Kedumim is within easy commuting distance to all major cities in Israel: 30 minutes to Petach Tikvah, 50 minutes to Tel-Aviv, 20 minutes to Kfar Saba, 60 minutes to Haifa and Jerusalem, 40 minutes to the Jordan Valley.
Obama in Israel: Can he overcome low expectations?
Obama's upcoming visit to Israel offers a chance to revive a relationship crucial to both countries.
By Yisrael Medad
March 8, 2013
Later this month, President Obama will visit Israel, a country intended by an act of international law to be the reconstituted Jewish national home. The visit will be highly charged, but at the same time, many Israelis have low expectations for what could come of it.
The president's protracted but unsuccessful attempts to stifle Iran's nuclear weapons program, his insistence on zealously challenging Israel's right to a united Jerusalem and his inability to pressure the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its obligations are among the chief reasons for the lack of excitement in Israel.
Still, as befits the representative of Israel's most faithful ally, Obama will be treated with respect, for it is our hope that the visit will help the president come to a truer understanding of the needs of Israel and the reality of the region. In the meantime, he might want to contemplate a few issues.
In September 2009, at the United Nations, Obama referred to Israeli communities established across the former Green Line as the "settlements." His exact words were: "We continue to emphasize that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements."
I live in such a community, Shiloh, which sits less than 30 miles north of Jerusalem, and I can't imagine how my village and its inhabitants can be considered illegitimate. As archaeological excavations prove, the site was where Jews had lived for many centuries until the 2nd century. Our community, along with other cities, towns and villages, was established in territory where Jews had even lived in the 20th century, until forced to move by Palestinians during the period of the British Mandate and Jordanian occupation. How can reclaiming land that was lost through what some would term ethnic cleansing be considered illegitimate?
The president should be careful about using the word "illegitimate," by the way. A lot of Israelis are particularly sensitive to it because it is a word favored by those who think our state shouldn't exist. In an October 2006 live broadcast, for example, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad labeled Israel a "counterfeit and illegitimate regime that cannot survive."
Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria is quite legitimate. For 90 years, our enemies rejected all partition proposals and employed terror against us. Finally, in a war of defense in 1967, Israel assumed the administration of what are now commonly called the Palestinian territories. It's true that their status is disputed. But would it not be apartheid if Jews were prohibited from living there? Should Arabs be banned from Israel, where they are 20% of the population?
Moreover, a land-for-peace approach cannot resolve a problem that's not territorial. There were no "settlements" before 1967, but there was Arab terror, and a war broke out. Indeed, our communities could be a bridge to peace and coexistence. Until Israel is accepted as the Jewish national state, no border is sufficient.
Another matter of deep concern to Israelis is the case of Jonathan Pollard, a U.S. intelligence analyst who supplied classified information to Israel (an ally of the United States) that he felt was vital to its security. He has already served more than 25 years of a life term for his actions, much longer than in similar cases. He should be pardoned.
Not only Israelis but also at least one U.S. federal judge and many former government officials and elected representatives have made clear in statements that Pollard's situation is unfair and deserves a presidential act of grace.
When it comes to Israel, Americans too question the president's positions. In a recent poll by the website the Hill of 1,000 people, for example, only 13% of respondents said the president's policies toward Israel were too supportive, whereas a full 39% said he was not supportive enough, up from 31% in 2011. These numbers should be of concern to Obama.
The president's upcoming visit could be an opportunity to reorient the administration's outlooks and policies and to reestablish the foundations of our countries' long-standing friendship and strategic relationships. It could also assist the principles of democracy, peace, security and civic well-being in the face of a disappointing Arab Spring. Weakening Israel would endanger America as well.
Yisrael Medad resides in Shiloh and acts as a foreign media spokesperson for the YESHA Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria.
I firmly agree with Ayalon that a two-state solution is vital if Israelis are ever to know peace and total acceptance in the world community. Yisrael Medad, who wrote the other Op-Ed piece in this package, speaks for the settlers who choose to live in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank.
The simple solution is to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with the stipulation that the hundreds of thousands of settlers can choose to remain. Israel has many non-Jewish citizens, so why can't a new Palestinian state tolerate the Jewish settlers?
Martin J. Weisman
Westlake Village
If Medad truly believes the Jewish settlements beyond the 1967 armistice line are legitimate and should be permanent, then he should support the logical next step and give all the adult legal residents in those areas the vote in Israeli elections. This would create a one-state solution with an Arab majority. Otherwise, Israel will be maintaining a non-democratic apartheid state in the West Bank.
David Ben-Gurion, a founder of modern Israel, recognized in 1948 that for Israel to be a Jewish, democratic state, the Zionists had to accept partition, with a Jewish majority in Israel and Arabs outside the Jewish state.
Medad not only undermines Israel's democratic Zionist principles and security, he also asks the United States to forswear its own democratic principles and security interests.
David Perel
Los Angeles
According to a new report, the European Union has increased its export of goods from the illegal Israeli settlement areas fifteen times more than they are from Palestinian territories. The report, which was drafted by a coalition of 22 NGO’s including the International Federation of Human Rights, found that the EU nations import more than $300 million of goods from the illegal Israeli settlement areas.
...in the mid-1970s, when a group of religious Zionists decided to establish a new settlement beyond the Green Line to deepen the state’s hold on territories that were conquered nearly a decade before in the Six-Day War. The head of the group, Nissan Slomiansky – who would one day become the chairman of the Yesha Council (the umbrella body of the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria) as well as an MK (including in the current Knesset) on behalf of the National Religious Party – thought it would be appropriate to include nonreligious families in the core of new settlers. Preference was given to Arabic speakers who could communicate with the people in the surrounding areas and alleviate any hardships.
On May 1, 1977, less than three weeks before the general elections that would end with political upheaval and Menachem Begin’s rise to power, the "Elkana core" won the necessary permits from the government of Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin and were permitted to break ground. This was at the time that Rabin was forced to resign after it was discovered his wife had illegally maintained a U.S. dollar account in a Washington bank.
The settlers decided not to wait one day. Even though they had no place to live – they didn’t even have basic infrastructure in place – nothing would stop them. They took to the highways, found a few prefabricated cubic buildings that were originally slated for use by various kibbutzim and army bases, muttered vague promises about returning them to their original owners, and hauled them to the site, where they planted them so that they would encircle the only built structure on the scene – an abandoned Jordanian police station.
A few days after the settlers planted their foothold, two new families joined the core. One of them was the Mofaz family.
Shaul and Orit Mofaz did not have an empty structure available to them. Neither did another couple. The police station was converted into the office building from where the council chairman, Slomiansky, worked. The other rooms in the building were to be used for a school and a synagogue. Slomiansky opted to vacate his office and allow the two families to enter. A makeshift divider was put in to separate the couples.
Slomiansky recalled how Mofaz, who at the time was a young officer at the beginning of his military career, was quick to accept the job of the settlement’s security liaison with the IDF. Orit was hired as Slomiansky’s personal secretary. “He was like a man possessed,” Slomiansky said of Mofaz. “He was always active and energetic. Orit was my right-hand woman.”
Three years later, the army stationed Mofaz in the north, and the couple was forced to leave.
April 1, 2012 Sniper fire directed from Gaza on engineer work along the security fence in agricultural fields of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Anarchists and Arabs march near Bet Romano and try to reach Bet Hamachpela (the house of the Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron. Dozens of Arabs under the directives of anarchists in Hebron near the House of the Machpela. Following violent disturbances IDF arrested 4 of the rioters.
April 2, 2012 Jerusalem near the Street of the Prophets 70 year old Jewish man attacked and moderately injured by Arab terrorist with axe. IDF Security forces release information that a few weeks ago Arab terrorists were arrested for shooting at IDF patrol in the Ramallah region. The arrested terrorists work with the Red Crescent and received weapons from PA security officer in order to perpetrate the attack. Road 443 near Bet Horon rock attack against Israeli bus causing moderate injuries to two young Israeli girls.
April 3, 2012 2 illegal unarmed Arab infiltrators arrested by IDF security near Kibbutz Alumim near the Israeli-Gaza border. IDF tank directs fire on Arab terrorist near security fence of Kfar Aza near Israeli-Gaza border.
April 4, 2012 Rock attacks on Israeli vehicles in the following regions: Near IDF post southeast of Ramallah. From school in Luban A-Sharakiya northwest of Ramallah near Shiloh causing damage to one of the vehicles. At entrance of Betar Illit causing damage to vehicles. South of Shechem in Chawara at Betit Junction damage caused to vehicles.
April 5, 2012 24:00 hours explosions heard in Eilat. Following security checks 2 rockets found fired from Sinai into Eilat. Near Alumot Hill in Itamar about a hundred Arabs rioted and threw rocks injuring 3 Israelis including the security coordinator of the community.
April 6, 2012 Rock attacks against Israeli vehicles near Chawara south of Shechem. 1 Jewish woman moderately injured from rocks thrown from passing Arab car. Road 55 near Nebe Elias. Israeli moderately injured in head from glass fragments after rock attacks.
April 7, 2012 Rock attack on Israeli vehicles near Betar Illit cause moderate injury to Israeli. Submachine guns and 500 bullets found by IDF in Arab vehicle at security check-post south of Tul Karem. The Arab driver was arrested.
April 8, 2012 Rock attacks in several sections of the Jewish Quarter of Hebron. Molotov cocktails thrown at Bet Hadassah in Hebron. Rock attacks on Jewish bus in southern Hebron Hills near El Fuar causing damage to vehicles. Rockets launched from Gaza to south of Israel landed in open field in one of the Jewish communities near Israel-Gaza border. Rock attack Road 443 causing moderate injury to Israeli.
These reports are courtesy of Hatzalah Yehudah and Shomron (phone # - 02-5363106 it seems)I removed a few items that dealt with Gaza Strip. Have a low intensity day. ^
and are approved by the IDF. Hatzalah Yehudah and Shomron is a voluntary emergency rescue organization that works along with the IDF, 669 Airborn Rescue, the security forces in the various communities of Yesha, and the Jordan Valley and is on call 24/7 on a strictly voluntary basis.
March 22, 2012
3 Molotov cocktails thrown on Israeli vehicle next to the border check on the Jerusalem- Gush Etzion Tunnel Road
March 23, 2012
Massive rock attacks against Israeli vehicles Gush Etzion-Hebron Highway near Halhul. Damage to vehicles.
Arab terrorists tried to damage IDF checkpost near Kiryat Arba
March 24, 2012
IDF spokesman: an attempted stabbing was thwarted during Shabbat near Elon Moreh in the Shomron . 4 Arabs apprehended armed with knives admitted that they came to murder IDF soldier.
IDF checkpost south of Shechem Arab arrested armed with gun.
IDF spokesman: Previous week 5 Arab terrorists were arrested by IDF special forces in the Ramallah region
Arab terrorist arrested in Ramallah region suspect for the shooting incident against IDF soldiers two years ago.
El Bira, Ramallah, 2 Arab terrorists members of Hamas arrested for shooting incidents, planning of terror, and hiding weapons.
Rock attacks against Israeli vehicles south west of Hebron near Zif causing damage.
Rock attacks against Israeli vehicles north west of Ramallah .
Rock attacks against IDF soldiers near Yitzhar Junction in the Shomron.
March 25, 2012
Unarmed soldier serving in the Home Front was attacked in Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood of Jerusalem by 2 Arab terrorists who beat him and injured him in the face, soldier taken in moderate condition to hospital for treatment.
Rock attack against Israeli vehicle between Beth Arieh and Peduel, female driver lightly injured .
March 26,2012
During the day rocks thrown in Hebron region including towards the IDF post in the Kasba (Arab market) of Hebron.
Rock attacks in the Shomron against Israeli vehicles.
March 27, 2012
Special Forces of IDF in operation west of Ramallah in village of Kfar Ramon IDF soldier attacked and stabbed by terrorist in moderate condition taken to Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem for medical treatment. IDF response to attack: 3 terrorists wounded taken to Sha'are Zeddek and Ein Karem Hospitals in Jerusalem for medical treatment.
IDF pillbox set on fire by Arab terrorists near Kiryat Arba Hebron.
Rock attacks against Israeli vehicles on Gush Etzion-Hebron highway. Bus hit and heavily; damaged one passenger injured. Truck overturned following massive rock attacks, 2 injured passengers in the truck.
Israeli vehicle driven by resident of Kedumim attacked by rocks between Gilad Farm and Yitzhar .
Molotov thrown at female resident of Kedumim at Azun Junction in the Shomron.
4 Molotovs thrown at IDF force El-Hader Junction.
Jit Junction near Karnei Shomron attempted theft of Israeli vehicle from Jewish woman who lost her husband in a terror attack. She escaped unharmed.
Near north entrance of Efrat massive rock attacks on Israeli vehicles.
March 28, 2012
North of Kiryat Arba massive rock attacks near Bet Enun Junction.
Massive rock attacks between Ariel and Tapuach Junction, also near Ma'aleh Shomron Junction, and on the Shekef Road near Neguhot in the southern Hebron HIlls.
2 Border Policemen attacked by Arab terrorists near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the terrorists were arrested.
March 29, 2012
Massive rock attacks on Israeli vehicles near Har Gilo.
Rock attack on Israeli vehicle near Kiryat Arba driving towards the Jewish community of Hebron.
Near Migdalim community in the Jordan Valley Molotov thrown on vehicle with 2 IDF officers inside.
Jerusalem: Near Kalandia border check Arab terrorists attacked military with 2 Molotov Cocktails, and rocks.
Israeli bus attacked with rocks and damaged on Gush Etzion-Hebron Highway near Bet Umar.
March 30, 2012
4 Molotov Cocktails and rocks thrown at Border Patrol soldiers near Kever Rachel, (Rachel's Tomb) Bethlehem.
Rock attacks at Kalandia Checkpost.
Rock attacks on IDF soldiers near El Arub on the Gush Etzion-Hebron Highway.
Rock attacks in Kadum, Shomron.
Rock attacks at Arek Burin
Rock attacks in Issuwiya, Jerusalem Region Border Patrol Police captured one of the terrorists involved in the attack.
Rock attacks near Nebe Tzalach.
Rock attacks near Carmei Zur.
3 Molotov Cocktails thrown at Border Police check post near Shuafat Refugee Camp.
Molotov Cocktail thrown on Border Police patrol near Anata damage to jeep.
3 Molotov Cocktails and rocks attacking Border Police patrol near Abu Dis.
Rock attacks in Ras El Amud suspected terrorist arrested.
Molotov Cocktail and rock attacks Calandia check post.
Israeli vehicles attacked by rocks near Kiryat Arba next to Bet Enun village.
Rock attacks on community of Itamar.
Rock attacks on Israeli vehicles in East Jerusalem. Vehicle that was attacked was with IDF special-forces who arrested 2 terrorists.
Rock attacks at Rantis against Israeli taxi cab.
Molotov attacks against Border Police at Anata.
Near Kiryat Arba pipe bomb thrown at Bet Anun Junction.
Near Erez Lane Kiryat Arba, the path for Jews to go up to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron to pray, an young Arab was caught carrying a knife by the IDF.
March 31, 2012
Molotov thrown at IDF post near Neguhot in the Sothern Hebron Hills.
Fake explosive device made up from a gas balloon was left next to the security fence in the Harsina neighborhood of Kiryat Arba.
Fireworks fired at Border Police post in Atarot.
Rocks thrown at IDF check post in Kalandia.
Riots in Issuwiya resulting in moderate injuries to 2 policemen, 19 of the Arab rioters were arrested.
Damage to security fence by Kalkiliya as a result of explosion of gas balloons left hidden in pipes.
Rock attacks against IDF in Hebron.
I had blogged on the positive aspects of the alteration in the political semantics and he continues, although I disagree:
This election cycle has officially ended the decades-long debate over whether Israel should be an American campaign issue. For better or worse, it is...It’s always great to be the center of attention. But in truth, Israel has nothing to gain from this debate. Republican claims and Democratic counter-claims both put Israel and its leaders in awkward positions.
...GOP candidates fighting for the title of most pro-Israel candidate are becoming more pro-Israel than, well, Israel itself...Recently Newt Gingrich has been upping the ante...Rick Santorum has also joined the chorus...Gingrich has stated that the Palestinians are an “invented” people. Santorum likens the West Bank to the states of Texas and New Mexico, suggesting that Israel is not required to return any part of it to the Palestinians, just as the United States did not.
Such statements are not only outside the mainstream of American opinion, they are also far beyond the views of Israel’s right-wing coalition government.
The settlers have chalked up a major achievement in that the government and Education Ministry allow such tours of occupied territory - has anyone heard of American young people touring Iraq or Afghanistan?
The settlers' takeover of the "molding of national memory," or simply put, the curriculum on key issues like the Land of Israel's history and geography, gives them the status of a state within an Israeli-settler federation. Each province of this federal state, Israel and Outpostia, has laws and leaders of its own. One has laws enacted by the Knesset and the other has ad-hoc laws, sometimes determined by rabbis and sometimes by the hilltop youth and other criminals.
But within this federated framework is a mighty struggle for control. Outpostia no longer makes do with partial independence that gives it the power to manage its affairs as it sees fit, to live according to its own interpretation of federal laws, to rob land at will and to establish settlements that become a burden and political threat to the entire federation. It no longer wants to rely on the mother state's education and legal system, which has embraced Outpostia. The goal is to turn Israel into a minority satellite state and force the settlements' laws and rules on the federation.
claim that the Judea and Samaria public relations effort, which is premised on our historical right in this land, is doomed for failure
we must not speak of the Bible and history, because it’s primitive; rather, we must only explain our security needs and point to the murderous behavior of the Palestinians
...there is no greater mistake...the Palestinians have been arguing for dozens of years now that this land is theirs, while we have been responding with “true, but we need security.”
...There is no wonder that the nations of the world would see us as robbers who pushed the Palestinian people out of their home. Regardless...we shall remain robbers.
As long as we keep on utilizing practical arguments while leaving the arena of justice to the Palestinians, we shall lose. The time has come for the Israeli government to go back to the simple truth: The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel.
Yesha Council Settlements Chairman Dani Dayan told CNN that " the incident was a shameful and ingrateful act that should not have happened."
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a) I do support that. After peace which means acceptance of Jewish national ethos. And after a law is passed prohibiting political parties who seek to subver the state of Israell as the Jewish national home. In Finland, parties can exist only if they express respect for democratic prinicples and in Austria, it's a criminal offense to endanger national independence or constitutionally mandate form of government, for example. I think such would protect Israel.
b) there is no current threat of an Arab majority nor is there a demographic problem that cannot be dealt with.