Comments on reads 5/14 III

Arabic media mum on Nakba Day events

Unlike 2011, few publicized demonstrations in Arab cities, on Israel's borders; social media quiet after 'Global March to J'lem.'

Arabic media were uncharacteristically reticent ahead of Tuesday’s “Nakba Day,” hinting that this year’s commemorations may be tamer than last, when more than a dozen people were killed trying to rush Israel’s northern borders.

Lebanese news outlets reported that unlike last year, no protests are expected to be held at the country’s frontier with Israel.

Issam Halabi, director-general of the League of Palestinian Refugees, told Beirut’s Daily Star newspaper that calls like last year’s to “march on Jerusalem” have been largely absent from Palestinian camps in Lebanon.

The paper reported that this year’s Nakba Day – when Palestinians and other Arabs mourn Israel’s creation in 1948 – will be limited to communities north of the Litani River in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year’s bloodshed. Commemorative activities are reportedly also planned for Martyr’s Square in the coastal city of Sidon.

FP: Evidence that force, not appeasement, is effective in stopping violence. Can you imagine that this would have been the result had Israel hesitated to respond with that force?

 

Elder of Ziyon: Purpose of J-Street is not to reflect US Jewish opinion, but to change it

I received this video from ProIsrael Media showing Carinne Luck, Vice President of Field and Campaigns for J-Street, speaking at what appears to be an internal meeting.

In it, she seems to admit that most of J-Street's support comes from outside the Jewish community. Moreover, she contradicts J-Street's claims to represent the majority opinion of American Jews; and she states that J-Street's goal, following the demands of left-leaning politicians and the Obama administration, is to "move" the American Jewish community towards the left, so this is "primarily" what the organization does.

I do not have access to the entire video so I cannot verify 100% that these quotes are in context, but if accurate it looks pretty damning for the "pro-Israel, pro-peace" J-Street.

UPDATE: The video was taken down by YouTube but I got the entire video, without edits. Here it is - you can make up your own minds as to whether the statements were in context of not.

FP: Video is not embeddable, watch it at the link. No comment warranted.

 

Police arrest suspect in Tel Aviv armed rape

A 21-year-old Palestinian man was arrested on Monday evening on suspicion of raping a 17-year-old girl at knife-point and forcing her boyfriend to watch earlier this week in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Police, who were under massive public pressure to solve the case, arrested the suspect on a street near the scene of the crime, in the vicinity of the Gan Ha’ir parking lot of the municipality. He is a resident of the West Bank, from a village near Nablus, and has a few minor criminal offenses on his record which do not include sexual assaults.

Five additional suspects were also arrested and due to be questioned throughout Monday night to determine the level of their alleged involvement.

FP: The terror and criminal activities inflicted on Israelis and the ensuing arrests remind me of an anecdote: the Chinese and the Soviet communist regimes were hostile at one time and a war errupted between them. In the first day of the war the Soviets took 5000 Chinese prisoners; in the second day 10,000; in the third day 15,000. The fourth day the Chinese asked the Soviets if they surrender. (see next)

 

Palestinian prisoner hunger strike looks poised to end

Prisoners reportedly studying details of Egyptian-brokered deal • Chairman of Palestinian prisoners' organization: "Any compromise... will be illegitimate so long as the prisoners themselves haven't agreed to it."

FP: It ended just as I predicted: the government conceded their demands in return for a “promise not to conduct terror activities from the jail”. Anybody who concedes anything for Arab promises must have his head examined.

 

Mofaz moves to revoke law named after him to block party split

So-called Mofaz law originally legislated in 2009 to facilitate a failed move to prompt Mofaz to defect from Kadima and join coalition • Now that Mofaz is at the helm of Kadima, same law threatens to split his party.

Bar-On appointment quashes anti-Mofaz efforts

Vice Premier Shaul Mofaz took the wind out of the sails of his critics in Kadima on Monday when he appointed MK Ronnie Bar-On, who was his predecessor Tzipi Livni’s top backer, as chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

FP: I was right again. The various machinations around and after the move to broaden the coalition were for the interests of the politicians and not the national public good as they all pompously declare.

 

Haredim refuse to participate in interparty Tal Law update team

United Torah Judaism says it will not participate in interparty team set up by prime minister to find Tal Law alternatives • Statement to Israel Hayom: We cannot take part in activities of a team whose initial goal is to take young men out of yeshiva.

Israel Matzav: Ruh Roh... Shas, UTJ both shunning Tal Law 'talks'

The two major Haredi parties - Shas and United Torah Judaism - have both decided to shun 'talks' regarding a replacement for the Tal Law (which allowed yeshiva students to defer IDF service), a move that could leave the secular majority wringing its hands in frustration.

Shas Chairman Eli Yishai issued a statement Monday saying that, following consultations with Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, the party will not be sending a representative to the committee established to present proposals for replacing the Tal Law.

FP: And right yet again: no Tal Law that resolves the equity issue will be acceptable without violence and implementable.