Muslim Hajj Culiminate in anti-Israel and anti-US demonstrations in tents

According to a report by the AP, Muslims on their hajj, one of the holiest pillars of Islam, culminated in something called a "disavowal of pagans ceremony!" What this ceremony is an anti-Israel and anti-US demonstrations within the tents of the worshipers. While Saudi Arabia has banned any anti-US events to take place, they allowed it because it was in the privacy of their own tents.

Yep, I totally believe the Muslim world is trying to reach towards peace. Stuff like this going on in what is supposed to be a religious event is totally kosher with the free world. No problem, really.

(Snickers) Ya, right.

Once again, something Israel probably will be blame for but has nothing to do with this...

According to a report in today's New York Times, Saudi Arabia has barred Palestinians in Gaza from traveling to Mecca as part of the Hajj. For those who don't know, one of the five pillars of Islam is to make the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina at least once in a Muslim's life. The reason for denying these Palestinians their religious right is part of the continued international pressure on international terrorist organization Hamas. What has Hamas done to respond to this? For those who are on Fatah's list of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia they set up eight check points in Gaza heading towards Egypt.

Even Palestinians know that “Even the Israelis never dared prevent the pilgrimage this way."

So before anyone says anything, Israel has nothing to do with this, thanks!

Exciting News! Paul McCartney to perform in Israel!

While the Palestinian Rights Activists continue to make fabrications and ridiculous libels and accusations against the democratic state of Israel, Sir Paul McCartney is going to perform on September 25, 2008 in Tel Aviv!

Son of Hamas Leader converts to Christianity because of Hamas

The New Cold War

Russia's unprovoked attack on the country of Georgia is something that is upseting, but it should not be a shock. Russia has also sided with Iran in helping support its nuclear ambitions and has come out against America's new missle defense system that is being built in Eastern Europe. On the flip side, America and Israel continue there strong relationship (for the most part) but also both support the state of Georgia. Then, with France and the United Kingdom on the side with Israel and America and all being against the Iranians nuclear program, it all appears to be setting up to become another East v. West with the Middle East being the main battleground.

Jordan and Hamas are talking?!

The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the country of Jordan and the terrorist group Hamas have been engaging in "security talks." As some of you may know, Jordan is one of two countries (the other being Egypt) to have a peace agreement with Egypt.

What makes this interesting that Fatah doesn't seem to be a part of these discussions despite Jordan wanting to negociate a peace between the Fatah and Hamas organizations and then peace with the Palestinian Authority with Israel and supporting President Bush's "Roadmap." Where is Fatah? Am I the only one who finds this slightely puzzling?

Music Video from SNL: Iran So Far Away

Iran So Far Away @ Yahoo! Video

Gilad Shalit's Story

Gilad Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, and was raised from
the age of two in Mitzpe Hila in the western Galilee. He attended the regional
elementary school in Maona, the junior high in Kfar Veradim, and graduated with
distinction from the science class of the Manor Kabri high school.
Gilad began his military service nearly three years ago, at the end of July 2005.
Though a medical issues could have kept him out of combat duty, he followed
his elder brother Yoel into the armored corps. Gilad was highly motivated soldier,
overcoming all the hurdles facing a recruit in the armored corps and completing his
training successfully. His first post training assignment was in the area around the Gaza Strip
guarding and ensuring the security of the villages in the area.
Gilad is a well-mannered, quiet and introverted young man with a face lit up by
a nearly-permanent shy and hesitant smile. He is also known as a ready volunteer
willing to help anyone out. At an early age, Gilad became a sports fan and has
long enjoyed playing basketball. He avidly follows numerous sports leagues and to
urnaments around the world, whether tennis, basketball, cycling, or other athletics.
Everyone knows that Gilad is your best source for all sports information.
While a fifth-grade pupil at the Maale Hagalil Elementary School, eleven-year-old Gilad wrote a story entitled "When the Shark and the Fish First Met". This allegory tells the story of a young fish and young shark who meet and, although they are natural enemies, decide to become friends and live in peace.
Gilad Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, and was raised from
the age of two in Mitzpe Hila in the western Galilee. He attended the regional
elementary school in Maona, the junior high in Kfar Veradim, and graduated with
distinction from the science class of the Manor Kabri high school.
Gilad began his military service nearly three years ago, at the end of July 2005.
Though a medical issues could have kept him out of combat duty, he followed
his elder brother Yoel into the armored corps. Gilad was highly motivated soldier,
overcoming all the hurdles facing a recruit in the armored corps and completing his
training successfully. His first post training assignment was in the area around the Gaza Strip guarding and ensuring the security of the villages in the area.

On Sunday, June 25, 2006 Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hezbollah, a terrorist organizations whose only goal is to destroy and terrorize. Gilad's story proves something that Jews and Israelis have wanted all along: to live in peace.

Sen. Barack Obama visiting Sderot, Israel

Almost on a daily basis, the people of the town of Sderot, here is presentation from Sderot Media Center.



It is here that Sen. Barack Obama, democratic nominee for President of the United States, speaks in Sderot.

Sen. Barack Obama at Yad Vashem

As part of his visit to Israel, Sen. Barack Obama visited many places in Israel. Here is a video with him at the Holocaust Memorial in Israel, Yad Vashem.

Wafa claims Israel is using Pigs and Rats to drive out Jerusalem Arabs

The Jerusalem Post is reporting today that Wafa, the Palestinian News Agency run by President Abbas, is reporting that the latest weapon of Israeli oppression to drive out Arab inhabitants of Jerusalem is rats.

Let me write that again in case you don't believe me....

The Palestinian News Agency says that Israel is using rats to drive out Arab residents of Jerusalem!

As insane as this sounds, the Wafa is making other claims as well. They claim that Israel released wild pigs which would attack Arab residents.

I know, this sounds like fiction, or something out of one of those goof magazines; however, they are not kidding. Are they getting so desperate that they are continued to be proven wrong that they have to resort to these kinds of claims?

If you even bother to ask, no Israel has not nor has it ever done this for not only is it outlandish, the Palestinian PR Machine is doing something which it happens to be a fan of, lying.

Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser return home...

Israel today completed its exchange with the terrorist group Hezbollah, receiving the deceased bodies of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. It is now a period of mourning for Israel and the Jewish people. In case you were wondering the mood in Lebanon with the return of the five prisoners, here is a video on the Lebanese side of the border.

Four of the five prisoners being exchanged are fighters for Hezbollah from the second Lebanon War, while the fifth is murderer Samir Kuntar. While Palestinians celebrate and hand out candy today, here is a short video explaining who he is and what he did.



While this may be a happy day for Hamas, Hezbollah, the PA, and terrorism, it is a day of mourning not only for the families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Baruch Dayen Emet

Diplomatic implications of the Udi and Eldad deal with Hezbollah

According to CNN, as well as other media outlets, Israel, in a vote of 22-3 approved the deal that would give Hezbollah five prisoners and in return Israel would get Udi Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and a report on Ron Arad. Arad is an Israeli Air Force officer that has been listed as missing since 1986.

I know that this is the right move for Israel to make; however, something like this should have been done two years ago. Israel should have been able to get back these soldiers during the Lebanon War, Part II; however, because Hezbollah shocked us by having modern weaponry. This deal, while it is good that were getting them back, should never have come to this. Israel has done something which shouldn't have been done, mainly now identifying Hezbollah as a legitimate organization that can be dealt with, which we know it can't. Any discussion now about Hezbollah being added to the EU terrorism list or for any additional sanctions or international actions to stop them from carrying out their terrorist activities and from taking control over the Lebanese government has gone out the door has taken a serious blow.

In the end, Israel did not have much of a choice. With a lot of pressure coming from within Israel to get these soldiers back as well as Israeli's being fed up with the current government, options were at a minimum. Our boys are home now; however, where does Israel go from here when it comes to dealing with Hezbollah? I sincerely hope my thoughts are wrong.

Does Syria really want peace?

On May 21, 2008 reports leaked of peace talks between Israel and Syria. When I first heard this, I thought this was impossible. Syria, essentially Iran's pawn in the Middle East, was in peace talks with Israel with the possibility of Israel returning the Golan Heights.

Israel took control over the Golan Heights in the Six Day War in 1967. In this war, it was decided that for the security of the country, Israel will take control of it. Why? Ever since the creation of the Jewish State, Israel in 1947 and the establishment in 1948, Israeli citizens in the north had been under attack from terrorist daily attacking them. Now, the Golan is a small piece of land, as this map shows:

However, this map does now show how important that tiny strip of land is. Let us look at this map and further explain the importance of the Golan Heights.
As you can see, the country that controls this territory will have a great advantage over the other two. In this case, because Israel is in control, it has a great view of both Lebanon and Syria. How, you may ask? Well, the Golan is mostly a very hilly region with great views of both countries; therefore, Israel is able to see any activities that may be going on in both countries when it comes to combating terrorism. Also, the Golan has a lake called the Kinneret which gives Israel's population 1/3 of it's water.

Now, I really and sincerely hope these discussions with Syria do lead to a meaningful and lasting peace; however, we need to be careful. I came upon this short article while browsing the internet from Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad said that Syria has the "non-peaceful" capabilities for getting the Golan from Israel. He also said "What is preferable - liberating the Golan through peace and without bloodshed or liberating the land through war? We are not afraid of launching a peace process with Israel." How I see this quote is that the option for a possible war between Israel and Syria for the Golan is very much possible.

My advice to Israel is too seek peace, but to tread very carefully, because I'm not convinced Syria is a real partner for peace.