Low-Intensity Conflict Security Report February 23, 2014

Low-Intensity Conflict Security Report February 23, 2014


These reports are translated and publicized by Yehudit Tayar for Hatzalah Yehudah and Shomron with the clearance and confirmation of the IDF.  Hatzalah Yehudah and Shomron is a voluntary emergency medical organization with over 500 volunteer doctors, paramedics, medics who are on call 24/7 and work along with the IDF, 669 IAF Airborn Rescue, the security officers and personal throughout Yesha and the Jordan Valley, and with MDA.

We, the volunteers of Hatzalah Yehudah and Shomron go out to rescue anyone who needs our emergency medical assistance; including civilians, military and Arabs also those within the PA territories. (with IDF presence) To us a life is precious and we go out at risk leaving home and family or stopping on the road to rescue anyone in need.

This is a partial report of the on-going terror attacks against Israel and IDF and innocent civilians. While the world continues to pressure Israel and boycott products from Yesha the attacks continue daily by those who wish to murder Jews in our Land.  It is imperative to break the silence of these attacks which are both encouraged and condoned by the Palestinian Authority, the UNWRA who teach to hate and murder using the excuse of Israel occupying these areas and willfully ignoring the establishment of the PLO in 1964 before the Six Day War in 1967.

This is a report of the attacks from February 16 -23, 2014

Rock attacks:

Hevron :

At least 1500 rioters participated in demonstrations under the governor of Hevron Camel Chamid.  A member of "b'zelem" was injured lightly by a rock thrown by one of his Arab rioting friends

February 21

About 30 anarchists blocked the entrance to Kiryat Arba in order to encourage the Arabs to attack the city after the Arab prayers

Riots in Hevron with about 1500 Arabs some with masks on their faces left the Mosque of Arches – Policemens square attacked wit hrocks and fire bombs.  IDF and Border police responded with crowd dispersing measures. Arab reporter injured lightly from rock thrown in riots and was taken by Red Crescent to hospital. 

From the Arab cemetery towards Israeli vehicle across from Avraham Avenu neighborhood

From the Arab cemetery towards Israelis at Gross Square across from Avraham Avenu neighborhood.

Bet Romano in the Jewish Quarter of Hevron attacked by rocks

Daily rocks attacks at IDF and border policemen near the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Jewish quarter of Hevron encouraged by anarchists

Between Kiryat Arba and Bet Anun

Between Kiryat Arba and Hevron near to the turn 160 – damage caused

IDF troops attacked by Arab terrorists encouraged by anarchists near the road joining Kiryat Arba to Hevron.  The IDF force went into the area and used crowd dispersing measures  to stop the attack

Halhul north of Hevron attempted murder by throwing rocks from moving vehicle very close to the location of the terror attack that resulted in the murders of Asher and Yonatan Palmer HY"D.

Hevron Kiryat Arba Road

About 100 meters south of Carme Zur tins of pain were thrown towards Israeli bus in order to cause an accident – the bus continued on the road fortunately

Southern Hevron Hills:

Between Aduraim and Neguhot

Bus attacked south-west of Hevron on the Neguhot road

Border patrol force between Aduraim and Neguhot attacked south-west of Hevron

Gush Etzion:

Israeli vehicles attacked near the school in Arab Tekoa

February 21

IDF soldier injured lightly from attack near Arab Tekoa scratch in his face.  Arab rioter injured lightly in leg from rubber bullets.

Bus attacked near El Arub

Between Neve Danile and Efrat Junction causing damage

Shomron:

During the Shabbat in the afternoon about 50 violent Arabs came to the entrance of the community of Gilad Farm and the residents chased them away.  1 Israeli injured lightly from rock attack

IDF chased away 8 Arabs who were attacking the Ariel Industrial Area with rocks

Western area of the Ariel Industrial region Arabs attacked a number of workers and vehicles with rocks



Rock blockade between Tapuah and Migdalim.  Arab vehicles were damaged.

About 50 Arabs rioted and attacked IDF troops with rocks at Yitzhar Junction

Benjamin:

Highway 446 about 400 meters south of Nili junction

From area of the Arab school in Luben A-Shrakia near Ma'aleh Levona

Rock attacks and rock barricade on road north of Nachliel



Fire Bomb Attacks:

Jerusalem Region:

After the Shabbat entered Arab terrorists threw 3 fire bombs towards the Mt. of Olives passage.

Fire bomb and rocks thrown towards the gas station on the road between Ma'aleh Adumim and Jerusalem.  Border police patrol chased the terrorists away. Damage caused to Border police jeep.

Benjamin:

2 firebombs thrown at security fence of Psagot. Security coordinator put the fire out that the fire bomb caused.

1 fire bomb thrown at road near Neve Zuf

Shomron:

School bus attacked with fire bomb 300 meters before Yitzhar small junction from the direction of Kedumim

2 fire bombs thrown at bus near Hawara near gas station

1 fire bomb on Southern Shechem bypass (Gilad Road) fire bomb attack on Israeli vehicle

Etzion:

Glass bottle of paint thrown towards IDF force near El Arub

IDF force identified near Migdal Oz 2 Arabs placing fake explosive rocket aimed at the community.  1 of the suspects was apprehended. 

3 fire bombs towards IDF post at Kever Rachel

Fire bomb thrown on IDF force near Tekoa

February 23, 2014

IDF force revealed 2 pipe bombs and fire bomb hidden on 2 Arabs from Tul Karem while on patrol west of Tul Karem.  The Arabs are being detained and the explosive devices were detonated by the bomb squad.

February 18

In the morning a powerful explosive device was discovered and neutralized with no injuries by the IDF force in an operation of the IDF in southern Gaza.  The explosive device was placed near the security fence and aimed at IDF troops.  The terror organizations are constantly aiming terror attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.

Ramat Hagolan: In an open area near Tek Chezka 2 mortars fell from the battles in Syria.

^

Why Do Arab Children Get Injured by Police?

Because they engage in violent, criminal, life-threatening activity, like throwing rocks.  As last Friday on the Temple Mount.

From this clip, at 1:45:

I was going to write and ask if there were any responsible adults in the area to stop them.  Or could they not engage in other forms of less-violent protest activity.

But I couldn't stop laughing at my own silly question.

^

Who Is She?

I had seen her before in other pictures but now I thought why not try to identify her.

It's from this clip at 8:05 -

She was accompanying Ariel Sharon on his ascent to tour the Temple Mount in September 2000.

Was she a reporter?

A guard?

An aide or assistant?

Anyone know?

_________________________

Maybe Iris Goldman-Kahanovitz who passed away from cancer in 2012.

I have made inquiries.

(thanks to MikeC)

=============

UPDATE

Yes, I have confirmation.

Iris Goldman at that time was Sharon's Media Advisor-Spokeperson and she accompanied him on the Temple Mount visit.

Her husband left me this note that she did not leave a written account but:

היא בעיקר סיפרה שחטפה מרפקים משוטרי היס״מ שהקיפו את שרון, הם היו די

 לחוצים ואלימים כלפי כל מי שהסתובב סביבו. רוב הזמן היא רדפה אחריו בהר
 הבית

"she mostly related that she was roughly pushed about by the special Yassam Forces being elbowed as they closely guarded Sharon as they were quite pressured and violent towrad anyone in Sharon's vicinity.  Most of the time she spent chasing after him there on the Temple Mount."

^

What's The Media Industry Like?

So, are you thinking of becoming a journalist?  Entering into the media industry?

Consider:

Rebekah Brooks, the former boss of Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers, denied having a six-year affair with fellow editor Andy Coulson but said they did have periods of physical intimacy over a number of years… Brooks said on Friday she had been extremely close friends with Coulson, and on occasion had intimate relations with him between 1998 and 2006…"First of all it's not true," she said, of the prosecution's allegation of an affair, before accepting suggestions from her lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw that they had had moments of intimacy.  "My personal life was a bit of a car crash for many years and it was probably very easy to blame work: the hours were very long and hard and you get thrown together in an industry like that."

An industry "like that". 

^

The US Perception on Defensible Borders

The map (of all places):

The explanation:

On June 19, within days of the war’s end, the Pentagon’s Strategic Plans and Policy staff (J-5) was tasked by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to provide Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara with its assessment of “the minimum territory . . . which Israel might be justified in retaining in order to permit a more effective defense against possible conventional Arab attack and terrorist raids.” One week after McNamara’s request, the secret observations of the JCS’s professional staff were on his desk.  The map drawn is the first public example outlining a U.S. assessment of Israel’s territorial requirements in the aftermath of war. (http://www.marklangfan.com/declassifiedfullreportmarkedup.html.) On every front, the JCS, basing its assessment “solely on military considerations from the Israeli point of view,” advised the significant expansion of Israeli control to include territories that the IDF had conquered earlier that month (see map page 3). However, its recommendations implicitly accepted the principle that some measure of Israeli withdrawal, notably in Sinai and the Jordan Valley, would not disadvantage Israel. Concerning the Gaza Strip, the JCS advised that Gaza’s “retention would be to Israel’s military advantage.” For the West Bank, the JCS, having explicitly been instructed to ignore all non-security (i.e., demographic) considerations, advised Israeli annexation of the populated West Bank heartland east of the Armistice Line. The JCS advised that “at a minimum,” Israel needed to establish a defensive line along the mountain ridge that runs north-south from Nablus through Hebron, primarily in order to broaden Israel’s narrow “waist.” It did, however, add that the border could move west of Jerusalem “if Jerusalem were to be internationalized under the United Nations.”

Has someone shown this to Sec'y Kerry?

^ 

Free Trips To Al-Aqsa

Do you know what this informs us?

وكانت مديرية التربية والتعليم، ومقرها بالقدس القديمة وقرب بوابات الأقصى، قد اعتمدت برنامجا ثابتا منذ مطلع العام الحالي بارسال طلاب الى المسجد الأقصى بشكل يومي ومجاني بالتنسيق مع دائرة الأوقاف الإسلامية ومؤسسات أخرى فاعلة في هذا المجال، وذلك لتوفير الحضور الفلسطيني في المسجد يوميا في ساعات ما قبل الظهر والتي يستغلها المستوطنون وشرطة الاحتلال في الاقتحامات المشبوهة للمسجد وتدنيس باحاته ومرافقه. - 

Translated:

The Directorate of Education, based in ancient Jerusalem, near the gates of Al-Aqsa, has adopted a program constant since the beginning of this year to send students to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on a daily basis and free of charge, in coordination with the Department of Islamic Endowments (Waqf) and other institutions active in this area, so as to provide Palestinian attendees in the mosque every day in hours before noon that are exploited by the settlers and Israeli police in suspicious raids of the mosque and the desecration of its facilities.

So, that's how they do it.

^ 

When Seven Settlements Came to an End

Aged 14 at the time, Kurt was part of a Christian group called the Templers. He lived in a settlement in Jerusalem - the district still known as the German Colony today.  By the late 1940s though, the entire Templer community of seven settlements across Palestine had been deported, never to return.

Source

More, after the change after 1934. Rosemarie Hahn relates:

My Jewish friend was taken out of school, and my brother had a Jewish friend who never came back - because of the politics."  By this time, the Nazi party had risen to power in Germany and the ripples had spread to expatriate communities, including in Palestine. A branch was established in Haifa by Templer Karl Ruff in 1933, and other Templer colonies followed, including Jerusalem.
...In Jerusalem, a teacher at one of the Templer schools, Ludwig Buchhalter, became the local party chief and led efforts to ensure Nazism permeated all aspects of German life there.

And

according to Heidemarie Wawrzyn, whose book Nazis in the Holy Land 1933-1948 is due to be published next week, about 75% of Germans in Palestine who belonged to the Nazi party, or were in some way associated with it, were Templers.
She says more than 42% of all Templers participated in Nazi activities in Palestine.

More here. 

And did you know that the Nazis parachuted their agents with two Arabs into the Mandate of Palestine to poison the water supply?

Their end was deserved.

^

One Step Away From Justifying Pal./Arab Fautography

War photographs are an index of suffering rather than a true representation, but that is enough. And accepting the role of emotion in photography, even if that emotion might be an easy sentimentalism, does not have to entail an abandonment of political commitment or an aesthetic naïveté. A photograph cannot tell a four-year-old refugee’s whole story, but to proclaim that photographs always lie and then leave it at that does not represent a major step forward in moral or philosophical sophistication. The far more sensible and more ethical strategy is to use photographs, with all their incompletion and inaccuracy, as a springboard to a deeper engagement with their subjects: In this case, a brutal and unceasing war that has forced 2.5 million Syrians to flee their homes and which is degrading into a disaster on par with those in Bosnia or Rwanda. Marwan might not be an orphan, but that doesn’t mean his story isn’t real.  

From:
The Syrian Orphan in That Viral Photo Wasn't Actually an Orphan, But It Doesn't Matter

More:

He was a synecdoche, a means of coming to terms with an unfathomable humanitarian disaster and not necessarily a distraction from that disaster’s realities. That Marwan was not what he seemed to be, that he was a refugee but not an orphan, is obviously regrettable. But the force of the image did not derive from the caption; it is the larger disaster that the image evokes, with the correct caption as much as the incorrect one, that gives it power. 

^

Herzl and Mankind

From the last paragraphs of The Jewish State:

Here it is, fellow Jews! Neither fable nor deception! Every man may test its reality for himself, for every man will carry over with him a portion of the Promised Land—one in his head, another in his arms, another in his acquired possessions…Jews in a thousand different places would suffer insults, mortifications, abuse, blows, depredation, and death. No; if we only begin to carry out the plans...Anti-Semitism would stop at once and for ever. For it is the conclusion of peace.
…But we must first bring enlightenment to men's minds. The idea must make its way into the most distant, miserable holes where our people dwell. They will awaken from gloomy brooding, for into their lives will come a new significance. Every man need think only of himself, and the movement will assume vast proportions.
And what glory awaits those who fight unselfishly for the cause!
Therefore I believe that a wondrous generation of Jews will spring into existence. The Maccabeans will rise again.
Let me repeat once more my opening words: The Jews who wish for a State will have it.
We shall live at last as free men on our own soil, and die peacefully in our own homes.
The world will be freed by our liberty, enriched by our wealth, magnified by our greatness.
And whatever we attempt there to accomplish for our own welfare, will react powerfully and beneficially for the good of humanity.

So what does "humanity" do?

Actually, we Jews have obtained normalcy finally but the world prefers going crazy.


^

Stuck in A Hole

From here:

If you go to my Posters' Album you can view wall posters (fashkavilim) and here (first one) about this contretemps in Bet Shemesh.

^

There's No Profit in Peace

I was in the Knesset today, listening to Edwin Black, author of Flanning the Flames.

He said something that resonated with something else I had read (thanks to DG) written by Tom Friedman:

...what an utter waste of money and human talent has been the Arab-Israeli conflict. Look how eager all these young Arabs and Persians are for the tools and resources to realize their full potential, wherever they can find that learning...

What did Edwin say?

He said, "there's no money in peace".

But I think that should have been phrased there's no profit in peace.

He describes in his book that activists get paid more or only if there is violence that is worthy of being photographed and reported aborad to damage Israel's image, violence that is initiated and planned with malice aforethought by so-called "human rights campaigners".  If there would be peace, no money for them.

He also pointed out that had the SodaStream factory and similar had been set up in Kosovo or Cambodia by church-affiliated groups, they may have won international recognition and gratitude for fostering peace and reconciliation. But the double standard is at work with Israel.

The others listening:

His book I read through quickly in London when I was there in December, thanks to Sol Unsdorfer.

It is deatiled, fact-based and devasting as a charge of betrayal against the idea of human rights, not to mention probable infractions of financial laws in the US.

You will read it, yes?

=============

Ruthie Blum's take.
^

Jordan Claims Its Red Line Victorious Over Israel

Jordan is claiming it is behind the decline in Israel to discuss Al-Aqsa in the Knesset plenum.

The Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs Nasser Judeh said that the head of the Israeli Knesset withdrew the proposal submitted by Knesset member [Moshe Feiglin] who tried to table a motion to discuss the guardianship by Jordan on the Al-Aqsa Mosque.  The Foreign Minister told the House of Representatives yesterday «not one Knesset member nor any member of the Knesset can to change the custody of Jordan on the Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem ».

And added:

« هذا الوصاية يعترف فيها العالم والديانات وبابا الفاتيكان يعترف بوصاية الملك على المقدسات». وأرجع التراجع الإسرائيلي عن مناقشة الوصاية الهاشمية على المقدسات إلى الموقف الموحد للدولة الأردنية والتي بدأها الملك بجملة من الاتصالات وما قامت به الحكومة من اتصالات إضافة إلى موقف مجلس النواب الذي أعطي إشارة إلى أن الوصاية الهاشمية خط أحمر لا يمكن المساس بها.وقال جودة « الموقف الموحدة للدولة يجعلهم يدركون أن هذا الأمر لا يمكن أن يقتربوا منه، موقفنا جميعاً كان له أثر في التراجع». 

which translates as

«this guardianship recognizes the world's religions and the Pope admits trusteeship King sanctuaries» . He attributed the Israeli retreat from discussing the tutelage of Jordan on the holy sites to the common position of the state of Jordan and initiated by King and a set of communications and connections as well as the position of the House of Representatives, which gave an indication that the custody of the Hashemite red line that can not be compromised. He said, «the consolidated position of the State makes them realize that this can not come near it, our position all had an impact on its removal from the agenda».

By the way, MK Moshe Feiglin ascended to the Mount today.  And from here (third from upper left:

More.

============

UPDATE

Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, denounced Knesset Member Moshe Feiglin who "broke in" Wednesday morning to the "al-Aqsa mosque, guarded by members of the Israeli police and then infiltrating into the surface of the Dome of the Rock".  He was 

"accompanied by approximately 18 settlers , and toured in the eastern region not translated , as also boarded on the surface of the Dome of the Rock , and continued his tour for half an hour".

And

This was an a most heinous act and the most serious violations of practice against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which comes in the context of targeting the extremists to the presence of Al-Aqsa Mosque and put their hands on him and facilities , stressing that the Al-Aqsa Mosque Islamic waqf for Muslims alone without other...He appealed to the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and all bodies and institutions and the international community to take immediate action to stop these practices and violations before it is too late.

^

The New Temple Mount Fatwa

There's a new Fatwa issued, from Jordan.

The Council of Fatwa and Research and Islamic Studies in Jordan issued a new fatwa that is is legitimate for Muslims in this age, peoples and leaders , governments and owners of thought and opinion "to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is surrounded by threats and are subjected to abuses."

It claims that "the custody of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the right of Muslims representatives of the leadership of Jordan, which derived its control over the holy sites by virtue of historical heritage and the Convention on guardianship signed with the Palestinian Authority and not with the occupation authorities, and this sacred mandate may not be compromised or waived."

From the text (in Google Translate):-

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, and his family and companions, and after;

The Council of Fatwa and Research and Islamic Studies at its third meeting held on Monday 17th of April, 1435 AH, corresponding to 2014, considered the issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and being appriosed to the dangers, issued the following statement:

God made the Al-Aqsa Mosque a special place in the hearts of Muslims which stems from the core of their faith.  It is the first Qiblah and the second two mosques Mosques and the third holiest site, the place of the ascension of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him...

We in the House of Fatwa in this Muslim Arab country, led by a Hashemite, has consistently built Al-Aqsa and defended it...to emphasize the rejectioin of the Zionist enemy's oppression that provokes the feelings of Muslims through its escalatory efforts to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threaten to withdraw the Hashemite guardianship from it...

We salute the steadfastness of our brothers in the holy land...and call on God to help them...

And it is legitimate for Muslims in this age, peoples and leaders, governments and owners of thought and opinion to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is surrounded by threats and subjected to abuses. We emphasize that the custody of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the right of Muslims representatives of the leadership of Jordan, which derived its control over the holy sites by virtue of historical heritage and the Convention on guardianship signed with the Palestinian Authority and not with the occupation authorities, which does not recognize any action in this matter , and may not be compromised in this state on the sacred or waiver them.

We ask God Almighty to achieve our hopes, and help us to victory , pride and nail to our enemies , and return the holy places, and that God loved one. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.

Minister Bennett: Temple Mount "Sensitive"

Minister Naftali Bennett, minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora affairs, responded to a question about continued control of the Old City Temple Mount site by the Muslim waqf and said

...the steps already implemented by his office to exercise greater Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem would "ultimately influence the eastern side of Jerusalem, and that will include the Temple Mount.” “Unfortunately, the Temple Mount today doesn’t allow for the full exercise of freedom of religion, and there is discrimination against Jews there,” he said. “But we have to be very careful when dealing with the Temple Mount because of the huge sensitivity of the site.”He said he didn’t have a “snap solution” to the issue but that it would eventually be resolved by “gradually increasing the exercise of law in all of Jerusalem.” He noted that although East Jerusalem is part of Jerusalem, “for many years, Israel didn’t actually exercise its sovereignty there” and that it was a “lawless area.”

Minister Bennett, the Jewish people also have a sensitivity about and for the Temple Mount.

Let's even things out.


^ 

France and The Underground Martyrs of Eretz-Yisrael

At the end of October 1793, almost two-dozen opponents of the Revolutionary Regime in France were executed, at the guillotine.  Scouring the Internet (on a not-quite-related topic), I found something interesting.

Here:

The execution of Marie Antoinette was closely followed by that of twenty-one patriotic Girondists, who, on their way to the scaffold, and while awaiting their turn, heroically sang the "Marseillaise," to prove their devotion to their native country. Only one of their number dared not face the ordeal of the guillotine; but although he succeeded in committing suicide, his inanimate corpse was nevertheless borne to the scaffold to be beheaded with the rest. The strong chorus of a score of manly voices dwindled gradually as one head after another fell beneath the knife, but even the last Girondist kept up the strain, undaunted to the final minute.

That reminded me of another historical event:

At 4:00 a.m. Dov Gruner was awakened and taken to the execution cell. Present there were the Director of prison services in Palestine, the Governor of Acre Jail, a physician and six British officers. As was the custom in Britain and in the colonies, the prison governor acted as hangman but in violation of custom, no rabbi was present. Dov Gruner went to the gallows without religious solace, as did Yehiel Drezner, Eliezer Kashani and Mordechai Elkahi. All four were hanged, each singing the anthem Hatikva as the noose was tightened around his neck. When the muffled voices of the condemned men were heard throughout the prison, all the Jewish prisoners rose to their feet and sang the national anthem. 

That was in May 1947.  Earlier, in Egypt, in 1945,

At their execution, the Eliyahus proudly sang HaTikva and then calmly allowed the hangman to do his job. The hangman, who was so overwhelmed by the composure of the two fighters, later remarked that after twenty years as an executioner, this was the first time that he had felt like a murderer.

And in 1938:

As Shlomo Ben-Yosef approached the gallows, he began to sing HaTikva – the Jewish national anthem. The prisoners of Acre, including his two companions from the attack, arose and joined in the singing. When the hangman’s rope cut off Shlomo’s voice, the prisoners finished their anthem without him. Shlomo Ben-Yosef was the first Hebrew executed by a foreign regime in the Land of Israel since the Roman occupation nearly two thousand years prior. On the wall of his cell was found a third message.
“You cannot conquer the mountain without leaving graves behind”

^

How Do You Understand 'Custodianship'?

Further to yesterday's post on the insanity of some Jordanian parliamentarians, seems the country's Prime Minister, Abdullah Ensour, basically agrees.  He said that the government would not take action for a planned motion by the Israeli lawmakers efforts to cancel Jordan’s role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, as “no official decision is made yet”.

Although he 

"understands the sentiments of the deputies who demanded a firm stand by the government as the Knesset members’ move is provocative", he nevertheless declared Too many statements about issues like these would render Jordan’s stand “meaningless”, [but] In case the Knesset endorsed such a motion, this would be a breach to the 1994 peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, which is an “abiding agreement”.

And why?

Because this would be an attempt

to deny Jordan’s custodianship over the holy sites in East Jerusalem, as stipulated in Article 9 of the peace deal.

That may sound 'normal' to you but to me it means that statement means that Jordan desires to be custodian over all holy sites - Muslim, Christian and ... Jewish.  That is how it views "custodianship" and its "historical role".

I hope PM Netanyahu is not being fooled on this.

^ 

There Goes a City

Excerpt from transcript of Mahmoud Abbas address to Israeli Students 16 February 2014

عندما نتحدث بصراحة عن القدس الشرقية نقول:  القدس الشرقية أرض محتلة عام 1967 نريدها عاصمة لدولة فلسطين، ولكن لا نريد إعادة تقسيم القدس، فالقدس مفتوحة نبنى هنا بلدية وهناك بلدية إسرائيلية وفوقهما جسم من أجل أن ينسق بينهما، فأين الخطأ في هذا؟ هذه هي بداية التعايش الحقيقي بين الشعبين.

When we talk about East Jerusalem we say frankly East Jerusalem is occupied territory since 1967, and we want it as the capital of the state of Palestine, but do not want the re-division of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is open.  Let us have our municipality here and there the Israeli municipality and above them the body in order to coordinate between them.  What is wrong in this? This is the beginning of real coexistence between the two peoples.

^

Border first; Jewish Residency, maybe

Answering a question on whether the Palestinian Authority would be willing to accept Israeli settlers remaining under the jurisdiction of a future Palestinian state, the same as the Arab minority living in Israel, Abbas said the analogy is flawed, but even so the discussion of the issue is premature. "First of all, give me the borders of the Palestinian state and then we'll discuss the repercussions and minor details," he said.

^

Are Jordanian Parliamentarians Sane?

You remember the 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty?

Article 9?

PLACES OF HISTORICAL AND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
Each party will provide freedom of access to places of religious and historical significance.

In this regard, in accordance with the Washington Declaration, Israel respects the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem. When negotiations on the permanent status will take place, Israel will give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these shrines.

The Parties will act together to promote interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions, with the aim of working towards religious understanding, moral commitment, freedom of religious worship, and tolerance and peace.

Now read this

Lawmakers angered by Israeli Knesset's plans to end Jordanian guardianship in Jerusalem

Amman, Feb 16 (Petra) -- Jordanian lawmakers...said the move, if taken, is a breach of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty.  The MPs called on the government to take quick and immediate action to respond to such move which they said it violates Jordanian national sovereignty and is tantamount to a breach of the peace treaty signed between Jordan and Israel.

The Lower House of Parliament's Palestine Committee said the Knesset's proposal aims at legitimizing recurring storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Muslim and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem and Palestine.  If Israel goes ahead with such plans, the committee said in a statement, the government is required to shut down the Israeli embassy in Amman, expel the ambassador and close the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv...

Are these parliamentarians sane or rational?

______________

P.S.

The Palestinian Authority and Hamas warned Sunday of Israeli “plans” to impose Israeli sovereignty on the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.  PA Minister for Religious Affairs Mahmoud al-Habbash said that there would be no sovereignty over the Aqsa Mosque and Islamic and Christian holy sites other than Palestinian sovereignty. “This is the full right of the Arab, including Muslims and Christians,” he said.

P.P.S.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday the Palestinian Authority would not agree to share sovereignty over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the course of a peace deal with Israel, but would allow freedom of worship for Jews in the Western Wall Plaza...Answering a question on whether the Palestinian Authority would be willing to accept Israeli settlers remaining under the jurisdiction of a future Palestinian state, the same as the Arab minority living in Israel, Abbas said the analogy is flawed, but even so the discussion of the issue is premature. "First of all, give me the borders of the Palestinian state and then we'll discuss the repercussions and minor details," he said.

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Haaretz Goes For A Three Round Knock-Out

From today's Twitter:

So I checked:

What a screed.

P.S.

I missed more in today's English edition:

Say a big 'thank you' to Martin Schulz Why are we debating the exact disparity in access to water between Israelis and Palestinians, if Netanyahu admitted his belief that Jews deserve more of it? By Avraham Burg 

Bennett’s horror show: Israel’s retreat from the civilized worldBy overplaying the Holocaust card, the Habayit Hayehudi leader and his minions are putting Israel's friendships at risk.  By Carlo Strenger

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