Ben Smith Errs

Writing in his Politico column, Ben Smith reviews Mike Huckabee's Israel positions and especially his pro-Yesha stance.

However, he does make an error in writing

"Huckabee isn’t getting any votes in Israel"

Both Democrats and Republicans have "Abroad" organizations in the country.

I would guess there are tens of thousands of American voters in Israel, and in Judea and Samaria alone approximately 10,000. And if we include those who are sympathetic to the rights of Jews in their historic homeland in the rest of Israel and, importantly, in America, both Jewish and non-Jewish, - those who would make that issue an agenda item for their vote - I would say there are millions.

So, who knows how many votes Huckabee mighty garner here.

^

Cooperation Is Nice

U.S. troops take part in Israel X-Band radar test

That's X-Band, not X-Men.

U.S. troops took part in a missile defense exercise in Israel last week that for the first time incorporated a U.S.-owned radar system deployed to the country in October.

About 100 Europe-based troops continue to operate the X-Band radar, which is intended to give Israel early warning in the event of a missile launch from Iran.

...Initially, 120 EUCOM personnel were dispatched in September to set up the Army/Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance system, which was made available at the request of Israel’s government. A mix of troops and Defense Department contractors manage the day-to-day operation of the radar, which is situated at Nevatim air base in the Negev Desert.

According to the military, the radar is purely defensive and useful against medium- and long-range ballistic missile attacks..."The radar is considered to be one of the most powerful defensive systems available and its performance and the performance of everyone on the U.S. and Israel team are doing exceptionally well in promoting regional security and providing a useful deterrent to any attack," EUCOM stated.

The system is reportedly capable of tracking a baseball-size object from a distance of 2,900 miles.

It is expected to enable Israel to more rapidly activate its missile-defense system in the event of an attack.

And Where Were You This July 4th?

I don't know about you but I was at the American Consulate-General party on Agron Street.

Let's show you some pictures:

Here's the Consul-General Jake Walles:-



Here's the PA's Prime Minister Salam Fayyad talking with Yehuda Meshi-Zahav of ZAKA and there's another fawning Hareidi guy there under the hat:-



Here's Hanna Siniora (the white-haired man just at the center) and Bnai Brith's Alan Schneider left of center:-



Here's Yasser Abd-Rabbo (in the moustache just to right of Jake Wellis):-



And in the back center, you can see Jabril Rajoub:-



and here's a general view. We Jews were in the minority.



Wow, so many 'terrorists'.

Funny, but the C-G devoted his remarks to America's Civil War (or, the War between the States) as if to say to the Pals., don't worry, we killed tens of thousands of our own citizens but we survived.

P.S.

Two Jewish bloggers were there as well - JudeanEve and MyRightWord (aka me):-

More "This Isn't Israel"

TRIPOLI, Lebanon - Lebanese troops blasted a Palestinian refugee camp with artillery and tank fire again Monday, seeking to destroy a militant group with al-Qaida ties. The barrage smashed buildings and sent plumes of black smoke towering over the crowded camp on the Mediterranean.

Gee, why can't we do that?

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UPDATE

State Department Backs Lebanese Action Against Extremists
Spokesman says Fatah al-Islam group is dedicated to violence

By Stephen Kaufman
USINFO Staff Writer

Washington -- Lebanon’s Security Forces “rightfully” are taking action against a violent extremist group that has been operating out of a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli, Lebanon, the State Department said, adding that the group, Fatah al-Islam, is “dedicated to the use of violence.”

Department spokesman Sean McCormack said May 21 that the Lebanese Security Forces “are working in a legitimate manner to provide a secure stable environment for the Lebanese people in the wake of provocations and attacks.”

Just one question, exactly which group in Gaza (Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad) is not "dedicated to violence"?

America is Apartheid Like Israel?

American military commanders in Baghdad are trying a radical new strategy to quell the widening sectarian violence by building a 12-foot-high, three-mile-long wall separating a historic Sunni enclave from Shiite neighborhoods.

Here.

(Kippah tip - IJM)