Onward Messianic soldier? Israeli believers weigh in on Gaza war
As believers, are we permitted to use and support the use of force? Or are we restricted to 'turning the other cheek'? more»
************
Onward Christian Soldiers!
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn't have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Israel Today (Dec. 31, 2008)
To read all of today's news items in full, click here.
Onward Messianic soldier? Israeli believers weigh in on Gaza war
As believers, are we permitted to use and support the use of force? Or are we restricted to 'turning the other cheek'? more»
Palestinian rockets reach Beersheva, trans-Israel highway
Missile slams into schoolhouse in 'capital of the Negev'; two wounded in attack on port of Ashdod more»
France presses Gaza ceasefire, Israel and US resist
DM Barak surprises army by considering 48-hour truce; Olmert and Livni want to expand assault until Hamas begs for mercy more»
Netanyahu jumps into Gaza public relations fray
Opposition leader takes charge of campaign to explain Israel's Gaza assault to the international media more»
Israel's use of force in Gaza: Excessive, or just right?
Legal expert explains that condemnation of Israel for 'excessive use of force' is illogical and has no legal basis more»
Egypt and Hizballah in war of words over Gaza
Egyptian FM mocks Hizballah as weak and disgraceful after Lebanese group urges Egyptians to rise up more»
Israeli FM tells al-Jazeera to shape up
Livni warns Arab news network that its one-sided coverage is stoking the flames of hatred, not advancing the cause of peace more»
Patriots and anti-patriots
From Women in Green:
Dear Friends,
Yesterday we sent you an article by Rachel Saperstein describing the horrendous situation which our brothers from Gush Katif are in after the Gaza War has reached them, too.
Ironically, tomorrow, Thursday, January 1, at 10:00am, in the Shalom Court, the trial of the State of Israel vs Nadia Matar is continuing in front of Judge Mintz.
As you may recall, Nadia Matar, co-chair of Women in Green, is accused of "insulting a public official" for having written a letter to Yonatan Bassi, head of the Sela Disengagement Authority, urging him prior to the expulsion from Gush Katif, to not give a hand to the disengagement. Nadia's letter can be read here: http://www.womeningreen.org.il/new/pett.asp (to find the English text of the letter, scroll to the bottom of that page).
Judge Mintz had found Nadia not guilty but the State appealed and the trial is starting all over again, once again in front of Judge Mintz. The public is invited to attend this farce. Nadia's attorney, Yoram Sheftel, has announced that he plans on starting his speech by saying that the very fact that this trial is still taking place, three years after the expulsion, in the middle of a Gaza War, when everything Nadia wrote in her letter came true, is proof of the persecution by the government against lovers of the land of Israel.
Following is Caroline Glick's moving article on Tsafrir Ronen of blessed memory.
Women in Green
==============
Our World: Patriots and anti-patriots
December 30, 2008
Caroline Glick, THE JERUSALEM POST
Two years ago, the North was a war zone. Fields and forests, homes and hospitals were set ablaze by Hizbullah missiles. But on Sunday afternoon, as a tireless patriot was laid to rest in the Jezreel Valley, the ground was not burning with missile fire, it was exploding with fecundity. It filled the air with the aroma of its promise of spring harvests.
A multitude of mourners from all over the country crowded into Moshav Moledet's small cemetery to pay their final respects to 53-year-old Tzafrir Ronen, who died of a heart attack on Friday night. The man they mourned had dedicated his life to defending the country. In recent years, Tzafrir spent nearly every waking moment fighting for its soul. He sought to educate his fellow Israelis about the threats facing the country generally, and specifically about the existential danger to its viability presented by the Left's defeatist and post-Zionist narrative.
For this son of the Jezreel Valley, who grew up with the land, that narrative - which argues that Israel has neither the ability nor the right to defeat its enemies and to settle its land - was the single greatest threat to the long-term well-being of the country. Over the years, as Tzafrir's frustration at the direction the country was taking grew, his message became angrier and more urgent. As each of his successive warnings - about the fraudulent Oslo peace process, the withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the criminalization of Jewish building in Judea and Samaria, the refusal to enforce laws in the Israeli Arab sector, the expulsion of the Jews from Gaza and northern Samaria and the establishment of the Hamas terror state in Gaza - were ignored by successive governments, by the media and, inevitably, by voters, Tzafrir, like so many others in his position felt he was shouting into the wind.
MARGINALIZING AND silencing voices like Tzafrir's is one of the Israeli Left's greatest achievements. By consistently ignoring or demonizing voices like Tzafrir's - who have been correct about every major strategic issue facing the country - while steadfastly legitimizing and lionizing men and women like Amos Oz, Shulamit Aloni, Yossi Beilin and Haim Ramon - who not only have been wrong about every major issue in the past generation, but have also often taken leading roles in our enemies' propaganda campaigns - the Left has managed to remove our most vibrant thinkers and bravest builders and fighters from the national debate.
But the hundreds who crowded into the cemetery on Sunday are proof that the Left's success has been far from complete. The mourners at his funeral included israelis from all walks of life - religious, secular, farmers, city-dwellers, Jews, non-Jews, new olim, and sabras. The fact that people from such diverse backgrounds and traditions have found the way to work with one another shows that in spite of the demonization of the Right, people are still interested in defending and building the country. They are still are drawn to voices in the wilderness, like Tzafrir's, which say that we must fight, and win, and that we deserve to win and should feel privileged to fight for what is right.
On the face of it, Tzafrir, his colleagues and friends could feel vindicated by the Olmert-Livni-Barak government's decision to launch Operation Cast Lead against Hamas's regime in Gaza. Since Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni first began advocating the surrender of Gaza in late 2003, Tzafrir and his colleagues were at the forefront of the protest movement against the giveaway. Not only did they argue that the forcible expulsion and destruction of communities in Gaza was a moral outrage, they warned that a withdrawal would transform Gaza into the jihadist hub it has become.
AND OF course, they were right. Far from bringing peace and stability, as they warned the likes of Olmert and Livni, withdrawal from Gaza started the countdown to the war we are now fighting. And as they warned would happen, withdrawal from Gaza allowed Hamas to become an Iranian proxy and build the Iranian-supplied army that now assaults the South with missiles and rockets.
Moreover, the international outcry which has greeted the IDF operation, and the tepid US support it has enjoyed, shows clearly that by "ending the occupation" of Gaza, (which actually ended with the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994), Israel weakened rather than strengthened its international supporters. Today it is being condemned more harshly than it was in 2004 when the IDF nearly destroyed Hamas in Gaza by decapitating its leadership.
On the face of it, Tzafrir and his colleagues could pat themselves on the backs and say that by waging Operation Cast Lead, Livni and Olmert and the architect of unilateral surrenders of land to terrorists himself - Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who handed South Lebanon to Hizbullah in 2000 - have finally seen the light. They understand that terrorists have to be defeated and that the country is better off controlling hostile territories than allowing its enemies to control them.
BUT THIS is not the case. Olmert, Livni and Barak have made clear that they haven't changed their defeatist and post-Zionist view of Israel's prospects at all. Their current operation in Gaza is not aimed at defeating Hamas. They have uttered no call for victory. To the contrary, as Olmert made clear in his speech on Saturday evening, the goal of the current campaign is simply to "change the situation" in the South. The question is what "change" they have in mind.
For her part, Livni has called for installing the Fatah terror group in Gaza instead of Hamas. But Fatah has been rejected not only by Gazans, but by the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria as well. Bringing Fatah into Gaza would do nothing to stabilize the situation. It would simply be an invitation for Fatah to conduct war against Israel and seek an accommodation with Hamas and Iran.
Barak has claimed that we can no more negotiate a settlement with Hamas than the US can negotiate a settlement with al-Qaida. And this is true in principle. Just as al-Qaida will never live at peace with America, so Hamas will never accept peaceful coexistence with Israel. But Barak has never been one to abide by principles.
He didn't adhere to that principle six months ago when he convinced Livni and Olmert to accept a cease-fire that enabled Hamas to build its army and its missile arsenal without fear of IDF attack. And Barak did not adhere to this principle when as late as last Tuesday he was calling for a renewal of the failed, one-sided cease-fire.
THE FACT of the matter is that the change that the Olmert-Livni-Barak government seeks today has more to do with the public's perception of its competence than with any interest in changing the situation in Gaza in any fundamental way. During the Second Lebanon War, the government showed that it could not be trusted with the defense of the country and with the proper deployment of IDF soldiers. And in the aftermath of that war, the government lost its moral right to send its forces into battle.
Now it uses its campaign in Gaza as a means of winning back its moral authority. But the problem is that despite its protestations of cunning competence, the government's aims today are the same as they were in 2006. As was the case with Hizbullah, the Olmert-Livni-Barak government is signaling that it seeks a new negotiated settlement with Hamas. The hoped-for settlement, which has been telegraphed to the public through the pro-government media, will leave Hamas in power in Gaza. Although the government claims that the postwar Hamas will be more peaceful than the prewar Hamas, there is no reason to believe this will be the case.
Just as has been the case with Hizbullah since the government failed to destroy the terror army in 2006, so if Hamas remains in control of Gaza after the current war, no matter what its condition, it will be perceived as the winner.
HERE IT is important to make a sharp distinction between the IDF's clear military successes in Gaza and the political leadership's problematic management of this campaign. In the former case, it is inarguable that by destroying Hamas's military installations, killing its military commanders and incapacitating its weapons smuggling infrastructure, the IDF is weakening Hamas as a military organization. And this is a great and long-awaited achievement.
In contrast, the Olmert-Livni-Barak government's refusal to reconsider its defeatist political philosophy makes it apparent that in the longer term, any strategic advantage enjoyed from the IDF's success will be marginal. Like Hizbullah, Hamas - which enjoys Iranian and Syrian state sponsorship and authentic popularity throughout the Islamic world - does not have to defeat Israel to be perceived as the victor. It merely needs to survive. That is the great difference between jihadist organizations and Western democracies. And by surviving, it will expand its international cachet.
JUST AS the Bush administration seeks to accommodate Hizbullah by selling advanced weapons to the Lebanese government it dominates, so too, in the aftermath of the current campaign, Hamas will be accepted by the West.
Tzafrir Ronen, and his colleagues whose strategic wisdom caused them to be banished from the public square, can always depend on hapless, defeatist governments like that of Olmert, Livni, and Barak to remember them in times of crisis. Like a Swiss clock, whenever leaders who preach nothing but defeat and retreat to their countrymen find themselves in a position of having to fight our enemies, they know they can count on men like Tzafrir to fight for them. And to date, men like Tzafrir, who served in the IDF's elite combat units, and whose sons and daughters continue to bear the greatest burdens in our defense, have answered their calls without hesitation.
Looking at the faces of the mourners on Sunday afternoon and listening to the many eulogies of Tzafrir that repeatedly praised his Zionism, there was no room for doubt that again today these people will answer the call. But how long will this state of affairs continue? How long can failed and strategically blind politicians continue to expect the men and women they demonize to save the country after they fail, and then hand it back to them to endanger again?
caroline@carolineglick.com
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.org
http://www.womeningreen.org
To subscribe to the Women in Green list,
please send a blank email message to:
list4-subscribe@womeningreen.org
Check your spam filter for confirmation to reply to
Dear Friends,
Yesterday we sent you an article by Rachel Saperstein describing the horrendous situation which our brothers from Gush Katif are in after the Gaza War has reached them, too.
Ironically, tomorrow, Thursday, January 1, at 10:00am, in the Shalom Court, the trial of the State of Israel vs Nadia Matar is continuing in front of Judge Mintz.
As you may recall, Nadia Matar, co-chair of Women in Green, is accused of "insulting a public official" for having written a letter to Yonatan Bassi, head of the Sela Disengagement Authority, urging him prior to the expulsion from Gush Katif, to not give a hand to the disengagement. Nadia's letter can be read here: http://www.womeningreen.org.il/new/pett.asp (to find the English text of the letter, scroll to the bottom of that page).
Judge Mintz had found Nadia not guilty but the State appealed and the trial is starting all over again, once again in front of Judge Mintz. The public is invited to attend this farce. Nadia's attorney, Yoram Sheftel, has announced that he plans on starting his speech by saying that the very fact that this trial is still taking place, three years after the expulsion, in the middle of a Gaza War, when everything Nadia wrote in her letter came true, is proof of the persecution by the government against lovers of the land of Israel.
Following is Caroline Glick's moving article on Tsafrir Ronen of blessed memory.
Women in Green
==============
Our World: Patriots and anti-patriots
December 30, 2008
Caroline Glick, THE JERUSALEM POST
Two years ago, the North was a war zone. Fields and forests, homes and hospitals were set ablaze by Hizbullah missiles. But on Sunday afternoon, as a tireless patriot was laid to rest in the Jezreel Valley, the ground was not burning with missile fire, it was exploding with fecundity. It filled the air with the aroma of its promise of spring harvests.
A multitude of mourners from all over the country crowded into Moshav Moledet's small cemetery to pay their final respects to 53-year-old Tzafrir Ronen, who died of a heart attack on Friday night. The man they mourned had dedicated his life to defending the country. In recent years, Tzafrir spent nearly every waking moment fighting for its soul. He sought to educate his fellow Israelis about the threats facing the country generally, and specifically about the existential danger to its viability presented by the Left's defeatist and post-Zionist narrative.
For this son of the Jezreel Valley, who grew up with the land, that narrative - which argues that Israel has neither the ability nor the right to defeat its enemies and to settle its land - was the single greatest threat to the long-term well-being of the country. Over the years, as Tzafrir's frustration at the direction the country was taking grew, his message became angrier and more urgent. As each of his successive warnings - about the fraudulent Oslo peace process, the withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the criminalization of Jewish building in Judea and Samaria, the refusal to enforce laws in the Israeli Arab sector, the expulsion of the Jews from Gaza and northern Samaria and the establishment of the Hamas terror state in Gaza - were ignored by successive governments, by the media and, inevitably, by voters, Tzafrir, like so many others in his position felt he was shouting into the wind.
MARGINALIZING AND silencing voices like Tzafrir's is one of the Israeli Left's greatest achievements. By consistently ignoring or demonizing voices like Tzafrir's - who have been correct about every major strategic issue facing the country - while steadfastly legitimizing and lionizing men and women like Amos Oz, Shulamit Aloni, Yossi Beilin and Haim Ramon - who not only have been wrong about every major issue in the past generation, but have also often taken leading roles in our enemies' propaganda campaigns - the Left has managed to remove our most vibrant thinkers and bravest builders and fighters from the national debate.
But the hundreds who crowded into the cemetery on Sunday are proof that the Left's success has been far from complete. The mourners at his funeral included israelis from all walks of life - religious, secular, farmers, city-dwellers, Jews, non-Jews, new olim, and sabras. The fact that people from such diverse backgrounds and traditions have found the way to work with one another shows that in spite of the demonization of the Right, people are still interested in defending and building the country. They are still are drawn to voices in the wilderness, like Tzafrir's, which say that we must fight, and win, and that we deserve to win and should feel privileged to fight for what is right.
On the face of it, Tzafrir, his colleagues and friends could feel vindicated by the Olmert-Livni-Barak government's decision to launch Operation Cast Lead against Hamas's regime in Gaza. Since Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni first began advocating the surrender of Gaza in late 2003, Tzafrir and his colleagues were at the forefront of the protest movement against the giveaway. Not only did they argue that the forcible expulsion and destruction of communities in Gaza was a moral outrage, they warned that a withdrawal would transform Gaza into the jihadist hub it has become.
AND OF course, they were right. Far from bringing peace and stability, as they warned the likes of Olmert and Livni, withdrawal from Gaza started the countdown to the war we are now fighting. And as they warned would happen, withdrawal from Gaza allowed Hamas to become an Iranian proxy and build the Iranian-supplied army that now assaults the South with missiles and rockets.
Moreover, the international outcry which has greeted the IDF operation, and the tepid US support it has enjoyed, shows clearly that by "ending the occupation" of Gaza, (which actually ended with the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994), Israel weakened rather than strengthened its international supporters. Today it is being condemned more harshly than it was in 2004 when the IDF nearly destroyed Hamas in Gaza by decapitating its leadership.
On the face of it, Tzafrir and his colleagues could pat themselves on the backs and say that by waging Operation Cast Lead, Livni and Olmert and the architect of unilateral surrenders of land to terrorists himself - Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who handed South Lebanon to Hizbullah in 2000 - have finally seen the light. They understand that terrorists have to be defeated and that the country is better off controlling hostile territories than allowing its enemies to control them.
BUT THIS is not the case. Olmert, Livni and Barak have made clear that they haven't changed their defeatist and post-Zionist view of Israel's prospects at all. Their current operation in Gaza is not aimed at defeating Hamas. They have uttered no call for victory. To the contrary, as Olmert made clear in his speech on Saturday evening, the goal of the current campaign is simply to "change the situation" in the South. The question is what "change" they have in mind.
For her part, Livni has called for installing the Fatah terror group in Gaza instead of Hamas. But Fatah has been rejected not only by Gazans, but by the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria as well. Bringing Fatah into Gaza would do nothing to stabilize the situation. It would simply be an invitation for Fatah to conduct war against Israel and seek an accommodation with Hamas and Iran.
Barak has claimed that we can no more negotiate a settlement with Hamas than the US can negotiate a settlement with al-Qaida. And this is true in principle. Just as al-Qaida will never live at peace with America, so Hamas will never accept peaceful coexistence with Israel. But Barak has never been one to abide by principles.
He didn't adhere to that principle six months ago when he convinced Livni and Olmert to accept a cease-fire that enabled Hamas to build its army and its missile arsenal without fear of IDF attack. And Barak did not adhere to this principle when as late as last Tuesday he was calling for a renewal of the failed, one-sided cease-fire.
THE FACT of the matter is that the change that the Olmert-Livni-Barak government seeks today has more to do with the public's perception of its competence than with any interest in changing the situation in Gaza in any fundamental way. During the Second Lebanon War, the government showed that it could not be trusted with the defense of the country and with the proper deployment of IDF soldiers. And in the aftermath of that war, the government lost its moral right to send its forces into battle.
Now it uses its campaign in Gaza as a means of winning back its moral authority. But the problem is that despite its protestations of cunning competence, the government's aims today are the same as they were in 2006. As was the case with Hizbullah, the Olmert-Livni-Barak government is signaling that it seeks a new negotiated settlement with Hamas. The hoped-for settlement, which has been telegraphed to the public through the pro-government media, will leave Hamas in power in Gaza. Although the government claims that the postwar Hamas will be more peaceful than the prewar Hamas, there is no reason to believe this will be the case.
Just as has been the case with Hizbullah since the government failed to destroy the terror army in 2006, so if Hamas remains in control of Gaza after the current war, no matter what its condition, it will be perceived as the winner.
HERE IT is important to make a sharp distinction between the IDF's clear military successes in Gaza and the political leadership's problematic management of this campaign. In the former case, it is inarguable that by destroying Hamas's military installations, killing its military commanders and incapacitating its weapons smuggling infrastructure, the IDF is weakening Hamas as a military organization. And this is a great and long-awaited achievement.
In contrast, the Olmert-Livni-Barak government's refusal to reconsider its defeatist political philosophy makes it apparent that in the longer term, any strategic advantage enjoyed from the IDF's success will be marginal. Like Hizbullah, Hamas - which enjoys Iranian and Syrian state sponsorship and authentic popularity throughout the Islamic world - does not have to defeat Israel to be perceived as the victor. It merely needs to survive. That is the great difference between jihadist organizations and Western democracies. And by surviving, it will expand its international cachet.
JUST AS the Bush administration seeks to accommodate Hizbullah by selling advanced weapons to the Lebanese government it dominates, so too, in the aftermath of the current campaign, Hamas will be accepted by the West.
Tzafrir Ronen, and his colleagues whose strategic wisdom caused them to be banished from the public square, can always depend on hapless, defeatist governments like that of Olmert, Livni, and Barak to remember them in times of crisis. Like a Swiss clock, whenever leaders who preach nothing but defeat and retreat to their countrymen find themselves in a position of having to fight our enemies, they know they can count on men like Tzafrir to fight for them. And to date, men like Tzafrir, who served in the IDF's elite combat units, and whose sons and daughters continue to bear the greatest burdens in our defense, have answered their calls without hesitation.
Looking at the faces of the mourners on Sunday afternoon and listening to the many eulogies of Tzafrir that repeatedly praised his Zionism, there was no room for doubt that again today these people will answer the call. But how long will this state of affairs continue? How long can failed and strategically blind politicians continue to expect the men and women they demonize to save the country after they fail, and then hand it back to them to endanger again?
caroline@carolineglick.com
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.org
http://www.womeningreen.org
To subscribe to the Women in Green list,
please send a blank email message to:
list4-subscribe@womeningreen.org
Check your spam filter for confirmation to reply to
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Reprobate Christians?
Wyatt Ciesielka is right on target (Without a moral compass - or just dull of hearing?) in exposing and condemning our nation's idolatry and immorality leading to our nation's self-destruction and divine judgment. Would to God more ministers would preach the plain truth - would courageously "cry aloud and spare not" and show our people their sins (many remain ignorant and indifferent about) - even if it means attracting "undue attention" and appearing "judgmental" (Isaiah 58:1).
However, too many professing Christians remain in denial that traditional Catholics and Protestants are spiritual drunks and whores (intoxicated by Catholic concoctions), drug addicts (under the heavy influence of Rome); traditional Christians and Catholics are spiritual practicing homosexuals, REPROBATES having a perverse spiritual preference for tradition over truth, for abominable baptized paganism, counterfeit Christian holidays they've accepted (following Constantine, not Jesus Christ), falling for accursed Rome's replacement theology that would replace the biblical Sabbath and holy days and dietary laws (we are commanded to keep) with their idolatrous traditions and unclean doctrines of demons.
Abominable traditional Christians, Protestants and Catholics speak out against bloody abortion and "homosexual marriage," and other grievous national sins (as they should - Matthew 23:23), but they remain willfully blind to their hypocrisy, failing to recognize the seriousness of their proud and stubborn religious sins, their whitewashed paganism, their heathen customs pretending to be Christian, woefully neglecting to call upon all to confess and FORSAKE BABYLON, not just Sodom.
It is necessary for all of us to get our house in order: "We The People" need to repent as individuals and as a nation (2 Chronicle 7:14), or the serious consequences for disobedience to our Great Creator God will leave our homes desolate and our land forsaken, an easy prey for the German-Assyrian eagle prepared to strike (Daniel 9:11).
British-Israelites and Jews in Grave Danger
Death to the American, British and Jewish Peoples?
Will Germany Launch a Nuclear Attack on America?
However, too many professing Christians remain in denial that traditional Catholics and Protestants are spiritual drunks and whores (intoxicated by Catholic concoctions), drug addicts (under the heavy influence of Rome); traditional Christians and Catholics are spiritual practicing homosexuals, REPROBATES having a perverse spiritual preference for tradition over truth, for abominable baptized paganism, counterfeit Christian holidays they've accepted (following Constantine, not Jesus Christ), falling for accursed Rome's replacement theology that would replace the biblical Sabbath and holy days and dietary laws (we are commanded to keep) with their idolatrous traditions and unclean doctrines of demons.
Abominable traditional Christians, Protestants and Catholics speak out against bloody abortion and "homosexual marriage," and other grievous national sins (as they should - Matthew 23:23), but they remain willfully blind to their hypocrisy, failing to recognize the seriousness of their proud and stubborn religious sins, their whitewashed paganism, their heathen customs pretending to be Christian, woefully neglecting to call upon all to confess and FORSAKE BABYLON, not just Sodom.
It is necessary for all of us to get our house in order: "We The People" need to repent as individuals and as a nation (2 Chronicle 7:14), or the serious consequences for disobedience to our Great Creator God will leave our homes desolate and our land forsaken, an easy prey for the German-Assyrian eagle prepared to strike (Daniel 9:11).
British-Israelites and Jews in Grave Danger
Death to the American, British and Jewish Peoples?
Will Germany Launch a Nuclear Attack on America?
Sheik Palazzi and the apostle Paul
This was written years ago, but its truth remains the same:
Dear Sheik Palazzi:
Congratulations on your FrontPage Magazine interview! I'm very happy for you to receive such conservative coverage. It's great. That being said, please permit me to correct a misunderstanding you have of my Jewish Christian brother, Paul.
You wrote:
"When Paul of Tarsus converted to Christianity, he started understanding Christianity in a very different way. There was no need of circumcision anymore, no need of Temple services and no need to observe the ritual commandments of Torah. The entire Jewish tradition was considered to be a temporarily valid religion, as a preliminary stage for the advent of the Messiah. Now that the Messiah has come, Judaism was rejected and meaningless. Jews were the Chosen People since the Messiah was going to be born among them, but since they rejected the Messiah, they were changed from Chosen People into an accursed People."
The strict Pharisee Paul, who continued to call himself a Pharisee AFTER his Christian conversion, saying, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" (Acts 23:6), NEVER said there was no need of circumcision anymore, of Temple services or ritual commandments of the Torah for the JEWS, but he did say many of these holy things weren't required of GENTILE converts to Christianity, agreeing with the Jerusalem Council that decreed:
Acts 15:19-29
19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the GENTILES who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this, letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the GENTILES in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you [Gentiles] with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"--to whom we gave no such commandment-- 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well."
So you see that Paul taught that the GENTILES should keep the minimum requirements of abstaining from immorality, obeying the dietary laws, keeping the biblical Sabbath and festivals!
The early Christian fellowship in Jerusalem, led by James the brother of Jesus (Yeshua), tried to correct this STUBBORN STIGMA AGAINST PAUL that continues to this day and advised him:
Acts 21:20-26
20 And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the GENTILES who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them....
So here the Jewish-Christian leaders in Jerusalem praised the zeal and devotion of the Jews, but were acknowledging that wild rumors and false allegations, disinformation, had been spread against Paul. To prove such charges were groundless, that Paul continued to follow halacha, Jewish traditions and Torah, they encouraged him to go sacrifice with Jews under a Nazarite vow, which he did! Paul sacrificed in the Temple, but then another misunderstanding and rumor spread that he had taken a Gentile into the Temple! Oy veh!
Paul never taught that the Jews' rejection of Jesus changed their status as the Chosen People! He taught that the prophesied partial blindness had happened, but that it was all for the mysterious purpose of God bringing in converted Gentiles into the Israelite fold, the Israelite root and branch of the Jewish Church of God!
Romans 11:1
1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:25-36
25 For I do not desire, [Gentile] brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
" The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins."
28 Concerning the gospel they are [presently] enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
35 "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?"
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Paul acknowledges the animosity between Judaism and biblical Christianity, but believes, according to his God-given understanding of the prophecies, that all's well that ends well, and that it's all for a great purpose that God is working out in the lives of all mankind. Paul reminds his Gentile audience that they're grafted into ISRAEL, the Jews aren't grafted into a Gentile root and branch - that is counterfeit Christianity represented by the Roman wolves in sheep's clothing!
I know Paul's writings concerning this veiled mystery of partial blindness and ultimate restoration of all Israel (all Twelve Tribes) is difficult to grasp, but at least we should clearly see that Paul NEVER taught that Jews should stop circumcising their children, forsake the Temple services (he participated in them!) or abandon the ritual commandments of the Torah. He merely taught that such things were not necessary for GENTILE converts to Christianity, as God is witness.
Most sincerely yours,
David Ben-Ariel
Dear Sheik Palazzi:
Congratulations on your FrontPage Magazine interview! I'm very happy for you to receive such conservative coverage. It's great. That being said, please permit me to correct a misunderstanding you have of my Jewish Christian brother, Paul.
You wrote:
"When Paul of Tarsus converted to Christianity, he started understanding Christianity in a very different way. There was no need of circumcision anymore, no need of Temple services and no need to observe the ritual commandments of Torah. The entire Jewish tradition was considered to be a temporarily valid religion, as a preliminary stage for the advent of the Messiah. Now that the Messiah has come, Judaism was rejected and meaningless. Jews were the Chosen People since the Messiah was going to be born among them, but since they rejected the Messiah, they were changed from Chosen People into an accursed People."
The strict Pharisee Paul, who continued to call himself a Pharisee AFTER his Christian conversion, saying, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" (Acts 23:6), NEVER said there was no need of circumcision anymore, of Temple services or ritual commandments of the Torah for the JEWS, but he did say many of these holy things weren't required of GENTILE converts to Christianity, agreeing with the Jerusalem Council that decreed:
Acts 15:19-29
19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the GENTILES who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this, letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the GENTILES in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you [Gentiles] with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"--to whom we gave no such commandment-- 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well."
So you see that Paul taught that the GENTILES should keep the minimum requirements of abstaining from immorality, obeying the dietary laws, keeping the biblical Sabbath and festivals!
The early Christian fellowship in Jerusalem, led by James the brother of Jesus (Yeshua), tried to correct this STUBBORN STIGMA AGAINST PAUL that continues to this day and advised him:
Acts 21:20-26
20 And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the GENTILES who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them....
So here the Jewish-Christian leaders in Jerusalem praised the zeal and devotion of the Jews, but were acknowledging that wild rumors and false allegations, disinformation, had been spread against Paul. To prove such charges were groundless, that Paul continued to follow halacha, Jewish traditions and Torah, they encouraged him to go sacrifice with Jews under a Nazarite vow, which he did! Paul sacrificed in the Temple, but then another misunderstanding and rumor spread that he had taken a Gentile into the Temple! Oy veh!
Paul never taught that the Jews' rejection of Jesus changed their status as the Chosen People! He taught that the prophesied partial blindness had happened, but that it was all for the mysterious purpose of God bringing in converted Gentiles into the Israelite fold, the Israelite root and branch of the Jewish Church of God!
Romans 11:1
1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:25-36
25 For I do not desire, [Gentile] brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
" The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins."
28 Concerning the gospel they are [presently] enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
35 "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?"
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Paul acknowledges the animosity between Judaism and biblical Christianity, but believes, according to his God-given understanding of the prophecies, that all's well that ends well, and that it's all for a great purpose that God is working out in the lives of all mankind. Paul reminds his Gentile audience that they're grafted into ISRAEL, the Jews aren't grafted into a Gentile root and branch - that is counterfeit Christianity represented by the Roman wolves in sheep's clothing!
I know Paul's writings concerning this veiled mystery of partial blindness and ultimate restoration of all Israel (all Twelve Tribes) is difficult to grasp, but at least we should clearly see that Paul NEVER taught that Jews should stop circumcising their children, forsake the Temple services (he participated in them!) or abandon the ritual commandments of the Torah. He merely taught that such things were not necessary for GENTILE converts to Christianity, as God is witness.
Most sincerely yours,
David Ben-Ariel
Israel Today
To read all of today's news items in full, click here.
Israel's use of force in Gaza: Excessive, or just right?
Legal expert explains that condemnation of Israel for 'excessive use of force' is illogical and has no legal basis more»
Egypt and Hizballah in war of words over Gaza
Egyptian FM mocks Hizballah as weak and disgraceful after Lebanese group urges Egyptians to rise up more»
Israeli FM tells al-Jazeera to shape up
Livni warns Arab news network that its one-sided coverage is stoking the flames of hatred, not advancing the cause of peace more»
Israel lets humanitarian aid into Gaza
Israel stresses fight is not against Gaza's civilians; Barak urges Gazans to get away from Hamas and its bases more»
Israeli wounded in another Samaria terror stabbing
Attack comes hours after Arab handyman rampaged through Jewish town wounding four local Israelis more»
US bombs play big role in Gaza assault
Israel uses first shipment of advanced US bunker-buster bombs to great effect against Gaza terrorists more»
Hamas slaughters Gazans who helped Israel
Palestinians who helped Israel in past escape when Gaza prison bombed, but locals step in and murder them more»
Israeli army opens YouTube channel
Footage of IDF strikes on Gaza to be uploaded regularly to counter claims of indiscriminate massacre more»
Report: Hamas hiding most potent missiles under Gaza hospital
Terrorists said to have huge weapons storage facility beneath Gaza's Shifra Hospital more»
ANALYSIS: Israeli kids grieved, Arab kids enthused by war
The way the children of both communities deal with war is indicative of the true roots of the conflict more»
Israel's use of force in Gaza: Excessive, or just right?
Legal expert explains that condemnation of Israel for 'excessive use of force' is illogical and has no legal basis more»
Egypt and Hizballah in war of words over Gaza
Egyptian FM mocks Hizballah as weak and disgraceful after Lebanese group urges Egyptians to rise up more»
Israeli FM tells al-Jazeera to shape up
Livni warns Arab news network that its one-sided coverage is stoking the flames of hatred, not advancing the cause of peace more»
Israel lets humanitarian aid into Gaza
Israel stresses fight is not against Gaza's civilians; Barak urges Gazans to get away from Hamas and its bases more»
Israeli wounded in another Samaria terror stabbing
Attack comes hours after Arab handyman rampaged through Jewish town wounding four local Israelis more»
US bombs play big role in Gaza assault
Israel uses first shipment of advanced US bunker-buster bombs to great effect against Gaza terrorists more»
Hamas slaughters Gazans who helped Israel
Palestinians who helped Israel in past escape when Gaza prison bombed, but locals step in and murder them more»
Israeli army opens YouTube channel
Footage of IDF strikes on Gaza to be uploaded regularly to counter claims of indiscriminate massacre more»
Report: Hamas hiding most potent missiles under Gaza hospital
Terrorists said to have huge weapons storage facility beneath Gaza's Shifra Hospital more»
ANALYSIS: Israeli kids grieved, Arab kids enthused by war
The way the children of both communities deal with war is indicative of the true roots of the conflict more»
About the Gaza War (Women in Green)
From Women in Green:
Dear Friends,
The article below was written by our dear friend Rachel Saperstein, expelled from Neve Dekalim and now living in Nitzan. Rachel describes how the Gaza War has reached them, too, expellees from Gush Katif, living in their cardboard homes.
Feelings here in Israel are very mixed. On the one hand we of course pray for a successful IDF operation against the Arab enemy; on the other hand we have no trust in the real intentions of the Livni-Barak leftist government. People are furious that this government has done nothing for years against the kassams and the missiles, has done nothing to free Gilad Shalit, has agreed to give the Hamas months of quiet which enabled Hamas to arm itself with the most modern missiles that can reach Ashdod and Beersheva, and now that elections in Israel are around the corner and all polls show that Barak and Livni will be shamefully thrown into the opposition, all of a sudden Livni and Barak are waking up and are doing something. Something they should have done years ago. The fear in Israel is that this is just a brief and cynical show of strength by Barak and Livni to try to gain some political points, or even worse, to justify postponing the elections completely. Likud MK Steinitz even came out yesterday warning that a postponement of the elections will be a victory for terror.
Another fear we all have is that one of the secret purposes of this military operation is to bring down Hamas only in order to reinstall Fatah. Since the Oslo agreements, the Israeli governments have tried to convince us that Fatah members led by the holocaust denier and arch terrorist Abu Mazzen are really "partners" that we can talk to and make agreements with. Yet, we have not been fooled and we know that this is a big lie. Fatah, Hamas, Jihad, Hizbollah and El-Kayeeda are all one and the same: Arab terrorists who work towards one goal: the destruction of Israel as a first step to a global Islamo-fascist Jihad against the Western world.
We, parents of IDF soldiers, are sending our children to the army, knowing full well the price that we might pay, and this, on condition that our IDF soldiers will be sent to fight for the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. On the other hand we do not agree to have our children used as canon fodder for Abu Mazzen and the Fatah. At the contrary, we believe that all Fatah, Hamas and other terror leaders must be killed and their organizations destroyed once and for all.
So on the one hand, we all pray for the well being of our brothers and sisters in the south, for our IDF soldiers and for a successful military operation against the Arab enemy. On the other hand we must remember who is responsible for all this.
Let's remember that the Israeli Left laughed at us in 1993 when we warned that the criminal and shameful Oslo agreements would bring katyushas to Ashkelon and Ashdod. The Left even called us "hysterical warmongers."Let's remember that when the IDF had full control over Gaza and Jews lived and flourished in Gush Katif, there were no katyushas on Israel at all. Only when the IDF abandoned Gaza in the year 2000, did the katyushas start falling; first on Gush Katif and Sderot and after the expulsion the Arab kassams reached Ashdod and Ashkelon.
Let's thus remember that it is Israel's abandoning first of Gaza and later Gush Katif that enabled the Arabs in Gaza to arm themselves like an army and launch missiles and kassams on Israel. Yes, let's remember that Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert. Tzippy Livni, Ehud Barak and all other pro-Oslo and "pro-disengagement" (expulsion from Gush Katif) politicians have created this mess, have created the monster of Hamastan in Gaza.
And thus let's make sure that we will have elections in Israel on February 10th. In those upcoming elections, let's make sure that we punish all those politicians who have enabled the Arabs to take over Gaza. Let's make sure Livni and Barak will be thrown far into the opposition and let's make sure that this time the Israeli people elect a proud Jewish Zionist government that is not scared to tell the world: The Land of Israel belongs to the People of Israel. No one has the right to give it away.
Luckily, lovers of the Land of Israel will have whom to vote for in these elections. Yesterday, finally, the real national camp united and formed one party. Members of Hatikva, the National Camp and Eretz Yisrael Shelanu joined and recreated the Ichud Leumi, after the Bayit Hayehudi revealed itself to be a new version of the old wishy-washy Mafdal (NRP). The renewed national Camp (Ichud Leumi) has an excellent list. Number one is Yaakov Katz (Ketzele) from Bet El, then MK Uri Ariel, MK Arieh Eldad, Dr Michael Ben Ari from Karnei Shomron, Uri Bank from Gush Etzion, Alon Davidi from Sderot, Dr Ron Breiman from Tel Aviv and so on. To read more on this good news: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129089
Women in Green wishes this new party, that proudly waves the flag of Eretz Yisrael, lots of success.
About Gaza: the time has come to free Gaza from its Arab occupation, to destroy once and for all Hamas and all other terror organizations, to reinstall Israeli sovereignty over Gaza and rebuild the 25 beautiful Jewish communities of Gush Katif.
Rachel Saperstein and her friends must be able to go back. Back home.
In these times of war, may Hashem protect the People of Israel in all of the Land of Israel,
Nadia Matar
Women in Green
--------------
GUSH KATIF VIEWPOINT 146 December 29, 2008
GAZA WAR REACHES US
by Rachel Saperstein,
Neve Dekalim/Nitzan
We have forty-five seconds from the time the missile leaves Gaza and reaches us. The tracking system lets each area know that a rocket is due to land in their vicinity. Then the siren wails. It may not land on your doorstep or penetrate your roof but it is somewhere around.
I know all of this because we got notices from the Home Front Command, the Regional Council and our own Neve Dekalim Council. The first two were slipped under our door; the latter, via email.
Today we even were visited by the army, which has taken over the Community Center. Reserve soldiers, both English speakers, knocked on our door, introduced themselves and asked me how I was feeling and could they come in for a chat about security. My first reaction was to say "You pulled us out of our home instead of cleaning up the mess we lived under for five years." My second reaction was my general politeness when people come to my door. I invited them in.
I assured them that I don't feel very secure in this cardboard house.The two young men felt uncomfortable especially when they informed me that the Home Front Command was planning on bringing in large sewer pipes. Yes, you read that correctly, sewer pipes, made of thick concrete, for our protection. The pipes would be distributed to each cul-de-sac. When the sirens wail we would run outside, crawl into our very own sewer pipe and wait five minutes or at least til we hear the explosion. Then we crawl out and return to our cardboard homes.
I stared open-mouthed in disbelief. From our homes in Gush Katif to cardboard caravillas in a refugee camp to a sewer pipe. We have certainly hit rock bottom. I laugh as I write this. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I was assured that the pipes would withstand an explosion close by but not a direct hit. Our bit of security.
The south of Israel has become a war zone. We went to Ashkelon yesterday. The health clinic I visited was practically empty. The mall in which it is located was mostly closed. Even the pharmacy, open when we arrived, was closed when we left at 4:30pm. Except for a shop selling mobile phones all was dark and deserted. A large city lives under the shadow of massive rocket attacks. Children can no longer go to school. Social and cultural events are cancelled.Our local grocery and greengrocer are still well stocked. Mail is delivered. Electricity is still on. For how long?
This afternoon the sirens wailed. We heard three explosions in the distance. Friends are calling offering us a place of refuge. An emergency committee is being formed. I volunteer for it.
A reporter for a Danish newspaper called. Would I meet with him and give him my take on the war. I agree, and he is thrilled to be entering a war zone. Journalists are not allowed into Gaza, but those who lost interest in us after our expulsion are interested once again now that the war has reached us. I keep thinking of a motto from our days in Gush Katif: "Those who flee from Gaza will find Gaza coming to them." ###########################################
Living in a war zone is taking its toll on our people. The nightmare is returning.
Please make your checks payable to Central Fund for Israel, earmarked for OPERATION DIGNITY. Send them to:
Central Fund for Israel, 980 Sixth Avenue, New York 10018, USA
or
Central Fund for Israel, 13 Hagoel Street, Efrat 90435, Israel
Shekel checks should be sent to:
Operation Dignity, POB 445, Nitzan 79287, Israel
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380 mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.orghttp://www.womeningreen.org
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Monday, December 29, 2008
Black Hole
"The government can only get so big before the country goes broke."
- Ron Paul
WE ARE BROKE and have been for years! With Obama, that fraud and foreigner occupying the White House, a Black African Marxist, this isn't going to be BAD BUSINESS as usual, it's going to see the United States go from a first class country to a Third World nightmare, exploited by the German-EU (destined to deal us the death blow). The government will collapse, with our economy, and like a black hole, suck everything into it.
http://www.davidbenariel.org/
- Ron Paul
WE ARE BROKE and have been for years! With Obama, that fraud and foreigner occupying the White House, a Black African Marxist, this isn't going to be BAD BUSINESS as usual, it's going to see the United States go from a first class country to a Third World nightmare, exploited by the German-EU (destined to deal us the death blow). The government will collapse, with our economy, and like a black hole, suck everything into it.
http://www.davidbenariel.org/
Peace Through Strength!
Re: The Two State One State Solution
1) The United States should stop rewarding terrorism, promoting lying visions of peace, giving hard earned American dollars to our sworn enemies, the Nazi Muslims, and
2) The United States should stop filling the coffers of the treacherous and corrupt Israeli oligarchy that hates Jews of faith and Christian Zionists and sells out Israel to their German- Jesuit EU masters (whose jackboot will soon stomp Jerusalem and whose "peacekeeping troops" will soon occupy Israel).
3) We must end all aid to Israel, to Arabs and Jews, except for precious little monies earmarked for specific groups and accountable organizations that we trust will actually receive it and use it for its intended purposes, and that should be very limited since the American taxpayers don't want their hard earned tax dollars to be at work in foreign countries, but hard at work right here at HOME in the good old USA. How logical!
4) The government of the United States should stop being in the back pocket of globalists, should stop working for the Military Industrial Complex that works to keep the blood money flowing, the pot stirred (in Israel and other created hot spots around the world), and instead encourage our Jewish brethren (we are Joes, British-Israelite descendants of Joseph, specifically through his son Manasseh who was prophesied to become a single great nation) to follow what Meir Kahane wisely advised the nation years ago, to enforce peace through strength, defeat their sworn enemies and drive them out or destroy them, as necessary, and liberate the biblical territories now Arab-occupied and immediately annex them as should have been done in 1967.
5) The government of the United States must forcibly be reminded (throw out all those who disagree, refuse to reelect them), they are to be SERVANTS of the people, "We The People," not of the elitists, not of the globalists, not of the dysfunctional "family of nations," not of the accursed UN or black hole of Black Africa. Is that too much to ask? Is that too much to expect and demand?
David Ben-Ariel
1) The United States should stop rewarding terrorism, promoting lying visions of peace, giving hard earned American dollars to our sworn enemies, the Nazi Muslims, and
2) The United States should stop filling the coffers of the treacherous and corrupt Israeli oligarchy that hates Jews of faith and Christian Zionists and sells out Israel to their German- Jesuit EU masters (whose jackboot will soon stomp Jerusalem and whose "peacekeeping troops" will soon occupy Israel).
3) We must end all aid to Israel, to Arabs and Jews, except for precious little monies earmarked for specific groups and accountable organizations that we trust will actually receive it and use it for its intended purposes, and that should be very limited since the American taxpayers don't want their hard earned tax dollars to be at work in foreign countries, but hard at work right here at HOME in the good old USA. How logical!
4) The government of the United States should stop being in the back pocket of globalists, should stop working for the Military Industrial Complex that works to keep the blood money flowing, the pot stirred (in Israel and other created hot spots around the world), and instead encourage our Jewish brethren (we are Joes, British-Israelite descendants of Joseph, specifically through his son Manasseh who was prophesied to become a single great nation) to follow what Meir Kahane wisely advised the nation years ago, to enforce peace through strength, defeat their sworn enemies and drive them out or destroy them, as necessary, and liberate the biblical territories now Arab-occupied and immediately annex them as should have been done in 1967.
5) The government of the United States must forcibly be reminded (throw out all those who disagree, refuse to reelect them), they are to be SERVANTS of the people, "We The People," not of the elitists, not of the globalists, not of the dysfunctional "family of nations," not of the accursed UN or black hole of Black Africa. Is that too much to ask? Is that too much to expect and demand?
David Ben-Ariel
Israel Today
To read all of today's news items in full, click here.
Israel to press Gaza war; Hamas rockets continue to fall
Barak says Israel to expand Gaza assault; Netanyahu wants Hamas toppled; Gaza rocket kills Israeli Arab, wounds 15 more»
ANALYSIS: Israeli kids grieved, Arab kids enthused by war
The way the children of both communities deal with war is indicative of the true roots of the conflict more»
Arab man stabs four Israelis north of Jerusalem
Jews attacked on way to synagogue; paramedic ambushed and seriously wounded more»
Hamas celebrates rocket attacks on Israel
Even as IAF destroys its symbols of power, Hamas pats itself on the back for killing and wounding Israelis more»
Besieged Israeli hospital treats injured Gaza Arabs
Dozens of Gaza Arabs receive treatment in Ashkelon, even as city continues to come under Palestinian rocket fire more»
Suicide bomber attacks anti-Israel protestors in Iraq
1 killed, 16 wounded when bomber rides bike into crowd protesting Israeli strikes on Gaza more»
Saudi, Iranian clerics call for attacks on Jews everywhere
Iranian leader says Muslims killed while attacking Jews will be considered 'martyrs' more»
Obama refuses to be pulled into Gaza debate
Spokesman for Obama says it wouldn't be right for president-elect to comment on Gaza while Bush is still in office more»
Jewish settlers face widespread discrimination
Survey finds government focuses on taking down Jews of Judea and Samaria, while ignoring crime elsewhere more»
Israel to press Gaza war; Hamas rockets continue to fall
Barak says Israel to expand Gaza assault; Netanyahu wants Hamas toppled; Gaza rocket kills Israeli Arab, wounds 15 more»
ANALYSIS: Israeli kids grieved, Arab kids enthused by war
The way the children of both communities deal with war is indicative of the true roots of the conflict more»
Arab man stabs four Israelis north of Jerusalem
Jews attacked on way to synagogue; paramedic ambushed and seriously wounded more»
Hamas celebrates rocket attacks on Israel
Even as IAF destroys its symbols of power, Hamas pats itself on the back for killing and wounding Israelis more»
Besieged Israeli hospital treats injured Gaza Arabs
Dozens of Gaza Arabs receive treatment in Ashkelon, even as city continues to come under Palestinian rocket fire more»
Suicide bomber attacks anti-Israel protestors in Iraq
1 killed, 16 wounded when bomber rides bike into crowd protesting Israeli strikes on Gaza more»
Saudi, Iranian clerics call for attacks on Jews everywhere
Iranian leader says Muslims killed while attacking Jews will be considered 'martyrs' more»
Obama refuses to be pulled into Gaza debate
Spokesman for Obama says it wouldn't be right for president-elect to comment on Gaza while Bush is still in office more»
Jewish settlers face widespread discrimination
Survey finds government focuses on taking down Jews of Judea and Samaria, while ignoring crime elsewhere more»
FYI
The Royal We
For the record: Some might misunderstand that just because I used the term "WE" in one of the FOX 25 segments on the Philadelphia Church of God (and I often employ it in articles about the Church of God), that somehow I am saying I'm a part of the PCG or whatever organization I'm writing or talking about at the time.
However, when I use the "Royal We," it is in reference to the collective Sabbath-keeping Church of God that agrees on the biblical basics, like the gospel of the Kingdom of God (the Kingdom of God-Beings to rule Earth from Jerusalem!), the seventh day Sabbath, the holy festivals and dietary laws, as well as gladly recognizing British-Israelites as Joseph.
Others might question how I can feel led by Christ against an organization they believe He also heads. I am led by Christ to expose error and encourage repentance: both in the Church and Nation. Didn't Christ head the Worldwide Church of God? Didn't He direct it? Does that mean the leaders must always follow His lead? Or in all things? If Christ truly led the PCG (and I believe He leads but Flurry doesn't always follow), they would agree what I say is biblical and stop wasting money in Edmond, Oklahoma. Tithes are not meant for a performing Arts Center! At least Mr. Armstrong had a special building fund that I used to gladly contribute to so we could pay off Ambassador Auditorium.
Didn't Yeshua say, "we Jews" when speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well? Did that mean He agreed with everything the Jews believed or the Pharisees taught? Didn't Yeshua rebuke their errors, even as He rebukes the errors of the Church of God in different eras? How does He do that but through men? Didn't He head those churches He inspired constructive criticism of?
Did John the Baptist or Jesus, or Peter, James and John, as well as Paul, oppose the religious authorities' position or their idolatrous traditions and hypocrisy, decrying their proud and stubborn refusal to repent, while still considering themselves strictly Jewish? They continued to identify with the Jewish people and religion: Paul continued to refer to himself as a Pharisee spiritually (Acts 23:6), and Peter made racial reference to the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers..." and called the Jews "brothers" and stressed how salvation was to begin with Jews first (Acts 3:12, 17, 26).
I do offer constructive criticism of the PCG, and others, and I believe God has inspired Beyond Babylon. The PCG never said it contradicts Scripture but wouldn't give it a proper hearing due to politics at play. Beyond Babylon's biblical truths are inspired and inspiring, although it's not a "thus saith the Lord" book, as there is no book on Earth other than the Bible that can honestly claim that. Unlike Gerald Flurry, I've never claimed an angel gave it to me, as he strangely claimed about Malachi's Message.
By the grace of God, I know who I am and what I am doing, and it is in accordance with the Word and Will of God. Whether within individual lives or the lives of leaders of organizations, just because God directs doesn't mean folks will always follow in every aspect. I believe Flurry follows in some ways and fails to in other ways. That's why God raises up individuals throughout history to take His Work to task - whether it's the priesthood, the religious authorities or the Church of God leadership today. Nothing new under the sun.
For the record: Some might misunderstand that just because I used the term "WE" in one of the FOX 25 segments on the Philadelphia Church of God (and I often employ it in articles about the Church of God), that somehow I am saying I'm a part of the PCG or whatever organization I'm writing or talking about at the time.
However, when I use the "Royal We," it is in reference to the collective Sabbath-keeping Church of God that agrees on the biblical basics, like the gospel of the Kingdom of God (the Kingdom of God-Beings to rule Earth from Jerusalem!), the seventh day Sabbath, the holy festivals and dietary laws, as well as gladly recognizing British-Israelites as Joseph.
Others might question how I can feel led by Christ against an organization they believe He also heads. I am led by Christ to expose error and encourage repentance: both in the Church and Nation. Didn't Christ head the Worldwide Church of God? Didn't He direct it? Does that mean the leaders must always follow His lead? Or in all things? If Christ truly led the PCG (and I believe He leads but Flurry doesn't always follow), they would agree what I say is biblical and stop wasting money in Edmond, Oklahoma. Tithes are not meant for a performing Arts Center! At least Mr. Armstrong had a special building fund that I used to gladly contribute to so we could pay off Ambassador Auditorium.
Didn't Yeshua say, "we Jews" when speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well? Did that mean He agreed with everything the Jews believed or the Pharisees taught? Didn't Yeshua rebuke their errors, even as He rebukes the errors of the Church of God in different eras? How does He do that but through men? Didn't He head those churches He inspired constructive criticism of?
Did John the Baptist or Jesus, or Peter, James and John, as well as Paul, oppose the religious authorities' position or their idolatrous traditions and hypocrisy, decrying their proud and stubborn refusal to repent, while still considering themselves strictly Jewish? They continued to identify with the Jewish people and religion: Paul continued to refer to himself as a Pharisee spiritually (Acts 23:6), and Peter made racial reference to the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers..." and called the Jews "brothers" and stressed how salvation was to begin with Jews first (Acts 3:12, 17, 26).
I do offer constructive criticism of the PCG, and others, and I believe God has inspired Beyond Babylon. The PCG never said it contradicts Scripture but wouldn't give it a proper hearing due to politics at play. Beyond Babylon's biblical truths are inspired and inspiring, although it's not a "thus saith the Lord" book, as there is no book on Earth other than the Bible that can honestly claim that. Unlike Gerald Flurry, I've never claimed an angel gave it to me, as he strangely claimed about Malachi's Message.
By the grace of God, I know who I am and what I am doing, and it is in accordance with the Word and Will of God. Whether within individual lives or the lives of leaders of organizations, just because God directs doesn't mean folks will always follow in every aspect. I believe Flurry follows in some ways and fails to in other ways. That's why God raises up individuals throughout history to take His Work to task - whether it's the priesthood, the religious authorities or the Church of God leadership today. Nothing new under the sun.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Gaza gets a bit of what it deserves
Gazan terrorist acts against Israel receives weak response
Those who continue to delude themselves that peace is possible with Nazi Muslims have their heads buried in the sand. It's past time the Israelis enforce peace through strength, expel their sworn enemies as Moses commands and former Israeli Parliament Member and rabbi Meir Kahane courageously called for (murdered by another Arab terrorist in NYC linked to the WTC bombing), and encourage Jewish pioneers to return to the biblical territories (they were cruelly removed from by "right-wing" Ariel Sharon with George Bush, alleged "friend of Israel," aiding and abetting, rewarding terrorism and punishing the innocent).
www.davidbenariel.org
Those who continue to delude themselves that peace is possible with Nazi Muslims have their heads buried in the sand. It's past time the Israelis enforce peace through strength, expel their sworn enemies as Moses commands and former Israeli Parliament Member and rabbi Meir Kahane courageously called for (murdered by another Arab terrorist in NYC linked to the WTC bombing), and encourage Jewish pioneers to return to the biblical territories (they were cruelly removed from by "right-wing" Ariel Sharon with George Bush, alleged "friend of Israel," aiding and abetting, rewarding terrorism and punishing the innocent).
www.davidbenariel.org
The Secret Nazis
Herbert W. Armstrong warned the Nazis only went underground and a declassified US document confirms it...
The Secret Nazis
The Secret Nazis
Americans deserve what they get
Re: Operation Paperclip
Just read your blog. Though I have researched Paperclip, and other CIA black ops, thoroughly, it still stuns me that so few people know of these activities. Americans who sit by while their history is manipulated by unseen forces deserve what they get.
Tim Fleming
O’Fallon, Illinois.
www.eloquentbooks.com/MurderOfAnAmericanNazi.html
http://leftlooking.blogspot.com/
WIG Announcements and Updates
Dear Friends,
A few announcements and updates.
1) Women in Green are shocked, pained and in mourning over the untimely death of our dear friend Tsafrir Ronen Z'L.
A proud and fearless Jew, Tsafrir fought for Eretz Yisrael with all his heart and soul. He never flinched from expressing, in every possible forum, the spiritual and historical truth of the Jewish People in its Land.Women in Green pledge to continue in his path the struggle for Eretz Yisrael.
We will miss him - his wonderful personality. His humor. His speeches. His words of strength. His courage. His optimism. We will always remember him and draw strength from his spiritual power. may his memory be blessed.
The funeral will be today, Sunday, in the community of Moledet in the Galil. For the exact hour please check Arutz 7. We were told that it will be around 2:30pm.
Just a few weeks ago we met Tsafrir in Bet Hashalom and he proudly told us about the movie he had just finished making. The movie is called Hadrian's Curse.
Tsafrir wrote an article describing the movie he was making. The article was published in three sections one per week in The Jewish Press http://www.jewishpress.com/ from May 14, 2008 through May 28, 2008.
Here is a summary of the article.
HADRIAN'S CURSE by TSAFRIR RONEN:
The Invention of Palestine as a Psychological Weapon for Conquering Eretz Yisrael
Summary
Almost 2,000 years ago, the Roman Emperor Hadrian cursed the Jewish People and decreed that Judea should be henceforth called "Palestine" after the Philistines, an ancient enemy of Israel that had disappeared from the world's stage more than 600 years earlier. It was his final twist of the knife and legacy after wars, massacres, persecutions, and exiles that had largely extinguished the Jewish presence from Judea.
Today, the modern enemies of a resurrected Jewish Nation have dusted off Hadrian's curse and are attempting to pull off a monumental theft: the Arab world have reincarnated "Palestine" to steal Israel's heritage and the Land of the Jewish People.
Hadrian's Curse will expose the BIG lie of the "Palestinian cause" in a full-length 120-minute documentary. The film will document that there never was a "Palestinian" people, The world has become so accustomed to the "truth" of the "Palestinian" perversion of history and work backwards, exposing recent claims and acts whose absurdity and villainy shock uninformed observers.
When Arafat declared: "Our nation is the Arabic nation that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea and beyond it", it turns out that Arafat's nation already stretches over an area larger than all of Europe.
His is the twisted story of one of the biggest, most remarkable fraud in history. It is such a successful fabrication that many otherwise informed people have been duped and mislead. This propaganda has become a powerful weapon used Israel's enemies, the Arabs, to try to conquer Eretz Yisrael without firing a shot, without an army, tanks or jets.
The Jewish People eventually bested Hadrian. They returned to their land and reestablished sovereignty over it. They rebuilt Jerusalem as their capital, and resettled desolate Judea. They did all this only to now confront the reincarnated curse of Hadrian in the guise of Arabs renaming themselves "Palestinians" and claiming all the ancient Land as their own.
As explained in the film, many Israelis and lovers of Zion have accepted this misnaming and misidentification. Hadrian's ancient curse now threatens Israel's very existence. Israel's success and endurance and the world's hope for peace in the 21st century, demands that the deceit and danger of a Palestinian state must be exposed and avoided. It is our fervent hope that Hadrian's Curse will expose the historical truth.For the entire article giving more details about the movie:
http://www.think-israel.org/ronen.hadriancurse.html
-----------------------------------
2) The government of Israel has launched a strike against Hamas in Gaza. On the one hand we of course all know that this is what has to be done and should have been done months ago. In fact, Women in Green is praying for the day that Israel will recapture and free Gaza from its Arab occupation and rebuild the tens of Jewish communities of Gush Katif that have been destroyed there. Yet, we doubt that this is what Livni plans on doing. We pray and hope that this current strike against Gaza really is meant to destroy Hamas and all other Arab terrorist groups and not some kind of political maneuver by Livni in order to try and gain points for the upcoming elections.We pray to Hashem to safeguard our Israeli soldiers who participate in the strike and all of the People in Israel , especially our brothers in the south who suffer daily from Arab kassams and missiles.
-------------------------------
3) SHDEMA UPDATE:
Hundreds of people arrived in Shdema yesterday, Friday of Hanukka, to show a Jewish presence and to listen to the lecture of Gershon Bar Kochva, famous teacher of Jewish history. Gershon fascinated the public, adults and youth, with a lecture on Jewish heroism from the time of the Maccabees till the creation of the State of Israel.
Excitement was in the air when, for the first time since Shdema had been abandoned two years ago by the Israeli government and the Arabs destroyed everything in the army camp except the actual walls of the building, "windows" were installed. The windows are meanwhile from plastic but, mark an additional step towards the permanent Jewish resettlement of Shdema, please G-d.
Outside the building where the lecture was taking place, the younger children enjoyed the entertainment by Elazar Brandt.
Thank you to Danny Halamish and Rivka Ryback for filming the event.
Link to Rivka Ryback's photos:
http://www.yeshabulletin.com/FIGHT%20BACK/FightBack.htm
This coming Friday, as every Friday, at 9:30am, we will, please G-d, have another lecture and activity in Shdema. Details will be posted in the next few days.
Shavua tov, Chodesh tov, Besorot Tovot,
The committee for a Jewish Shdema & Women in Green
For details about the struggle for a Jewish Shdema:
=========================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
Israel Today
To read all of today's news items in full, click here.
Israel prepares to invade Gaza; Hamas sends missiles deep into Israel
Cabinet approves call-up of reserve forces; Hamas fires 150 rockets at Israel; first rockets ever hit port city of Ashdod more»
Over 200 terrorists killed in massive Israeli assault on Gaza
Israel lulls Hamas into false sense of security before unleashing 'shock and awe' aerial strike on Gaza more»
Israel: We had no choice but to hit Gaza
Israel embarks on PR campaign to counter images from Gaza and wild Arab accusations; Netanyahu pledges unity until Hamas is defeated more»
US, Australia back Gaza strike; rest of the world doesn't
US, Australia blame Hamas alone for Gaza situation, while other leaders try to take more 'balanced' approach by also criticizing Israel more»
Arabs condemn Israel, but also displeased with Hamas
Abbas, Egyptian FM slam Hamas for renewing rocket fire on Israel; Hamas reportedly preventing wounded from reaching Egypt more»
Livni: Enough is enough; Israel prepares to attack Gaza
Israeli FM rebuffs Egyptian demands for restraint after more than 80 rockets pound southern Israel; Hamas taunts Jerusalem more»
Israel prepares to invade Gaza; Hamas sends missiles deep into Israel
Cabinet approves call-up of reserve forces; Hamas fires 150 rockets at Israel; first rockets ever hit port city of Ashdod more»
Over 200 terrorists killed in massive Israeli assault on Gaza
Israel lulls Hamas into false sense of security before unleashing 'shock and awe' aerial strike on Gaza more»
Israel: We had no choice but to hit Gaza
Israel embarks on PR campaign to counter images from Gaza and wild Arab accusations; Netanyahu pledges unity until Hamas is defeated more»
US, Australia back Gaza strike; rest of the world doesn't
US, Australia blame Hamas alone for Gaza situation, while other leaders try to take more 'balanced' approach by also criticizing Israel more»
Arabs condemn Israel, but also displeased with Hamas
Abbas, Egyptian FM slam Hamas for renewing rocket fire on Israel; Hamas reportedly preventing wounded from reaching Egypt more»
Livni: Enough is enough; Israel prepares to attack Gaza
Israeli FM rebuffs Egyptian demands for restraint after more than 80 rockets pound southern Israel; Hamas taunts Jerusalem more»
Aish.com New Articles - December 28, 2008
The Madoff Madness
by Rabbi Benjamin Blech
Honor and dishonor in the Jewish community.
Top 10 Articles of 2008 by aish.com
Aish.com looks back at some of the most popular articles of the year.
In Danger
by Goldy Rosenberg
My plea for you to care about the Jews of Yemen.
Defiance by Gavriel Horan
How the Bielski Partisans built a village amidst the Nazi death machine.
Terrorized Times
by Rabbi Avi Shafran
The New York Times refusal to use the word 'terrorist.'
Kosher in the White House
by Aish.com Staff
Reflections from a Washington insider.
Life's True Success: Ethics of Fathers 4:1
by Rabbi Yonason Goldson
The pursuit of happiness begins and ends with inner peace.
Surviving Your Adolescent
by Emuna Braverman
7 important tools for navigating this trying phase.
Reunion: A Holocaust Memoir
by Sara Pachter
Suddenly I froze. Before me stood Ana, our Jewish Kapo, an image that I had tried with all my might to erase from my memory.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
THE GERMANS ARE COMING!
THE GERMANS ARE COMING!
Beyond Babylon drops the bomb:
THE GERMAN-JESUIT JACKBOOT WILL STOMP JERUSALEM!
Beyond Babylon drops the bomb:
THE GERMAN-JESUIT JACKBOOT WILL STOMP JERUSALEM!
All the while during my six and a half hours of Israeli interrogation, I clearly warned them that the "peace process" is a trap; that it's about to blow up in their faces, and that a German-led Europe is going to wage a New Crusade to enforce the Vatican's version of peace. Catholic Europe will backstab and betray both the Arabs and the Jews. They'll push for Jerusalem to become "an international city," all under the cover of UN Resolution 181.
I maintained that the only explosives that I'm involved with is the bombshell I've written, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. I continually referred them to it, stating that's where my beliefs are on public record. (Later I gave them a computer disk with my book on it to assist their investigation). I told them I know that Israel won't take G-d's warning seriously, any more than those Jews who spurned Jabotinsky's efforts to save them from Hitler. (Ze'ev Jabotinksy warned the Jews of Hitler's fury but they thought he was just crying wolf). Nevertheless, the Almighty will intervene and save us after our worst time of suffering, if we so insist, and every survivor in Jerusalem will be holy.
www.davidbenariel.org
Jews celebrate the right days...
Re: Merry Christmas?
I totally agree, it's funny that most Christians try to follow Christ and celebrate the wrong celebrations and the Jews celebrate the right days and don't follow Christ as they should. I think we should celebrate the feast days, Passover and such. The Bible doesn't say anything about celebrating his birth, but his resurrection, which we don't even do that right, that's all pagan too, the word Easter is Latin for Ishtar, the goddess of heaven. Even the day of the 25th is pagan in nature being the pagan day of worship of the birth of the sun god being the shortest day. Let me know what you think.
Jon,
Kenton, Ohio
Jon, I agree!
The Plain Truth About Easter
There is no Santa and Christ was NEVER in Christmas!
Jews to Receive Jesus as Israel's King!
I totally agree, it's funny that most Christians try to follow Christ and celebrate the wrong celebrations and the Jews celebrate the right days and don't follow Christ as they should. I think we should celebrate the feast days, Passover and such. The Bible doesn't say anything about celebrating his birth, but his resurrection, which we don't even do that right, that's all pagan too, the word Easter is Latin for Ishtar, the goddess of heaven. Even the day of the 25th is pagan in nature being the pagan day of worship of the birth of the sun god being the shortest day. Let me know what you think.
Jon,
Kenton, Ohio
Jon, I agree!
The Plain Truth About Easter
There is no Santa and Christ was NEVER in Christmas!
Jews to Receive Jesus as Israel's King!
Us or Them: The Hanukkah War
Friends,
As night fell, and we lit our Chanukah candles, we were filled with new hope as our government finally undertook its basic responsibility towards its citizens, and launched the long-delayed IDF strike against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
We were overjoyed that our planes had caught the Hamas murderers completely off guard and managed a magnificent coordinated attack on major Hamas military and police outposts that took minutes, and did major damage. This included a strike on the swearing-in ceremony at the end of a Hamas military training program, sending all the "graduates" to an early martyrdom before they could use their training to kill more Israeli children. It left us proud and joyful.
Our news program showed us the home of a couple in Southern Israel that had been completely destroyed by an unprovoked rocket attack this afternoon. The woman of the house, Aviva, was interviewed. She was asked if she agreed with the IDF strikes on Gaza that would provoke rocket attacks. With complete calm she said if this was the price the citizens of Israel had to pay for bringing peace and security back to Southern Israel, it was a price she was willing to pay. Later she and her husband, who miraculously escaped injury, lit Chanukah candles in their rubble filled living room. When they said the blessing: "He who did miracles in days of old and in our own time" it gave us all a sense of renewed faith.
The map showing which parts of Israel are now endangered, and which residents will have to spend the next few weeks in security rooms, is a startling fulfillment of the predictions of all those who begged that the disengagement not take place. No longer is it just the citizens of Sderot. With the homes of the brave residents of Gush Katif destroyed, and the Philadelphia corridor no longer patrolled by the IDF, unlimited sophisticated equipment has been pouring into Hamas hands for years. Now the rockets are falling in Netivot and Ashkelon, and threatening Kiryat Gat.
Just for some masochistic fun, I turned from the Israeli news to BBC. Of course, they were interviewing some Hamas spokeman talking about "Israeli atrocities, massacres, slaughter, etc. etc." But even Fox News had some blonde bimbo repeating similar things from her "Palestinian source." It's not Israel's bad PR. It's the desire of the media to listen to the terrorists and sympathize with them. They are the ones who decide who to interview.
Just shut off your televisions. Don't read the newspapers. Hopefully, Israel is going to finish them off this time. Even the leftists, like Amos Oz, who usually lives in the land of Oz when it comes to fighting against terror, seems to understand this, and has come out in favor of self-defense. Wow. Amazing. A Leftist who believes Israel shouldn't commit suicide. That didn't stop three hundred Leftists from marching in Tel Aviv to protest. I suggest we send them all to Sderot to live for the next few weeks. I also worry about our other fifth column, Israeli Arabs. There were Molotov cocktails thrown at police patrols in East Jerusalem, and Arabs marching in Nazareth and other places. We should send them all to Gaza to be with their "brethren."
Also tonight, memorial services were held for the Chabad rabbi and his wife killed in Mumbai. With the recent release of photographs of how Mumbai terrorists sexually mutilated their victims in the hotels, we cannot cry for dead terrorists. Evidence is mounting that the residents of Chabad house were tortured more than other hostages. In light of this, I say with no hesitation that the world would be a better place if every Muslim terrorist-- Hamas,PLO, Al Qaeda, Taliban (who are now threatening to kill anyPakistani girl who goes to school), and Janjaweed (who have slaughtered and raped their way through Darfur) were sent to their Allah and their 72 virigins immediately.
As for civilian casualties, the Hamas only target civilians. And their "civilians" elected them, after all. If their civilians get hurt because their elected government decided to end the ceasefire and put rocket launchers inside their neighborhoods, whose fault is that?
In the war that Hamas declared, it remains us or them. I prefer them. I have one wish: that every reporter, every pundit, every mediaoutlet broadcasting Israel's just and long-delayed war against terrorists inGaza as a brutal, unjustified "slaughter of innocents" find themselves personally involved with terrorists at some point in their lives. I will keep you posted.
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For more articles, please visit my Web page at: http://www.naomiragen.com/
To subscribe, send a blank message to NaomiRagen-on@mail-list.com
Hanukkah on the Temple Mount
Years ago, shortly after my baptism in 1979, I felt led to write a book. I relate some information about it in the 'Author's Note' of Beyond Babylon and share more in Beyond Babylon: Hard Labor of Love.
I'm honored to say that the initial 'Introduction' to my book was written upon the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel. To top that off, it was during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah - the Festival of Lights - the Feast of the Dedication! A glorious time commemorating the God-given victory of the few over the many, light over darkness, truth over error and the rededication of the purified Temple of God, since it had been polluted by foreigners from without and betrayed by Hellenists (liberal Jews) from within.
My hope and prayer is for Israel and Judah, British-Israelites and Jews, to become 'One Nation Under God,' a truly 'United Kingdom,' filled with the Holy Spirit of God, a Kingdom of Priests, becoming a LIGHT TO ALL NATIONS - the Temple of God.
Beyond Babylon is dedicated to increase light in this dark world, to rekindle the sacred embers of the Faith once delivered to Jerusalem, calling folks away from Rome, encouraging all to forsake Babylon, to move beyond babylon, and return to Zion where we belong.
For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel
Photographer: Ilan Itzhayek
I'm honored to say that the initial 'Introduction' to my book was written upon the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel. To top that off, it was during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah - the Festival of Lights - the Feast of the Dedication! A glorious time commemorating the God-given victory of the few over the many, light over darkness, truth over error and the rededication of the purified Temple of God, since it had been polluted by foreigners from without and betrayed by Hellenists (liberal Jews) from within.
My hope and prayer is for Israel and Judah, British-Israelites and Jews, to become 'One Nation Under God,' a truly 'United Kingdom,' filled with the Holy Spirit of God, a Kingdom of Priests, becoming a LIGHT TO ALL NATIONS - the Temple of God.
Beyond Babylon is dedicated to increase light in this dark world, to rekindle the sacred embers of the Faith once delivered to Jerusalem, calling folks away from Rome, encouraging all to forsake Babylon, to move beyond babylon, and return to Zion where we belong.
For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel
Photographer: Ilan Itzhayek
Friday, December 26, 2008
Chag Chanukkah Sameach!
Will the pope act like Belshazzar or Cyrus?
Will Rome learn from history and receive instruction from the Bible or harden their hearts and be destroyed like pharaoh and Babylon?
A House of Prayer For All Peoples?
Jewish guards prevent Christians and Jews from exercising their religious right to pray on the Temple Mount? That's right! Only Muslims have unlimited access to Judaism's most holy site. Only the Koran is permitted within. The Tanach (Jewish Scripture, known to much of the world as the "Old Testament") and Christian Scriptures (the New Testament) are forbidden. Yet Israel claims to respect the religious rights of all people.
Major Upheaval in Israel?
Will an EARTHQUAKE shake Israel to its foundations and rock the world? Would the destruction of the Western/Wailing Wall and the demolition of the "Dome of the Rock" and Al-Aksa mosques—by an ACT OF GOD—serve further notice that it's time to build the Temple?
Third Temple Coming Soon to Jerusalem!
"And let them make me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them" (Ex. 25:8). This holy command in the Scriptures seems clear enough, so what's the problem? Why has Israel tolerated Jerusalem’s "abomination of desolation" — a Temple Mount without a Temple? Why haven't the religious leaders encouraged the people to do what they can in fulfilling this mitzva?
The Temple of God in Holy Jerusalem
Paul, speaking of the imminent Third Temple, the holy TEMPLE OF GOD (the Temple of God - not just of the Jews or any other conspiracy theory that contradicts Scripture), that Europe's wannabe divine emperor will pollute, coveting it since Satan knows (even if some religious folks don't) it is the TEMPLE OF GOD...
Jews Must Demand Rights to Temple Mount
During a 1995 Root and Branch lecture in Jerusalem, Professor Nahum Rakover, author and then Deputy Attorney General of Israel, publicly agreed with me that it isn't illegal for Christians or Jews to pray upon the Temple Mount, even though it is forcibly prevented by the police.
The Issue of the Temple Mount
The common knowledge of our time is that the vast majority of Rabbis of this generation have prohibited the Jewish people from entering the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit), the holiest site in Judaism. The Temple Mount is the site of where the Beit HaMikdash (the Jewish Temple) once stood and the place where the Moslems have erected one mosque, the al-Aqsa and a site of pilgrimage, the Dome of the Rock.
Restore Israeli Sovereignty Over Temple Mount
The Wakf, the militant Muslim authority that oversees Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site and Islam's alleged third holiest site (following Mecca and Medina) continue to show blatant disregard for Jewish, Christian and biblical history and non-Muslim sensitivities.
Where's the Temple On the Temple Mount?
Something's missing. Rome is synonymous with the Vatican, Mecca with the Kaaba, and Jerusalem's known for its Western Wall. But why should we stand before the wall, letting it obstruct our vision, when we could be praying in a Temple? Why should Jews continue to bow before an illegitimate Gentile decree that tells them where to pray? (Isaiah 10:1).
The Vatican Must Return the Temple Treasures
The Jews have prayed for 2,000 years to again see the Temple upon the Temple Mount. It's past time for prayers alone: ACTION is necessary to put faith into practice!
G-d Doesn't Listen to Jewish Prayers at the Western Wall
Gershon Salomon warned Israel and its leadership that as long as the shameful situation on the Temple Mount continues, and as long as they do not obey the call of G-d, peace will not come to the land. The enemies of Israel will continue to desire her land and will pressure those in power to divide it. Obedience to the call of G-d will bring peace, all of Israel's enemies will be removed and no one will wish to divide or desire the land.
Why Edward Abington, Jr. Must Be Investigated!
"The American Diplomat in Arafat's Corner," published in The Jerusalem Report, came as no surprise to me. It was referring to Edward Abington, Jr., the United States' former consul general in Jerusalem who is now "guiding the Palestinians through the labyrinths of Washington. And his firm is being paid $2.25 million for his expertise."
Israel's Unjust Deportation of David Ben-Ariel
As a Christian-American member of the Temple Mount Faithful Movement, I had been privileged to participate in their legal demonstrations during my 10-month stay in Jerusalem awaiting dual citizenship. Israeli television often showed me with my Jewish friends carrying Israeli flags throughout the Old City.
Blow Up the Mosques or An Expired Visa?
Once again, an attempt to spread DISinformation about my unjust deportation from Israel, only provides me with another opportunity to clearly state my case and continue to highlight the plight of the Temple Mount suffering under a Nazi-Muslim occupation...
From Toledo to Jerusalem
You could say I have a God-given love for the Jews and the nation of Israel (Isaiah 62:6-7). That sacred bond has been strengthened over the years by the fact that I've been blessed to have lived all over Israel, getting to know its land and people quite well.
Dangerous Ideas?
During my brief appearance before Israel's High Court, the prosecution charged that I hold "dangerous ideas." I suppose the short-sighted prosecution would ban the Bible if he could since it contains the "dangerous ideas" that millions believe in! What are those "dangerous ideas?"
American Detained in Jerusalem's Russian Compound
Nobody arrested me. I was detained when I faithfully reported to the police office at 9 a.m. Monday morning, January 9, 1996 (day before my birthday) the day after The Jerusalem Post published on their front page an article shedding light on what they were doing in the dark: "GSS Seeks to Deport American Citizen for Plot to Blow Up Al Aksa Mosque."
Two wrongs make a right?
Why is it difficult, apparently impossible, for some to condemn hatred, discrimination, and racism - when it's directed against people of white color? I'm sad to report those liberals who bask in the limelight, those who are the alleged vanguard against these things (as long as they apply to non-whites), clearly exercise double standards and indulge in a rank hypocrisy that stinks to High Heaven! They've only confirmed what I already knew, but had sincerely hoped to be proven wrong: MILITANT MINORITIES have a dream: supremacy. They only clamor for "equality" as a stepping-stone for their real goal: replacing those in the positions of power with their own kind.
This indicative email exchange explains what I'm talking about. It was between Daryle Lamont Jenkins, of One Peoples Project, and myself, David Ben-Ariel, author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall.
Hatred, discrimination, racism - against whites
This indicative email exchange explains what I'm talking about. It was between Daryle Lamont Jenkins, of One Peoples Project, and myself, David Ben-Ariel, author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall.
Hatred, discrimination, racism - against whites
Save Israel from the Hellenists!
Re: There is no Santa!
Dec 26, 2008
Who exactly are you to be telling other people how to worship?
Who exactly are you to tell me what to post? For the record, I'm a Bible believer who dares to share the plain truth of the Bible and history. Obviously it disturbs you. Remain in denial, if you please, but thankfully others will let the truth set them free. It's their choice to make, not yours.
You tried that with the Israelis, and where did it get you?
Yes, the Bolsheviks appreciate truth apparently as much as you do. The Hellenists even fiendishly work for their enemies and make areas of the Jewish homeland Judenrein and expel innocent Jewish men, women and children from their homes to please Hamas and the Germans and Jesuits. Not to mention murdering Yitzhak Rabin and blaming it on the right. Strange, isn't it? They expel Jews and not Arabs who are sworn enemies.
Never fear, the King of the Jews, Israel's King will return and save Israel from the lying peace process and from the German-Jesuits whose occupation and disaster they invited. This GOOD NEWS must reach the cities of Judah and will, so help me God.
...about how you've got the inside track and first class tickets on the train to heaven.
You're silly! If you knew the Bible, or anything about Yeshua, you would know "the meek shall inherit the Earth" and that I teach the plain truth of the Bible, which those in the noble spirit of the Bereans recognize and appreciate.
Born Again and Heaven and Hell
Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?
--
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Free speech, David Ben-Ariel, Christmas, New Year, and Iraq
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Free speech, David Ben-Ariel, Christmas, New Year, and Iraq
One of the features highlighted by the current debate about free speech (cartoons et al) is that the principle allows people to say a lot of things that you may not agree with. And if you're uncomfortable about that, then I fear that the only advice I can offer is, Get used to it. Or, better yet, make use of the now-numerous opportunities to put forward your own two pennorth.
It is in that spirit that I offer a connection to a writer whose views I by no means share, but who illustrates rather nicely what can be done through the internet and by the use of such companies as PublishAmerica.
David Ben-Ariel is a 46-year-old with extremely strong views on religion, and he uses various blogs and books to express his views in forcible terms. You might start, for instance, by looking at his eponymous blog, David Ben-Ariel, on which he plugs his book Beyond Babylon. This is a book that you can read online if you wish. There are also links to countless other articles and blogs.
David also has a blog called Christmas is an Abomination. (I agree with that bit, by the way.) He provides considerable evidence to make the point (which was grumpily referred to here in 2004) that, whatever else it may be, 25 December is certainly not the day when Jesus Christ was born. David quotes a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon, preached on 24 December 1871, in which the Rev. declares that 'if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Savior was born, it is the 25th of December.'
Neither does the New Year celebration meet with David's approval. It is, he declares, a pagan abomination in which the Devil takes a delight. Wrong time of year entirely.I could go on. If you are puzzled by the war In Iraq and the mysteries of the Middle East, then David's links will prove useful, because without too much trouble you can find a book written by 18-year-old Ryan Mauro, Death to America -- the Unreported Battle of Iraq. In this book, the 'secret agendas of Europe, Russia, and all the world's powers' are explained by 'one of the nation's youngest geopolitical analysts.'Such is the power of ideas, which can now be made readily available for the enlightenment of all through the digital media at our disposal.
Good luck, kids.
Posted by Michael Allen at 8:58 AM
Free speech, David Ben-Ariel, Christmas, New Year, and Iraq
One of the features highlighted by the current debate about free speech (cartoons et al) is that the principle allows people to say a lot of things that you may not agree with. And if you're uncomfortable about that, then I fear that the only advice I can offer is, Get used to it. Or, better yet, make use of the now-numerous opportunities to put forward your own two pennorth.
It is in that spirit that I offer a connection to a writer whose views I by no means share, but who illustrates rather nicely what can be done through the internet and by the use of such companies as PublishAmerica.
David Ben-Ariel is a 46-year-old with extremely strong views on religion, and he uses various blogs and books to express his views in forcible terms. You might start, for instance, by looking at his eponymous blog, David Ben-Ariel, on which he plugs his book Beyond Babylon. This is a book that you can read online if you wish. There are also links to countless other articles and blogs.
David also has a blog called Christmas is an Abomination. (I agree with that bit, by the way.) He provides considerable evidence to make the point (which was grumpily referred to here in 2004) that, whatever else it may be, 25 December is certainly not the day when Jesus Christ was born. David quotes a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon, preached on 24 December 1871, in which the Rev. declares that 'if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Savior was born, it is the 25th of December.'
Neither does the New Year celebration meet with David's approval. It is, he declares, a pagan abomination in which the Devil takes a delight. Wrong time of year entirely.I could go on. If you are puzzled by the war In Iraq and the mysteries of the Middle East, then David's links will prove useful, because without too much trouble you can find a book written by 18-year-old Ryan Mauro, Death to America -- the Unreported Battle of Iraq. In this book, the 'secret agendas of Europe, Russia, and all the world's powers' are explained by 'one of the nation's youngest geopolitical analysts.'Such is the power of ideas, which can now be made readily available for the enlightenment of all through the digital media at our disposal.
Good luck, kids.
Posted by Michael Allen at 8:58 AM
Warning about the coming nuclear holocaust
Page turners: local authors
Toledo City Paper, December 7, 2005 by Aaron Shapiro
"Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall"
Author: David Ben-Ariel
David Ben-Ariel was born in Bowling Green and currently lives in Toledo. His focus is not local however, as he tends to divert his energies to writing about World War III and the coming nuclear holocaust. Ben-Ariel subscribes to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong the founder of the Worldwide Church of God and as a result Ben Ariel uses his writings to warn of our impending doom.
Toledo City Paper, December 7, 2005 by Aaron Shapiro
"Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall"
Author: David Ben-Ariel
David Ben-Ariel was born in Bowling Green and currently lives in Toledo. His focus is not local however, as he tends to divert his energies to writing about World War III and the coming nuclear holocaust. Ben-Ariel subscribes to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong the founder of the Worldwide Church of God and as a result Ben Ariel uses his writings to warn of our impending doom.
'Phased Destruction'
'Phased Destruction' (10/21/2005)
John McCaslin
Washington, D.C.
The Washington Times
Inside the Beltway
By John McCaslin
'Phased destruction'
American author David Ben-Ariel tells this column that he will soon release "Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall," describing the book as "staunchly pro-Israel/ American." As a result, he predicts, the book's subject matter "will become a national debate and an international controversy." Not surprising. Mr. Ben-Ariel of late has referred to the "mindless mantra that mesmerizes fools for peace at any price and rings hollow because the Jews are going again, slowly but surely, through the lying peace process of phased destruction." "The only ones (thank God for the precious few) who are making any fuss about it, dragging their heels rather than go like sheep to the slaughter, are roundly condemned by their own leaders and American administrations and worthless world opinion as 'enemies of peace,' 'obstacles to peace,' and other name brands because they don't want to 'rest in peace' but live and prosper."
John McCaslin
Washington, D.C.
The Washington Times
Inside the Beltway
By John McCaslin
'Phased destruction'
American author David Ben-Ariel tells this column that he will soon release "Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall," describing the book as "staunchly pro-Israel/ American." As a result, he predicts, the book's subject matter "will become a national debate and an international controversy." Not surprising. Mr. Ben-Ariel of late has referred to the "mindless mantra that mesmerizes fools for peace at any price and rings hollow because the Jews are going again, slowly but surely, through the lying peace process of phased destruction." "The only ones (thank God for the precious few) who are making any fuss about it, dragging their heels rather than go like sheep to the slaughter, are roundly condemned by their own leaders and American administrations and worthless world opinion as 'enemies of peace,' 'obstacles to peace,' and other name brands because they don't want to 'rest in peace' but live and prosper."
Barak Borked
www.barrychamish.com
BARAK BORKED
by Barry Chamish
In 1997, an attorney visited me twice hoping to convince me that the president of Israel's Supreme Court, Aharon Barak, was involved in the Rabin assassination. He insisted that Barak is, "the most dangerous man in Israel. He's taken over the state. In my circles, Peres may be the chief suspect but he couldn't have done it without Barak's approval." He added, "Why do you think Meir Shamgar ran the commission of inquiry? He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and that means the Supreme Court has taken full responsibility for controlling the crime." My problem is the Supreme Court certainly turned down every appeal to it to re-investigate the murder, so it abetted the murderers of Rabin, but I could find nothing on Barak himself. And I just didn't have enough legalize in me to understand how powerful Barak really is.
Then, in December 2008, I gave a speech in Omaha and my sponsor was a rabbi, Jonathan Gross, far wiser than I, who had delved in depth into Israel's current decay. He recommended a book he possessed to understand the quick and unstoppable decay in Israel's core values. The book is Coercing Virtue by Robert Bork.
Admittedly, I was reluctant to even look at the book because Bork gained judicial power after Pres. Nixon ordered his attorney general, Archbald Cox, to fire the special prosecutor investigating Watergate. Cox refused, his deputy refused, but Bork, by process of elimination, rose to the office of attorney general by signing the order. That said, my prejudices were overcome by Bork's later integrity, and the good rabbi gave me the book to study at home.
Bork was the inspiration to my finally understanding Barak. He explains how Barak took over the state, substituted justice for oligarchy, and has, indeed, gone to great lengths to protect Peres.
Coercing Virtue explains how the Knesset was taken over by the Supreme Court. As the new Prime Minister, Rabin, took office in 1992, a law was passed that was, in essence, Israel's unknown constitution. Without even reading the clauses of the law, without debating its provisions, with fewer than half of Knesset members in attendance, the Knesset passed a law giving executive powers to the Supreme Court.
From this point on, anyone could get an instant hearing on their petition to indict any member of the government. The petitioner need not have been personally injured by the Respondent, and no long lower court process was required to get a hearing from the nation's highest court.
The real change of regime occurred when PM Rabin opposed a Supreme Court ruling that his coalition partner, Rafael Pinchasi, could be stripped of his Knesset immunity and tried for corruption. Without Pinchasi and his Shas Party, Rabin couldn't form a governing coalition. Rabin ordered the government's attorney general to present its arguments to the Court and he refused to defend Rabin. The only party legally authorized to defend the government is the attorney general and when he said no to Rabin, he and the Supreme Court took over Israel, including its military forces.
We cite Bork's Coercing Virtue:
pp. 111 - Pride of place in the international judicial deformation of democratic government goes not to the United States, nor Canada, but to the State of Israel. The Israeli Supreme Court is making itself the dominant institution in the nation, an authority no other court in the world has achieved. Imagine, if you can, a supreme court that has gained the power to choose its own members, wrested control of the attorney general from the executive branch, set aside legislative and executive action when there were disagreements about policy, altered the meaning of enacted law, forbidden government action at certain times, ordered government action at other times, and claimed and exercised the authority to override national defense measures. No act of imagination is required. Israel's Supreme Court has done them all.
pp. 112 - The extraordinary events cannot be understood without reference to one man, Aharon Barak. From the beginning of his tenure on the Supreme Court in 1978 to his assumption of the court's presidency in 1995, Barak has been the dominant figure in Israeli law...and the single most influential person in Israeli public life.
pp. 114 - Barak has reshaped the law so that practically any subject, no matter how political, may be decided by the court.
http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2008/12/09/middle%20east:%20david%20bedein%20%20/20216619.txt
Israeli Legal Advice: Fire On Gaza Only In Open Areas
Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak requested advice from the security establishment's legal adviser to enable the Israeli army to fire into Gaza, due to the escalation in Gaza rocket fire in the past month.
The Legal adviser to the Israel Ministry of Defense, Mr. Ahaz Ben-Ari stated in his opinion that according to international law, fire can only be aimed at open areas, yet not at built-up areas.
"There is no blanket prohibition in international law on artillery fire towards military targets in the Gaza Strip," wrote Attorney Ben-Ari. "However, in light of the fact that artillery fire has a very low level of accuracy, and causes a relatively high degree of damage, artillery fire can only be carried out towards relatively open areas, if it is believed that the rocket cells will be hit as a result and that the launches from these areas will be stopped or reduced, and this fire will not cause excessive damage to civilians who may be in the area."
Despite these restrictions, the legal adviser clarified that if repeated fire is identified from a built-up area, "the response can be increased by giving the residents of this area warning of the intention to respond with fire, with a recommendation to evacuate the area within a reasonable period of time."
Mr. Ben-Ari made it clear that in any case, "carpet bombing" was not authorized, even if the population had abandoned the area, in order to prevent complete destruction of civilian property. What Mr. Ben-Ari did not consider was that any warning delivered by the Israeli army of imminent attack on an Arab village would generate a counter response, with the likelihood being that terrorists would invite TV crews and various levels of the civilian population to act as human shields against any planned Israeli attack.
*
pp. 114 - Even an activity, bearing the greatest political character, such as the making of war and peace, is examinable by judicial criteria...The extremes to which Barak's judicial philosophy can carry him are shown by his statement that the deployment of troops in wartime is a justiciable issue.
pp. 123 - Considering the dangers continually confronting Israel, its responses to terrorist attacks and the threat of invasion have been quite moderate, sometimes arguably too moderate.
pp. 125 - An important means of preserving national security was taken away by the court...Universalistic principles were deployed to harm Israel's security, without adequately weighing Israel's particular circumstance and needs.
pp. 132 - The Knesset is loath to pass laws that it fears a Barak-led court would likely overturn.
*
Having been victimized by Israeli kangaroo courts, and reporting on endless judicial outrages, I had to find one event as a metaphor for the hideous coordination between the Supreme Court and the government it controls. One incident, found in my book Bye Bye Gaza, stood out as an example of how the court victimizes the people.
In late July 2005, over 50,000 people had gathered in Sderot for a protest organized by the Yesha Council, supposedly to march to Gaza and save Gush Katif. We got in our cars for the mission but the police, predictably if you're me, had blockaded our passage. Thousands of cars pulled over to the side and word was spreading quickly to march half a mile to the blockade to confront the police.
In my car were my friends Jerry and Iris. I said, "It's going to happen at last. Let's meet the police and push them out of the way." Iris felt like me, nervous about police reaction, but knowing that if Gush Katif was to be saved, we had to defeat the authorities. Jerry joined us, but was worried how injury or arrest would be viewed at work.
Half way to the police lines, worried Yesha Council workers ran up and down the lines, warning everyone to get back in their cars because, "The Bagatz, (the Supreme Court), is hearing our petition to continue right now."
As I watched the mob return to their cars, I said to Jerry and Iris, "Let's go home. Gush Katif is gone."
http://www.jewishindy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8855
Twice as Many Indictments, Half as Many Convictions
Another statistic shows that while the rate of indictments per criminal case averages 14% across the country, in the Judea and Samaria District it was no less than 38% - more than twice the national average.
Even more significant, however, is the rate of convictions: While across the country, 97% of those indicted on criminal files are convicted, in Judea and Samaria it is only 54%. The report therefore concludes that the judicial system ends up doing the "filtering out" work that the police are supposed to do, and "this is a grave blow at the basic civil rights of suspects in Judea and Samaria, who, because of the selective law enforcement policies, find themselves in the status of 'accused' who are forced to defend themselves in court, with all that that implies, in order to regain their status of presumed innocence."
pp. 115 - The court's values implement a socialist impulse to cultural and social affairs. They are universalistic in scope, and to the exclusion of competing values, stress such concerns as dignity, freedom, and equality of individuals. As rhetoric, those words are highly persuasive, as operational concepts, they have often proved highly deleterious.
pp. 120 - There would seem to be less and less reason for the Israeli people to bother electing a legislature and executive; the attorney general, with the backing of the Supreme Court, can decide almost everything for them... Democracy is slowly being replaced by oligarchy.
pp. 127 - Concern for Muslim sensibilities was reasonable, but concern for ultra-Orthodox sensibilities was not. The court's rejection of specifically Jewish values was also evident in its decisions that the importation of nonkosher meat cannot be banned, new communities sited for defensive purposes may not be limited to Jews, and Hareidi youth groups may not be funded by the government as other youth groups are.
pp. 130 - Barak and his court are redefining Israel's values so that, in area after area of Israeli life, the Jewishness of the state matters less and less...According to Barak, when the values of Israel as a Jewish state cannot be reconciled with its values as a democratic state, the decision must be made according to 'the views of the enlightened community in Israel.'
pp. 131 - In cases where the general public would prefer a value a value specific to Judaism, that public is left without a voice in the ability to govern...realization of the degree to which the public has been disenfranchised and the executive branch emasculated in Israel comes as a shock to most outside observers. The more friendly to Israel such observers are, the greater the dismay.
pp. 132 - The more such cases are adjudicated by a Barak-inspired court, the less Jewish Israel is likely to become.
And as the public's trust in Barak and his court is whittled away, it still protects Pres. Peres with all its contrived might.
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3410609,00.html
The Supreme Court is viewed by the public as the institute which best preserves democracy, as 39 percent of the respondents agreed, and faith in the Supreme Court declined from 68 percent to 61 percent.
Supreme Court Panel:
Only the President May Pardon
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/157940
(IsraelNN.com)
In a split decision, a three-judge tribunal of the Supreme Court ruled in principle on Tuesday that the justice minister does not have the option of not signing a pardon signed by the president, according to Maariv/nrg. The ruling requires the government to provide the president with the fullest information possible about any prisoner in question.
The decision was born of disagreement between then-President Moshe Katzav and then-Justice Minister Tzipi Livni about the reduction of a sentence for a convicted murderer, when Katzav overruled Livni's recommendation, based on the convict's behavior in prison. It could be relevant in the release of security prisoners for abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
In his minority opinion, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein said the justice minister's option of not signing was part of the system of checks and balances.
pp. 132 - Israel has set a standard for judicial imperialism that can probably never be surpassed, and, one devoutly hopes, will never be equaled elsewhere. The sad irony is that the Supreme Court, operating with na Basic Law that specifies that Israel's values are both Jewish and democratic, is gradually producing an Israel that is neither Jewish nor democratic.
BARAK BORKED
by Barry Chamish
In 1997, an attorney visited me twice hoping to convince me that the president of Israel's Supreme Court, Aharon Barak, was involved in the Rabin assassination. He insisted that Barak is, "the most dangerous man in Israel. He's taken over the state. In my circles, Peres may be the chief suspect but he couldn't have done it without Barak's approval." He added, "Why do you think Meir Shamgar ran the commission of inquiry? He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and that means the Supreme Court has taken full responsibility for controlling the crime." My problem is the Supreme Court certainly turned down every appeal to it to re-investigate the murder, so it abetted the murderers of Rabin, but I could find nothing on Barak himself. And I just didn't have enough legalize in me to understand how powerful Barak really is.
Then, in December 2008, I gave a speech in Omaha and my sponsor was a rabbi, Jonathan Gross, far wiser than I, who had delved in depth into Israel's current decay. He recommended a book he possessed to understand the quick and unstoppable decay in Israel's core values. The book is Coercing Virtue by Robert Bork.
Admittedly, I was reluctant to even look at the book because Bork gained judicial power after Pres. Nixon ordered his attorney general, Archbald Cox, to fire the special prosecutor investigating Watergate. Cox refused, his deputy refused, but Bork, by process of elimination, rose to the office of attorney general by signing the order. That said, my prejudices were overcome by Bork's later integrity, and the good rabbi gave me the book to study at home.
Bork was the inspiration to my finally understanding Barak. He explains how Barak took over the state, substituted justice for oligarchy, and has, indeed, gone to great lengths to protect Peres.
Coercing Virtue explains how the Knesset was taken over by the Supreme Court. As the new Prime Minister, Rabin, took office in 1992, a law was passed that was, in essence, Israel's unknown constitution. Without even reading the clauses of the law, without debating its provisions, with fewer than half of Knesset members in attendance, the Knesset passed a law giving executive powers to the Supreme Court.
From this point on, anyone could get an instant hearing on their petition to indict any member of the government. The petitioner need not have been personally injured by the Respondent, and no long lower court process was required to get a hearing from the nation's highest court.
The real change of regime occurred when PM Rabin opposed a Supreme Court ruling that his coalition partner, Rafael Pinchasi, could be stripped of his Knesset immunity and tried for corruption. Without Pinchasi and his Shas Party, Rabin couldn't form a governing coalition. Rabin ordered the government's attorney general to present its arguments to the Court and he refused to defend Rabin. The only party legally authorized to defend the government is the attorney general and when he said no to Rabin, he and the Supreme Court took over Israel, including its military forces.
We cite Bork's Coercing Virtue:
pp. 111 - Pride of place in the international judicial deformation of democratic government goes not to the United States, nor Canada, but to the State of Israel. The Israeli Supreme Court is making itself the dominant institution in the nation, an authority no other court in the world has achieved. Imagine, if you can, a supreme court that has gained the power to choose its own members, wrested control of the attorney general from the executive branch, set aside legislative and executive action when there were disagreements about policy, altered the meaning of enacted law, forbidden government action at certain times, ordered government action at other times, and claimed and exercised the authority to override national defense measures. No act of imagination is required. Israel's Supreme Court has done them all.
pp. 112 - The extraordinary events cannot be understood without reference to one man, Aharon Barak. From the beginning of his tenure on the Supreme Court in 1978 to his assumption of the court's presidency in 1995, Barak has been the dominant figure in Israeli law...and the single most influential person in Israeli public life.
pp. 114 - Barak has reshaped the law so that practically any subject, no matter how political, may be decided by the court.
http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2008/12/09/middle%20east:%20david%20bedein%20%20/20216619.txt
Israeli Legal Advice: Fire On Gaza Only In Open Areas
Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak requested advice from the security establishment's legal adviser to enable the Israeli army to fire into Gaza, due to the escalation in Gaza rocket fire in the past month.
The Legal adviser to the Israel Ministry of Defense, Mr. Ahaz Ben-Ari stated in his opinion that according to international law, fire can only be aimed at open areas, yet not at built-up areas.
"There is no blanket prohibition in international law on artillery fire towards military targets in the Gaza Strip," wrote Attorney Ben-Ari. "However, in light of the fact that artillery fire has a very low level of accuracy, and causes a relatively high degree of damage, artillery fire can only be carried out towards relatively open areas, if it is believed that the rocket cells will be hit as a result and that the launches from these areas will be stopped or reduced, and this fire will not cause excessive damage to civilians who may be in the area."
Despite these restrictions, the legal adviser clarified that if repeated fire is identified from a built-up area, "the response can be increased by giving the residents of this area warning of the intention to respond with fire, with a recommendation to evacuate the area within a reasonable period of time."
Mr. Ben-Ari made it clear that in any case, "carpet bombing" was not authorized, even if the population had abandoned the area, in order to prevent complete destruction of civilian property. What Mr. Ben-Ari did not consider was that any warning delivered by the Israeli army of imminent attack on an Arab village would generate a counter response, with the likelihood being that terrorists would invite TV crews and various levels of the civilian population to act as human shields against any planned Israeli attack.
*
pp. 114 - Even an activity, bearing the greatest political character, such as the making of war and peace, is examinable by judicial criteria...The extremes to which Barak's judicial philosophy can carry him are shown by his statement that the deployment of troops in wartime is a justiciable issue.
pp. 123 - Considering the dangers continually confronting Israel, its responses to terrorist attacks and the threat of invasion have been quite moderate, sometimes arguably too moderate.
pp. 125 - An important means of preserving national security was taken away by the court...Universalistic principles were deployed to harm Israel's security, without adequately weighing Israel's particular circumstance and needs.
pp. 132 - The Knesset is loath to pass laws that it fears a Barak-led court would likely overturn.
*
Having been victimized by Israeli kangaroo courts, and reporting on endless judicial outrages, I had to find one event as a metaphor for the hideous coordination between the Supreme Court and the government it controls. One incident, found in my book Bye Bye Gaza, stood out as an example of how the court victimizes the people.
In late July 2005, over 50,000 people had gathered in Sderot for a protest organized by the Yesha Council, supposedly to march to Gaza and save Gush Katif. We got in our cars for the mission but the police, predictably if you're me, had blockaded our passage. Thousands of cars pulled over to the side and word was spreading quickly to march half a mile to the blockade to confront the police.
In my car were my friends Jerry and Iris. I said, "It's going to happen at last. Let's meet the police and push them out of the way." Iris felt like me, nervous about police reaction, but knowing that if Gush Katif was to be saved, we had to defeat the authorities. Jerry joined us, but was worried how injury or arrest would be viewed at work.
Half way to the police lines, worried Yesha Council workers ran up and down the lines, warning everyone to get back in their cars because, "The Bagatz, (the Supreme Court), is hearing our petition to continue right now."
As I watched the mob return to their cars, I said to Jerry and Iris, "Let's go home. Gush Katif is gone."
http://www.jewishindy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8855
Twice as Many Indictments, Half as Many Convictions
Another statistic shows that while the rate of indictments per criminal case averages 14% across the country, in the Judea and Samaria District it was no less than 38% - more than twice the national average.
Even more significant, however, is the rate of convictions: While across the country, 97% of those indicted on criminal files are convicted, in Judea and Samaria it is only 54%. The report therefore concludes that the judicial system ends up doing the "filtering out" work that the police are supposed to do, and "this is a grave blow at the basic civil rights of suspects in Judea and Samaria, who, because of the selective law enforcement policies, find themselves in the status of 'accused' who are forced to defend themselves in court, with all that that implies, in order to regain their status of presumed innocence."
pp. 115 - The court's values implement a socialist impulse to cultural and social affairs. They are universalistic in scope, and to the exclusion of competing values, stress such concerns as dignity, freedom, and equality of individuals. As rhetoric, those words are highly persuasive, as operational concepts, they have often proved highly deleterious.
pp. 120 - There would seem to be less and less reason for the Israeli people to bother electing a legislature and executive; the attorney general, with the backing of the Supreme Court, can decide almost everything for them... Democracy is slowly being replaced by oligarchy.
pp. 127 - Concern for Muslim sensibilities was reasonable, but concern for ultra-Orthodox sensibilities was not. The court's rejection of specifically Jewish values was also evident in its decisions that the importation of nonkosher meat cannot be banned, new communities sited for defensive purposes may not be limited to Jews, and Hareidi youth groups may not be funded by the government as other youth groups are.
pp. 130 - Barak and his court are redefining Israel's values so that, in area after area of Israeli life, the Jewishness of the state matters less and less...According to Barak, when the values of Israel as a Jewish state cannot be reconciled with its values as a democratic state, the decision must be made according to 'the views of the enlightened community in Israel.'
pp. 131 - In cases where the general public would prefer a value a value specific to Judaism, that public is left without a voice in the ability to govern...realization of the degree to which the public has been disenfranchised and the executive branch emasculated in Israel comes as a shock to most outside observers. The more friendly to Israel such observers are, the greater the dismay.
pp. 132 - The more such cases are adjudicated by a Barak-inspired court, the less Jewish Israel is likely to become.
And as the public's trust in Barak and his court is whittled away, it still protects Pres. Peres with all its contrived might.
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3410609,00.html
The Supreme Court is viewed by the public as the institute which best preserves democracy, as 39 percent of the respondents agreed, and faith in the Supreme Court declined from 68 percent to 61 percent.
Supreme Court Panel:
Only the President May Pardon
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/157940
(IsraelNN.com)
In a split decision, a three-judge tribunal of the Supreme Court ruled in principle on Tuesday that the justice minister does not have the option of not signing a pardon signed by the president, according to Maariv/nrg. The ruling requires the government to provide the president with the fullest information possible about any prisoner in question.
The decision was born of disagreement between then-President Moshe Katzav and then-Justice Minister Tzipi Livni about the reduction of a sentence for a convicted murderer, when Katzav overruled Livni's recommendation, based on the convict's behavior in prison. It could be relevant in the release of security prisoners for abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
In his minority opinion, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein said the justice minister's option of not signing was part of the system of checks and balances.
pp. 132 - Israel has set a standard for judicial imperialism that can probably never be surpassed, and, one devoutly hopes, will never be equaled elsewhere. The sad irony is that the Supreme Court, operating with na Basic Law that specifies that Israel's values are both Jewish and democratic, is gradually producing an Israel that is neither Jewish nor democratic.
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