How Are They Going To Celebrate?

McCain concedes as Democratic candidate wins California

The United States voter turnout was impressive.

In a sense, I envy the true choice Americans had from only two slates. In Israel, there are so many political parties, and not one of them appeals to me.

Now that the United States Elections are over for now, and I'm sure that the process has already begun, especially in the Republicans to run for 2012 and 2016, if Obama remains popular, I'll start concentrating on the Israeli Elections. G-d help us all.

Those Phone Calls

It's good news, bad news.
The good news is that Israel's election season is much shorter than the American one, which can be best described as never ending. The bad news is that ours has begun. Even if I didn't keep up with the news, I'd know now, because...
I got one of those phone calls:

"Please answer this survey. It's only one question:

In the Likud primaries, would you vote for Land of Israel loyalist Michael Kleiner, who is running with Benny Begin?
Press one for yes,
two for no and
three for undecided."

All I could think of was who's this Michael Kleiner? Where has he been the past few years? If he's such a Land of Israel Loyalist, why hasn't he been busy working, campaigning, demonstrating etc? MK's Arieh Eldad and Effie Eitam were injured at Amona. Where were Kliener and Begin? They haven't visited endangered villages like Shiloh.

Now that it's election time, suddenly they're interested!

Why did Begin Return to Likud?
Former MK Michael Kleiner who left the Likud party a few years ago together with MK Benny Begin, speaks with ...

Sorry Charley, or should I say Mickey? Suddenly, you woke up? Why haven't you been crying out in pain for the sake of Eretz Yisrael all along, or at least since Arik Sharon announced his dangerous Disengagement Plan? Benny Begin may be considered the most honest and uncorruptable in Israeli public life, but his, your timing makes you both look like opportunists.

As I tried to explain to the Hatikvah leadership, those delusioned idealists trying to promote MK Dr. Arieh Eldad as the "last hatless hope" for Israel's right wing, there are tried and true, tested and reliable techniques and tactics for promoting ideas. One thing is that you must constantly work, not just during official campaigns. Politics is a very complex profession. You must work at it all the time, have stamina, endurance. You must promote an encouraging message, a vision to galvanize the people.

Any guesses which number I pressed and why?

The Farce of American Democracy

This map shows the relative strength of the individual vote in United States Presidential Elections. While America is bragging about its great system, and many countries jealously wish that they had a governmental system like in the states, I suggest that you read this excellent article from The New York Times. There's no reason for me to try to explain what the writers do so well.

America, you can start by ridding yourself of the Electoral College System.

What Do You Think They're Saying?

I didn't attempt to overhear their conversations. I just focused my camera and activated the optical 4X zoom on Benny Begin, Uzi Landau and Dan Meridor.

Considering the news about Begin and Landau wanting to return to the Likud and try to get into the Knesset, their conversations must have been...

Picture #1



Picture #2

Picture #3

Picture #4

What do you think they're saying?

NRP--RIP?

For sure the venerable Yosef Burg is rolling in his grave, possibly even more than after some of son Avrum's statements.
The news is that the Mafdal, National Religious Party leaders have disbanded the party. No, they haven't left politics. They have just decided that the party should metamorphis into something new, more marketable. So, is the NRP dead?

I don't think so.

Read the fine print. And stay tuned. MK's Orlev and Elon are calling it a religious party with non-Orthodox MK's too. Let's see what happens.

Israeli politicians, Left, Right and Center, are running around in a panicky tizzy. It reminds me of the game "Musical Chairs," when the music stops and everyone's trying to quickly find a seat, so they won't be left standing and then forced to leave the game.

The Bell Files

Posted by Ellen W. Horowitz

Joel and Pamela Bell (Joe and Pam) are Christian missionaries who moved to Israel - and obtained citizenship - in 2003 with the purpose of inspiring an End Times Christian Revival in the Holy Land.

Joel has called upon messianic Christians to move en masse to Israel , "buy land in Israel” and lay claim to their “right to own a home” in the Land of Israel, because Gentiles “have been grafted in to the commonwealth of Israel through Melchizedek - Yehoshua HaMashiach (Jesus)”. Israel is, therefore, their “eternal inheritance” which they will share with their “brother Judah” (religious Jews).

The Bells run a television ministry out of Sha’ar Benjamin called Frontline Israel which they claim “has been invited into a Jewish house to build the Kingdom of G-d with Israel”, as “Israel is crying out to God for a comforter, deliverer, and partner.”

Joel Bell has indeed found a partner with the evangelical friendly Likud party, and he directs a network of Likud affiliated websites and projects such as:

• World Evangelical Zionists
• World Likud Board of Governors
• World Biblical Zionists

Incredibly, World Likud chairman and Jewish Agency Board of Governors member Danny Danon , and Young Likud leader and activist Sagiv Assulin, have openly and knowingly joined, befriended, and encouraged Joel and his colorful group of messianic friends and “spies” in their “prophetic” quest “to bring Judah and Ephraim… together as one stick in the hand of Messiah.”

[Note: This particular brand of eschatology is sometimes referred to as the Ephraimite or Two- House movement]

And speaking of friends….

Among “Joe and Pam’s” Christian friends is the notorious missionary Richard Booker.

Joel is so comfortable with his Jewish friends that he had the chutzpah to send them an email Hannukah greeting enmeshing images of Gush Katif with starry crosses and a proclamation of Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish messiah.

Joel’s wife Pamela, on the other hand, is more discreet about her love for Jesus. It seems she has been known, on more than one occasion, to present herself as a Jewess to community leaders and activists in Israel (perhaps that’s Joel’s way of getting a foot in the door). The Jewish Director of a major Christian fundraising body informed this writer that, “Pamela claims to be Jewish, but her beliefs are definitely Christian.”

The Bell’s agenda have lost them a few friends along the way…
Manhigut Yehudit’s leader,

Moshe Feiglin heard firsthand that Joel Bell plans to bring 1 million Christians to live in Israel. It should be noted that Feiglin – who at one time accepted funds from Joel - had enough integrity to sever his relationship with the Bells after being informed of their missionary agenda. He has since taken a strong stand and written about the subject of Israel-Christian relations.

But even those Jewish activists, fundraisers, educators, politicians, and rabbis who continue to cooperate with the evangelical community have less-than-flattering comments about Joel Bell, which run the full gamut from, "Be careful with Joel - honesty is not his strongest suit” to he is “a crook and a liar” (sorry. no links, as I’m protecting my sources).
A prime example of Joel’s “integrity problem” was given over to me by a reliable source in Hebron when, back in July 2008, I questioned Joel’s claim that his organization, Frontline Israel, "gives thousands of dollars to the Torah academy located in the synagogue at the Cave of Machpela". The source reported the following to me by email:

Baruch Marzel who runs the Zilberman Talmud Torah ” told me that although in the past he has been in contact and spoken with Bell, he has never received money from him. He also said that its been at least two years since he has even seen him or spoken to him. I read to him what Bell publicizes on his website about the Talmud Torah and Baruch said he would be in contact with Bell to demand its removal."

As of this writing, Frontline Israel has indeed removed references to the Hebron Talmud Torah.

Alert: Coming to your neighborhood soon… (Heads up Shiloh)
Joel Bell’s Frontline Israel presents The Israel 60th Diamond AnniversaryTour from November 7th - 18th. “This tour will introduce you to the unique opportunities available to build your future in Israel.”

The tour for “Christian Zionists” is also being billed as an opportunity to invest in opportunities in Israel and to take a leadership role by participating in the 2008 Israel Prime Minister’s Conference and World Likud Board of Governors Convention which was originally billed for June 2008, but later moved to November 13th -14th (plans and exact dates still appear to be unclear). But you can still take a look at the 2007 promotion to get the idea.

Conclusion and Recommendation:
Joel and Pamela Bell are missionaries who are actively promoting an Evangelical Christian revival in Israel. The Bell’s most recent endeavors involve a partnership with the Ephraimite movement who have as their goals: a) mass aliyah of Christians to Judea and Samaria and b) convincing Jews that Jesus was and is the Jewish messiah.

Unfortunately, Joel Bell enjoys a relationship with influential members of the Likud party – which he flaunts and uses to legitimize his aims. Joel is clearly trying to establish a large and permanent foothold for Christian fundamentalists in Israel, and is doing so by promoting Evangelical “investments, jobs, housing, education, military training, and community.”

Regrettably, Joel also boasts of a relationship with “leaders, Rabbis, men, women and children of the [Gush Katif] communities”. He maintains a prominent link on his homepage to an endorsement letter from Gush Katif rabbis and community leaders “commissioning FrontlineIsrael to speak on their behalf”

The financial, moral, and political “support” (as well as the purported fight against anti-Semitism), which currently emanates from certain sectors of an evangelizing Christian world, should not open the door for Jews in Israel and the Diaspora to break down Torah fences and to sanction idolatry, apostasy and Christian influence in Eretz Yisrael.

In this current state of shmad (spiritual destruction) it is my overwhelming recommendation that Jewish and pro-Israel organizations and individuals do not cooperate with or encourage Joel and Pamela Bell and their endeavors in any way.

Scurrying Rats

Sorry, I won't be able to set up my links. I'm on a friend's mac, and the composing/posting isn't as easy.

It's easy to see which party is expected to get the most votes in the next Israeli Elections, because that's the party seen most in these sorts of headlines:

_____ Is Joining/Running in the Primaries of the Likud

We have Benny Begin, Danny Seaman, Effie Eitam, Uzi Landau and the deadline isn't even close.

None of these people would make the Likud more attractive to me. Sorry, to say so. Benny and Uzi and Effie, too, are considered honest, but they're not great politicians. They're missing charisma and people skills.

Uzi loves to compromise and be "loved." We saw that in the previous elections. He doesn't have the "drive" needed. I was going to say "killer instinct," because it's not "pc."

Benny, when I last saw him running for offices, was depressing. He didn't inspire, or let's say that he only saw the black.

I heard Effie Eitam speak, and he wasn't much brighter, except when he spoke of religion.

Israeli Voter
Searching for
Strong Pro-Eretz Yisrael for Am Yisrael Party
To Vote For

Dear Aunt Ellen...

Oy, it seems that we don't need SNL, Comedy Central and a left wing media to make the Republican Party look like total idiots. They do it all by themselves. Take a stiff drink before you see this Jewish Republican fiasco

Meanwhile, It seems McCain as chairman of the International Republican Institute awarded $448,873 and several other grants to Khalidi's endeavors. And our Zionist buddy New Republic's Martin Peretz has nothing bad to say about Khalidi. So Jewish Republicans can keep digging for dirt on Obama until they bury themselves with it . A little honesty, wisdom and foresight could have gone a long way in this election.

My niece wrote to me last week...

Hi Aunt Ellen!

I hope all is well with everyone! I just wanted to say hi and I was wondering what your thoughts and opinions are on the election coming up!

I am very conflicted as to who to vote for as I do not feel 100% comfortable with either candidate. But I do want to know what the overall opinion is over in Israel!

Let me know...
Thanks!

Lots of love to everyone!!!
Jamie


Hi Jamie,

I was really enjoying my fly-on-the-wall status until you wrote to me. It was almost fun observing America's bizarre campaign extravaganza from afar. I was so relieved that I wouldn't have to bother tearing myself into pieces over elections that I don't vote in. But it seems I’ve got very a thoughtful and responsible niece who is seriously grappling with a tough, tough issue. So I guess I’ll have to dabble a bit with America’s leadership crisis and the difficult and disappointing choices being offered.
But you might be sorry you asked…

The simple answer to your question is that it appears – from local opinion polls in Israel - that the majority (approx. two thirds) of Israelis are very concerned about the prospects of an Obama victory. I think it’s because he is an unknown and there are questions with regards to his associations and leanings, and concerns as to his possible stance on negotiations with Israel’s enemies. It seems the majority of Israelis deem McCain as the “safer” choice.

I confess that I’m neither well-informed about the broad spectrum of issues nor familiar with the platforms, so I can only give you my opinion as a very Jewish woman living in a Jewish state. I generally don’t like it when Americans interfere in Israeli elections and our internal affairs, so I tend to steer clear of America’s domestic politics. I vote for Israel, and always have – even when I lived in America. Your aunt likes to play fair, so a long time ago I decided that if my criteria for choosing a candidate in U.S. presidential elections was exclusively Israel-focused, then I should really be living in Israel. I like to feel whole and consistent, so the dual loyalty game is not my cup of tea, but it was a lot easier to play that game once-upon-a-time when American and Israeli interests were more in sync.

I would say that the Republicans ran a lousy campaign, and did not rise to Obama’s challenge with a cogent and intelligent response and presentation. Instead, they trashed an intelligent and articulate candidate, wrapped him in a turban and labeled him a Muslim with Marxist leanings who palls around with terrorists. I think it was a very stupid, negative, and unfair strategy that may have backfired (we will see in a couple of days).

Certain Israelis have been incessantly smearing Obama, too. And I keep asking myself the following question: Rather than besmirch him, why haven’t Israeli and Diaspora leaders and activists spent the last several months preparing an effective response and strategically positioning themselves for a possible change in U.S. leadership and policy. We Jews need to roll with the punches and come up on top regardless of the changes in a U.S. Administration.

There are legitimate reasons for Jews in Israel and the Diaspora to be very concerned, but I don’t believe in the doomsday scenarios and fear-mongering rhetoric coming from the Jewish Republican camp like, “an Obama presidency is fatal for Israel and lethal for the Jews”; or from fundamentalist Christian pundits like Ann Coulter who state that, “The survival of Israel is inextricably linked to the survival of the Republican Party and its evangelical base”. I reject the talk of another Holocaust, because if abandoned and backed against a wall, Israel will act.

Ironically, an Obama victory may force Israel to stand on her feet. We need to walk, but somebody has got to take away our crutches first. A McCain win may be more comfortable, but that means we will continue to lean heavily on America – and the longer we lean, the more beholden we become – and atrophy sets in. Every time America “saves” us, we lose more of our sovereignty, assume pawn status, and pay the price at the “peace table”. An Obama victory could buy Israel 6 to 8 months of time while America is in transition and the Democrats set up house – and we would have to scramble to get our act together.

Obama may have a silver tongue, but Benjamin Netanyahu has a golden one, and he has the potential to hold his ground and out-talk any international leader. Maybe if America swings Left, Israel will swing Right and respond with a good, strong leader who can act. [note: your aunt is an eternal optimist, and a little naïve –so don’t count on my theory.]

In the big picture, the world is facing great and not-so-great changes with or without McCain and Obama – as they are not really in control. But there is also a smaller and very important picture. And your individual vote really does matter.

People speak about voting your conscience, but for a Jew that’s no simple task. You have to search your head and heart. Your country of citizenship, political allegiances, worldview and life style can change - just look at your aunt. But you'll always be a Jew with special obligations and commitments to your people, and your land. And Israel is your land. And the Jewish nation is like one body and we're all responsible for each other and to Jewish continuity.

So I guess my advice to you is to vote like a Jew - not like the Jewish crowd, but as an individual who carries the entire world on her shoulders. Search you heart, and then vote with your head.

Good Luck! (you didn’t really think I would tell you who to vote for…)

Love,
Aunt Ellen

The PARTY LINE

IMHO, the most worrying thing about Barack H Obama is his Senate voting record, as straight party line as could be. That does not show that he thinks much about issues. It doesn't show any independence of thought, nor individualism, non-conformity, nor the guts to be pro-"change."

Here are a couple of short videos from Carl's Israel Matzav, the "Situation" to confuse you.

Political Polls and Shopping Baskets

First of all, I just can't get all excited over the nitty-gritty of the results of political polls. "Representative samples," are just that, random selection of people willing to answer some asinine and annoying questions.

Of the more recent phone calls I've received to participate in polls, I've been annoyed by the poor diction of those making the calls. Clear and proper enunciation has followed correct grammar into the realm of "child abuse." For the past fifty years or so, parents and pre-school teachers have been reprimanded for correcting children's speech. Now, not even teachers pronounce all letters clearly. Where's Professor Higgins?

There's a growing trend to answer these polls "creatively." That means that not everyone is totally honest when responding. It's considered a joke, which the young trendies in Tel Aviv took a step further in the last Israeli Elections when they voted for the Retiree Party as a lark.

IMRA reported about some of the contradictions in recent polls:

1. 4 polls Likud 25-31 Kadima 22-31, Israelis oppose negotiating Jerusalem 55%:36%
2. Correction 3 polls Likud 25-31 Kadima 22-31, Israelis oppose negotiating Jerusalem 55%:36%

It reminds me of how obsessive-compulsive some become trying to find the best prices for various items in the discount supermarkets. Chasing and calculating, item and item can end up costing more, certainly in time and transportation costs. The most efficient way to save is to calculate the cost of the entire shopping list and compare that store to store. Choose one store, which has a lower total cost, plus good service and fast check-out, and that's how you really save.

And with these political polls, just look at the very "big picture," the trends and the blocks, and don't forget that it's just "guess-work." Also, all pollsters know that you can control results by the wording and ordering of your questions. I highly doubt that all of the pollsters use totally identical wording of their questions.

Getting back to my relating the polls to the discount stores. It doesn't matter how great the bargain when the products are so awful. Yes, I am not happy with any of the political parties. None of them in the running are promoting what's important to me:

Eretz Yisrael for Am Yisrael

The Land of Israel for The Jewish People

Destroy Arab Terrorism

No Establishing Another Arab State--

No Establishing An Arab Terror State in

The Land of Israel!

Vote Early; Vote Often

I'm not sure of the origins of the saying, but it does seem to be the trend in the states. No, please don't get me wrong. I'm not implying that the "early" voters are doing something illegal.

In our modern world, nobody likes to be inconvenienced, so the idea of "early voting," whenever it started, I don't know, suits people. Everybody wants and expects flexibility.

The tail end of the saying, "vote often," then can have a very benign meaning. "Often" can mean "every election." The fact that the voter can choose whenever to establishes voting as a norm.

Most people do want to vote, but if because of whatever reason, someone doesn't vote, the precedent makes it easier to skip voting entirely.

And, no, we don't have it in Israel. No absentee ballots either. I think that official embassy staff can vote, but not other official workers, like Jewish Agency workers. Because of that we didn't vote for Begin in 1977, running on Gahal, I think.