There is No Best Time for Sovereignty
by Yoni Kempinski
MK Danny Danon (Likud) spoke about the importance of applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, saying that Israel is “paying the price” for the Oslo Accords – “until today”.
He said: “The idea that we would give away parts of our homeland and we would receive peace in exchange – it completely failed. We have to think about a different formula, this idea brought only violence and frustration to the region. That’s why I think we have to say, ‘Let’s delete it, let’s think about a new idea, a new paradigm for peace in the region.”
When asked whether sovereignty would bring peace, Danon added, “I think when Menachem Begin took the very brave decision to apply sovereignty over the Golan Heights, it was a remarkable moment. And he wrote that for him it was the most important decision in his life. I think we should do the same. We should apply sovereignty to send a clear message that Jews who live in Judea and Samaria are not going anywhere.” (But our enemies can and should.)
Danon stressed that, “There will never be a ‘best timing’ for this decision. When former Prime Minister David Ben Gurion decided to declare independence, the US told him it’s not the best timing. But we have to do it as soon as possible.”
Shana Tova – Happy New Year!
Shana Tova U’Metuka – Have a good and sweet year!
Shana Tova Tikateivu – May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year!
Food for Thought. by Steven Shamrak
Jews around the world have been saying “anti-Zionism is Antisemitism” for quite a while. Nothing has changed! Quite the opposite, Antisemitism is on the rise worldwide. Jew-haters, mainly the Europeans and Americans, do not care! Our enemies still think that Jews are weak, even though they are having their own country since 1948. Only Israel can change the dynamic of the international anti-Semites’ attitude toward the Jewish state, and Jews in general. Israel must decisively and unapologetically defeat the enemies, reclaim our ancestral land and reunifying Eretz-Israel! Anti-Semites will never love Jews, but, at least, they will start respecting us. I remember this feeling of respect toward Jews from Ukrainian anti-Semites after 1967 and 1973 wars. Unfortunately, it did not last long, because Israel was still behaving as a ‘ghetto-Jew’, fearing what would others think, and did not take advantage of its victories. Herzl thought that Israel would make the other countries treat Jews as equals, but instead, Israel has become the ‘Jew’ among nations.
United Hatzalah Opens Medical Clinics in Morocco
The United Hatzalah emergency medical response organization has opened two medical clinics in hard-hit areas in the remote Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where entire villages were badly damaged in the 6.8-magnitude earthquake. (This is not reported by Israel-hating Western press!)
A decision was taken at a meeting of the UN World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, to list the ruins near the ancient of Jericho as a “World Heritage Site in Palestine,” a decision likely to anger Israel, which controls the territory and does not recognize a Palestinian state. Jericho is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on earth. The listing refers to the Tel es-Sultan archaeological site nearby, which contains prehistoric ruins dating back to the ninth millennium BCE. The ancient city joins three other “UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Palestine”: the Church of the Nativity and the pilgrimage route in Bethlehem, the cultural landscape of southern Jerusalem and Battir, and the Old City in Hebron. (There has never been a Palestinian state then, and there never will be on the Jewish land!)
Refusals to Report for IDF Duty Limited
Commander of the Reserve Forces Corps Brigadier-General Benny Ben Ari said that the number of IDF reservists who have refused to report for duty in protest against the government’s planned judicial reforms is not as large as the media suggests. “The phenomenon is really not widespread. We have a problem with competence in the Air Force, but not in the IDF in general. We are qualified for any task as we understand them. We are not in a situation where if war breaks out tomorrow morning we won’t know how or be able to carry out our plans,” he said.
The Vatican was Informed about the Holocaust
‘Newly discovered’ correspondence suggests that World War II-era Pope Pius XII had detailed information from a trusted German Jesuit that up to 6,000 Jews and Poles were being gassed each day in German-occupied Poland, undercutting the Holy See’s argument that it couldn’t verify diplomatic reports of Nazi atrocities to denounce them. This is likely to further fuel the debate about Pius’ legacy and his now-stalled beatification campaign.
Member of Knesset Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit) appealed to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant demanding to cancel the Israeli approval that would allow the United States to transfer weapons and armoured vehicles to the Palestinian Authority. “I do not understand how the government with one voice goes against the Oslo agreements, and with the other voice fully embraces Oslo in practice, and in the midst of a wave of murderous terrorism that is sweeping the country and against the background of security alerts for the holiday season, the enemy is awarded modern vehicles and weaponry.”
Quotes of the Week:
“Normalization – any of the efforts that are going on to improve relations between Israel and its neighbours – are not, cannot be a substitute for Israel and the Palestinians resolving their differences and having a much better future for Palestinians. And in our judgment, of course, that must/needs to involve a two-state solution.” – Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State – This is not how an honest peace broker talks, and definitely not behaviour of the friend of Israel. Arab countries, as well as the rest of the Antisemitic world, including the main player – the US, have been using fake Palestinians as a political pawn. The “better future for Palestinians” will be in the Arab states, there are 21 of them – not on Jewish land!
The Biden Administration Continues to Sabotage the Abraham Accords
Saudi Arabia has reportedly is freezing US-brokered, indirect normalization talks with Israel because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Zionist government is unwilling to make any concessions to the Palestinians, despite the pressure from the US. (Just a month ago, the Biden administration told the Israeli government last week that it would have to make significant concessions to the Palestinians as part of any possible mega-deal with Saudi Arabia that includes normalization between the kingdom and Israel.)
Is the US a Friend or Foe?
US Embassy to Israel Ignores Jewish Holidays
On September 16 and 17, 2023 were celebrated by Jews around the world as the start of the new year. Together with Yom Kippur next week, they mark the holiest days in Judaism. The United States embassy to Israel did not mark the occasion with any wishes to the Jews in Israel or around the world. This stood in sharp contrast to the marking holidays for other religions.
Jewish Neighbourhood is not Antisemitic Bigots’ Business
The United States and European Union slammed Israeli plans to build a Jewish neighbourhood in Israel’s capital Jerusalem. The neighbourhood, Abu Dis, to have 400 housing units, will be named Kedmat Tzion. Ten Jewish families are currently living there in three buildings.
Settling Condition for Meeting President Biden
US officials assure Netanyahu he’ll meet Biden at White House later this year. Netanyahu waited over seven months before Biden agreed to a meeting. A senior US official said that the White House wants to see how things unfold with the judicial overhaul before extending an invitation for a follow-up meeting between Netanyahu and Biden in the Oval Office. (This is political humiliation, blackmail and interference in internal politics of a sovereign country. Out of self-respect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must not go to New York, and send a minister to participate in the UN General Assembly. Following the reports, Biden officials refuse to confirm a Netanyahu sit-down. At the same time, we know that Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet Elon Musk during this visit.)
Biden’s Blatant Contempt for Israel
The Prime Minister’s Office released the itinerary for Benjamin Netanyahu’s forthcoming US visit, where he will speak at the United Nations General Assembly. Notably absent from the schedule is a meeting with US President Joe Biden. While such a meeting is anticipated, it’s expected to occur on the event’s sidelines rather than at the White House, contrary to the prime minister’s initial hopes. US officials attributed the lack of a Washington meeting between the leaders to a technicality. However, observers suggest that President Biden aims to avoid the impression of business as usual, having previously criticized Netanyahu’s government as the most extreme he can recall, and expressing concerns over judicial reforms.
US Approved Military Assistance to Egypt
The United States approved most military assistance to Egypt. The $1.215 billion, withheld only $85 million. The package marks the third straight year that President Joe Biden’s administration has waived some restrictions imposed by Congress on aid to Egypt, despite Biden’s vows to put human rights at the heart of US foreign policy. The US has provided Egypt $1.3 billion in military aid annually, of which $300 million is attached to certain conditions. (Anti-Israel Jew-haters never question the aid the US provides to Egypt, the PA and other enemies of Israel. What country is Egypt getting ready to fight against?)
Read previous Editorials here.