Beginnings
Miriam Peretz, Israel Prize, Yom Ha'atzmaut 5778, 2018
Chuck (Haim) Hornstein Pictures
Yaron's remember garden
Suddenly, Mahmoud Abbas' closest allies turn against him after he mouths off with more antisemitism
Obama Spokesman Blames (Who Else?) The Jooz!
New Discovery in Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh
Everyone Knows
It's A Journey Not A Destination

Shabbat Shalom Everyone

Crazy Dangerous World, Appeasement Won't Help

This is how the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, is welcoming 2018:

North Korean leader: The launch button is on my desk

I'm not the one to make predictions, but I do read/know history. It takes many years to develop and build bombs. So, don't blame Trump. North Korea has been a dangerous totalitarian regime for many years. So, don't blame Trump.

If anything could have been done to get Kim out, it had to have been done under Obama or even earlier. So, don't blame Trump. Appeasement never helps.

And the anti-Vietnam War Movement made such a move by America impossible.

If Bogie's the Alternative, I'll Stick With Bibi

Simply put, I see Bogie Ya'alon as the Right's Ehud Barak.

If you've been wondering why I haven't written about attending any of the "anti-corruption" rallies, it's because I don't see them as sincere, or as it's said in Hebrew, לשם שמיים, lisheim shamayim, for the sake of Heaven. They are clearly political tricks/cons to get Prime Minister Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu out of office. I agree that he's far from perfect, but I don't see anyone who can replace him, certainly not former Defense Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon.

It's pretty obvious, that this "movement" is backed by people with a not so hidden agenda, and their agenda is to get Netanyahu out of office. If anyone has the means and connections, then please FOLLOW THE MONEY. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up coming form international Leftists, like Soros and those who financed the "anyone but Bibi" and V15 during the last Israeli elections.

The Obama administration is using taxpayer dollars to fund a radical anti-Israel group that aims to drive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office in March parliamentary elections.
And the U.S.-based group receiving the U.S. government money, OneVoice International, in turn is working with V15, an "independent grassroots movement" in Israel, according to Ha'aretz. V15's unofficial motto is said to be "anyone but Bibi," a reference that includes the prime minister's nickname.  complete article click

The International Left has plenty of money, but it didn't help them in the USA 2016 Elections. Trump won.

I don't trust Bogie any more than I'd trust Ehud Barak or Barack Hussein Obama and his backers. Years ago, I'd heard Bogie touted as the "great Right hope," and I never saw him prove it when in office. That's why I spent yesterday evening at a football game, American tackle football. I saw more honesty on the field, than I would have heard from the speakers at the demonstration.

Obama, Bush and More POTUSes Pledged to Move US Embassy to Jerusalem

I want to make something very clear here. The only reason why Trump's announcement to recognize Jerusalem as Capital of the State of Israel is being condemned is because he said it. Previous American presidents pledged to do the same and move the embassy but reneged the minute they were elected. That includes Barack Hussein Obama!

Donald Trump: What past US presidents have said about recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital

Updated Thu at 5:29am

PHOTO: US President Donald Trump meets Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year. (Reuters: Ronen Zvulun)

In 2008, then Democratic candidate Barack Obama called Jerusalem the 'capital of Israel'

PHOTO: Then-senator Barack Obama speaks at the AIPAC conference on June 4, 2008. (Reuters: Jason Reed)

Please read entire article, thanks.

Grateful to be Living in Israel as World Falls Apart

When my husband and I made aliyah to Israel soon after our 1970 wedding it was considered a rare, incomprehensible and dangerous thing to do. There was an enormous difference between the two countries in what was then considered "quality of life." In those days those criteria were of modern conveniences, technology and toiletpaper.

Less than a half a century ago, Israel was more Third World than modern. Today we have everything one needs here in Israel. Today not only is technology in Israel topnotch, but the healthcare system among the best in the world and smoking is now prohibited in most public places. And as an added bonus, at "end of season sales," prices are slashed by 70% in many stores. This is not the Israel we moved to in 1970. Today it's not just much better than before, but it's a lot better than the United States of America.

The political and security situations in Israel are also better here. I know that the headlines give the impression that security is better in the states, but it's not really true when you calculate murder and violent crime in the USA. Israel is actually one of the safest places in the world.

And while many olim, immigrants to Israel find the political system too confusing, different or just plain strange, compared to the chaos and rioting in other countries, I'd say that Israel is most civilized.

Europe is undergoing a rapid metamorphose from white-Cristian to Islamic of all colors and backgrounds. It's a combination of non-replacement native European birthrates and the migration, legal and illegal of Arabs and Africans. The governments have welcomed them due to the lack of workers, but recently the extreme cultural differences, preponderance of males and subsequent violence have changed Europe for the worse.

In the United States the unprecedented riots by groups like "not my president" have crossed boundaries like never before. Never before has there been such massive and violent "sore-loser" protests in America. Having been born, raised and educated in the USA, I had always been taught that in democracy, you sometimes lose and then must accept the results. It's a sign of a fascist unstable government wehn people take to the streets the way they have been since last Novemenber. Democratic leaders, like Hillary Clinton, failed democracy when she called Trump supporters "deplorables." And Obama should have immediately ordered everyone home and threatened the protestors with arrest.

Donald Trump's far from perfect, but he should have been helped and supported, rather than being condemned for every breath. So, now he's feeling paranoid. Who wouldn't be when attacked the way he has been.

I am so thankful to be in Israel. Even with the attacks here on Bibi and Sara Netanyahu the political situation is more placid.

True, no place is 100% perfect, but I'm perfectly happy living in Israel.

Congress Finally Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's Capital

I see this biparty recognition as a great improvement in American -Israeli relations.

US CONGRESS PASSES RESOLUTION MARKING JERUSALEM UNIFICATION
In passing the resolution, the Senate reaffirmed its support for the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which compels the US State Department to relocate its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the ancient city. (Jerusalem Post)
Senate approves resolution on Jerusalem reunification
By a vote of 90-0, Senate passes resolution reaffirming that Jerusalem is Israel's undivided capital. (Arutz 7)

And if you add the fact that United States President Donald Trump has been instructing his United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to defend Israel and protest the anti-Israel policies there, you just can't deny that there has been a great improvement in relations with the State of Israel.

U.S. poised to warn U.N. rights forum of possible withdrawal

The United States is expected to signal on Tuesday that it might withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council unless reforms are ushered in including the removal of what it sees as an "anti-Israel bias", diplomats and activists said.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, who holds cabinet rank in President Donald Trump's administration, said last week Washington would decide on whether to withdraw from the Council after its three-week session in Geneva ends this month. (Reuters)

None of us can or should forget the vicious anti-Israel swan song by Obama and Kerry as their reign was ending.

I certainly don't claim that Trump is perfect, but from my vantage here in Israel, we're grateful not to be the target Obama had made us. And I have no doubt that Hillary wouldn't have treated us any better. Her smile would have been brighter, but her policies would have been the same as Obama or worse.

And again I suggest that both American political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, start promoting some serious open/fair-minded presidential candidates for the 2020 elections. Look at people's experience and policies, not their sex or race as qualifications.

Vive La Différence, Trump versus Obama

This article is also posted on Israel Blogger.

Finally the United States has a president who isn't totally enamored with Arab terrorist leaders. I can't remember a time when an American President seemed more comfortable and supporting of Israel rather than the Arabs who want to destroy us.

As imperfect/flawed as Donald Trump certainly is, at least he and his family aren't as entwined, financially, emotionally, politically, ideologically, religiously with the Arab terrorists and their backers as his predecessors were.

Obama, early on in his presidency pledged to help facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian State, and his failure (thank the Good Lord) to do so made him bitterly and unabashedly anti-Israel at the end of his rule.  Yes, he took off the diplomatic "mask."

Trump, in his ignorance and naivete had announced that his brilliant Jewish son-in-law could pull off a "peace deal" with Israel and the Arabs, but it seems that after visiting here, he is starting to realize that it won't work. In the world of real estate, some projects get scrapped before making it past the early blueprint stage. I have no doubt that Trump's plan for "peace" here will be shelved pretty soon. His administration and especially Jared Kushner have too many more pressing issues to deal with, to put it mildly.

Many people keep asking me what I think of Trump and his presidency. All I can say is that I'm not afraid of the anarchy that seems to be the nicest word to describe what is going on in his administration. With all his faults, thank Gd, he isn't Hillary Clinton. I have no doubt that she would have been worse than Barack Hussein Obama, especially when it comes to Israel. And I wouldn't be surprised if the rather anemic Democratic Party does draft/pressure Michelle Obama to run in either 2020 or 2024. The only reason that she may refuse is if she really finds herself enjoying their well-paid celebrity life too much.

To make it clear, I want to repeat what I've written many times. The security and continued existence of the State of Israel is up to us, not any foreign country or international organization. We in the State of  Israel and the Jewish People all over the world have a strong invisible ally who can help us defeat all of our enemies, just like He has done in the past. Yes, Gd Almighty is our secret weapon.

Here we are a half a century after the totally miraculous Six Days War. No country supported us. Everyone stood on the sidelines to watch, expecting a certain defeat and destruction of the State of Israel. All over the world, the Jewish People and those who cared about us prayed to Gd for our victory. And Gd facilitated that miraculous victory!

It doesn't matter what goes on in the White House. Thank Gd Trump's main focus isn't on Israel and its enemies. I just hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu will stop looking for a human savior. Only Gd can save us, and He's right here with us waiting for the call. We must pray to Gd and thank Him for the miracles he has already done for us.

Can The United Nations Really Change?

Israel ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon
addresses the UN Security Council on January 17, 2017
(Courtesy) Times of Israel

When Israel's present Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, was appointed just under two years ago he promised to make changes there, since we all know that the UN consistently condemns Israel for all sorts of "outrages" and immoralities. Even though Danon periodically claims various successes, I really don't think things have improved. We all remember Obama/Kerry's parting shots at Israel by conveniently not vetoing the anti-Israel resolution.

screen shot

Even though many of us in Israel, and Israeli supporters all over, are disappointed so far in American President Trump's Israeli policies, at least there's no gut-level antipathy between him and Prime Minister Netanyahu. In addition it's encouraging to hear Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, saying:

Haley told Fox News that the biggest surprise since her arrival two months ago, is what she called the U.N.'s "anti-Israeli bias," citing meetings on the Middle East that focus only on the Jewish State.
"They're not talking about we would care about. They're not talking about Syria. They're not talking about Iran. They're not talking about North Korea. What they are talking about is Israel. Every single month, for 10 years, they've been Israel bashing. And that was something that I just couldn't believe they put the time and energy into doing that, when we have so many threats around the world." (foxnews.com)

The question is whether or not there can really be an appreciable cessation of the anti-Israel policy and resolutions in the United Nations. In all honesty, I'm terribly pessimistic, because pretty much all of the countries in the world are against us, so even if Trump has the USA veto certain resolutions, it's just a drop in the bucket.

Will There be Real Changes in American Policy Towards Israel?

The big question here in Israel and among many American Jews is whether or not the Trump administration will change American policy towards Israel. One great improvement, which isn't actual policy, is attitude.

Obama couldn't hide his genuine antipathy towards Israel and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Even when Obama would read pro-Israel speeches and say the "right words" it was clear that his heart wasn't in it. He absolutely glowed when with Arabs, especially  Mahmoud Abbas. And don't forget that he had vowed to help establish a "Palestinian state" during his term in office. It was the failure to do so that spurred his vicious anti-Israel move in the United Nations and Kerry's awful parting speech while "lame duck."

Contrary to what the New York Times and international media would like people to believe, not all American Jews support J-Street and oppose Jewish life/communities/building in Judea Samaria. Davka, the most committed Jews, the Torah observant ones who have the higher birthrates, totally oppose the extreme Left J-Street and support full Jewish Life and Sovereignty in all of the Land of Israel. On the whole, they are totally embarrassed by American policy. They are proud and happy to have David Friedman as American Ambassador and look forward to the United States' moving its Embassy to Jerusalem.

Pence: 'Trump seriously considering embassy move'

These strongly Jewish American Jews also support building, including news communities, in Judea, Samaria, the Golan and Jordan Valley. And they mourn the destruction of Amona, Gush Katif, etc.

In all honesty, I wouldn't dare predict what Trump will do vis a vis Israel.  At present, he is under so much pressure and opposition to everything he does, good and bad.

Whatever happens, it won't really affect the State of Israel, because our fate and future are in our hands, not those of foreign leaders. Therefore the very best thing the State of Israel can do is to declare complete Israeli Sovereignty over all of the Land we hold. It doesn't matter what anyone says. The stronger and more confident we act the more respect and support we will get from the world, and the more support Gd will give us which is most important. That's the true lesson of Passover, which is in only two weeks.

Remember that the Sea only split when Nachshon stepped in.

Richard Gere, Perfect for Purim

I don't know how far and wide the exposure and publicity Richard Gere's Israeli interviews have gotten, but they got intolerably too much press here in Israel.

As the entire world heard at the pinnacle of the Academy Awards presentation this year when veteran and revered actors Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway showed that their specialty is reading lines, not comprehending them. Richard Gere's statements are on the same track. The utter nonsense Richard Gere has spouted as his plans for the Middle East is as realistic as the worst of Science Fiction or at best Fantasy. Gere reminds me of my students' insistence that James Bond was a real historic character, and the books and movies were based on true facts.

Actor Richard Gere attends a press conference for 'The Dinner' at the 67th Berlinale film festival, Berlin, February 10. Gere has criticized Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and Israeli settlement building.JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/GETTY

RICHARD GERE: THERE IS ‘NO DEFENSE’ OF ISRAEL’S OCCUPATION OR ‘ILLEGAL’ SETTLEMENTS

Gere is a convincing actor, but that doesn't mean that his knowledge and understanding of the situation here is more than superficial. All he's doing is repeating the Obama-Kerry lines, which we all know are based on a pro-Arab, pro-Palestine even if it causes the destruction of the State of Israel ideology.

Honestly, anyone who thinks that the corrupt terrorists ruling in Gaza and Ramalla can morph into peaceful, tolerant and reliable leaders has been watching (or acting in-- like in Method acting) too much Hollywood fantasy and Science Fiction.

The utter irony is that some of his words were totally on target, but his Leftist ideology distorts his comprehension of reality.

“Truth is dead, the obvious is dead, language is dead,” he told Channel 2’s Dana Weiss... (the algemeiner)

Considering Gere's visit and Purim Holiday, we can see that Gd has a great sense of humor. You can read it that Richard Gere admitted that his "truth" is a lie, since “Truth is dead" in his very words. The real Truth is you must take Gere's message and reverse it.

• Settlements are completely legal.
• Israel is meant to be in all of the Land liberated in the 1967 Six Days War.

That man sure needs a better scriptwriter...

From an Expat Living in Israel For Almost Half A Century

As I've written before, my husband and I moved to Israel from New York soon after our 1970 wedding. Israel is the country we know best, even if my Hebrew is still, and will always be, awful.

We still have lots of family and friends in America. Some see the American political scene the way we do, while others think we're raving lunatics. And not only do they think we're crazy, they take for granted that we're ignorant and try to correct our thinking. Sometimes this really gets annoying and tedious. I'm not ignorant. I do follow the news. I just see it differently.


The anti-semitism and anti-zionism, which attack the legitimacy of the existence of the State of Israel, where  I live come from the American Left, not the Right.

Organizations like J-Street, and American politicians like Barack Hussein Obama threaten me personally in their policies. Just because they label themselves as "pro-Israel" doesn't mean that their policies vis a vis Israel would enable the country I live in to survive.

As I've written before, the so-called "Two State Solution" is totally unworkable and won't bring peace to the region, only war, terror and destruction. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's "conditions" of recognizing the State of Israel as a Jewish State and allowing Israel to continue being the military presence in the area, would never be accepted by the Arabs. Yes, that's why he keeps touting them, while claiming that "the Palestinians (sic) deserve a state." His hope/plan is double edged:

• that the Arabs will never dare accept the conditions
• that no foreign body will force/impose a "deal" on us that doesn't include his conditions

In a sense POTUS Trump did cooperate with Bibi when he stated that the negotiations must be between Israel and the Arabs. 

The last thing Trump has time for is putting pressure on Israel to risk all in a bad deal. I guess we should be happy about all the mess Trump has to deal with trying to get his government running smoothly. I'm sure that facilitating a "deal" in the Middle East is not high on his list of priorities, and he needs his son-in-law near him to help out in Washington DC. 

Let's just agree to disagree...

Shavua Tov

Have a Wonderful Week

US - Israel Relations in The Eyes of an Israeli

Israeli and Jerusalem Flags flying outside the Old City Walls

Even though I'm second generation born in the USA, I look at everything happening in America as an Israeli. I voted with my feet when I boarded that boat, the Annamarie, Greek Lines, August, 1970. My chief priority is the security and viability of the State of Israel. Also, as a strictly Torah Observant Jew, aka Orthodox Jew, I see the survival and thriving of the State of Israel as beneficial to the stability and peace of the entire world.

I've spent almost a half a century and the vast majority of my life here in Israel. My husband and I made aliyah, moved to Israel just two months after our wedding. We never actually lived as "adults" in the United States. So please take that as your filter, to understand where I'm coming from, when reading this.

Yesterday evening, when when my husband and I were both home from work watching the Israeli news on television, we were lucky to catch the clip of the warm greetings between  the two first couples, the Trumps and the Netanyahus.

Melania Trump debuts as White House hostess alongside the Netanyahus, YahooNews

This was such a welcome change after the eight frigid and hostile years of Barack Hussein Obama and the eight previous cold, petulant and contentious  Bush years. I know that many American Jews were hoping that Hillary Clinton would win the elections and that there'd be a Democratic majority in both houses, but here in Israel things always look different.

Most Israelis who follow the news will never forget the outrageous and immoral interference in Israeli Elections by the American Government, led by Democrats most notably Obama and the Clintons. They funded the V15 aka "anybody but Bibi" to try to assist the Israeli Left to block Netanyahu's Likud from being able to form a government coalition during the 2015 Knesset Elections.

The Obama administration is using taxpayer dollars to fund a radical anti-Israel group that aims to drive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office in March parliamentary elections.
And the U.S.-based group receiving the U.S. government money, OneVoice International, in turn is working with V15, an "independent grassroots movement" in Israel, according to Ha'aretz. V15's unofficial motto is said to be "anyone but Bibi," a reference that includes the prime minister's nickname.
OneVoice has reportedly hired Obama campaign aides such as Jeremy Bird of political consulting powerhouse 270 Strategies to take on Netanyahu's Likud Party. (FrontPage.com)

Their well-funded attempt wasn't successful, because Israeli citizens didn't fall for their lies and propaganda. And many blamed a similar interference when American Democrats, aka the Clintons, helped support Labor's Ehud Barak to unseat Netanyahu in 1999. This is one of the major reasons Israelis and quite a few American Jews did not want to see Hillary Clinton in the White House. The Clintons are better actors than the Obamas and never have had any real problems mugging  and hugging to fake their "love" for Israel and the Netanyahus. But behind the scenes that power couple has tried every trick in the book to undermine and defeat Bibi (the Likud) and promote their pro-Arab, pro-Palestine agenda.

So, I'd appreciate a little understanding and historic perspective from friends and relatives who are horrendously upset that Trump is the new POTUS. I agree that he's not ideal, but compared to Hillary -look at her deeds and agenda not her chromosomes, please- he's a gazillion times better for Israel.

May Gd Help Us All

"The Times They Are a-Changin"

It seems that "change" has come to the United States. Hasn't it? I was playing around, as only an English Teacher can do with the grammar of that first sentence:

Change is coming...
Change has come...
Change will be coming...

Or should I just quote Bob Dylan and say:

"The Times They Are a-Changin"

Telegraph

Dylan may not like my using his words for this blog post. According to Wikipedia, Dylan wanted to "encourage" change in a certain direction, but I'm using the title of his song to describe a change that the "experts" had failed to predict, and the politicians from both parties, Democrats and Republicans had failed to notice or comprehend. Yes, American politicians Right, Left and Center were caught flat-footed by a tsunami of Republican Primaries voters who chose the hard to categorize unconventional and idiosyncratic television personality, the building mogul Donald Trump, over a slew of wannabes to be the Republican nominee for the Presidency.

And then completely shocking all of the professional pollsters, and possibly himself, too, not only was Donald Trump elected President of the United States, but the Republicans took the Senate, Congress and more governorships than they had expected.

nbcnews.com

Yes, the United States had change, though not in ways that Obama, the Clintons and the perpetually Leftist media, academia and celebrities in both film and fields can accept.

I see a very broken, split disunited United States of America. Americans on both sides of the political spectrum are angry. The "Right" is so angry with the directions they see their country going that they preferred voting for a gutter/locker room-mouthed New Yorker rather than anyone else, and the Left is in shock that Americans, even women, blacks, Mexicans and other minorities all over the country didn't want more of Obama-type  policies and didn't think "it was time for a woman in the White House." Voters from most states also weren't impressed by the movie stars and athletes who had come out telling them to vote for Hillary Clinton.

American Jews who support groups like J Street are in shock that in a Trump White House they will no longer be the "court Jews." Gd willing by next Shabbat, a different type of Jew will be welcomed in the White House, and most of those not only will be eating kosher food, they won't visit on Shabbat.

It's time for Americans to accept changes and make peace with each other. I don't claim it will be easy and speedy, but for the sake of the future of the United States of America, it must be done.

And until that glorious day, please don't drive us in Israel crazy about "peace" in our area of the world. We have a much more serious problem. The Arabs want the State of Israel to be destroyed and all Jews banished. The only way there can be peace here is for the State of Israel to be stronger and sovereign here in all of the Land we hold. We deal with very big problems here, so please take care of yours, and we'll take care of ours.