WSJ: Palestinian diplomacy based on denying reality isn’t helpful

In the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Trump gives reality a chance by his refusal to indulge the Palestinians’ fantasies of destroying Israel.

By Reuel Marc Gerecht

 

A lot of people are in a funk over President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The liberal media, most former government officials who’ve dealt with the Israeli–Palestinian imbroglio, and just about everyone at the United Nations appear certain that the decision had a lot to do with Mr. Trump’s disruptive nature, the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Evangelical Christians and pro-Israel Republican donors.

President Trump obviously incredulous of Abbas and his promises. Abbas, satisfied with himself, ecstatic to pose with Trump in a photo.

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In Palestinian political chess with Trump, Abbas seeks full UN state membership at UNSC

In latest diplomatic game of tit-for-tat, Palestinian chairman Abbas sets his cohorts to the UN Security Council seeking to upgrade their non-state status at the UN, knowing the expected US veto will render their efforts theatrical at best.

By Itamar Eichner

 

The Palestinians are planning to ask the UN Security Council to upgrade their status from a non-member observer state to a full member state with voting rights at the United Nations.

The Palestinian move is the latest in a diplomatic war that was sparked by US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, escalated when the Palestinians pushed for the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution rejecting the American declaration, and recently culminated in US threats to cut funding for the Palestinian Authority and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Continue Reading »

Muslim countries don’t see the billions in U.S. aid as ‘assistance’, it’s Jizya

If anyone expected “appreciation or respect” from Arab or Muslim countries for the Billion$ they’ve received from the United States over the decades, think again.

Ezequiel Doiny

 

On January 1, 2018 President Trump tweeted “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”

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Israeli rescue unit assisted in 5 worldwide humanitarian operations during past week.

ZAKA chairman, “With so many incidents around the world, our goal is to overcome the dozens of obstacles & bureaucratic hurdles that make life so difficult for people in their hour of need.”

By ILANIT CHERNICK

 

Forty ZAKA rescue and recovery organization volunteers assisted thousands of Johannesburg residents after severe storms ripped through homes in different parts of the city between December 31 and January 2.

ZAKA volunteers in Johannesburg help with clean-up and relief efforts following severe storms that displaced thousands and left two people dead and over 50 people injured. – Photo: Zaka/Facebook page

The team took part in relief and clean-up efforts together with city officials and several other NGOs. Continue Reading »

With US pulling ‘Trump card’ against Palestinian threats, Abbas may lose it all

With Trump downsizing American aid to the PA and UNRWA, Palestinian leadership’s tantrums & threats that have worked in the past, are only causing even more ‘self-inflicted’ hardships, and may ultimately cause the unseating of it’s despot leader who was elected to serve until 15 January 2009.

By CHARLES BELEZER/THE MEDIA LINE

 

“Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Palestine and it is not for sale for gold or billions,” a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed; this, just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut-off aid to the PA.

The latest dust-up between Washington and Ramallah is part of an ongoing feud that erupted in the wake of the former’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Continue Reading »

Druze firefighter jumps to save Torah scroll from burning synagogue

Israeli Druze firefighter puts himself in danger by jumping into flames of burning synagogue in northern Israel to save a Torah scroll from burning.

By Chana Roberts

 

Druze firefighter Wiam Nevoani saved a Torah scroll from a burning synagogue on Monday, endangering his life.

Nevoani, a resident of the Druze village of Julis in northern Israel, told Channel 20 about the experience.

Druze firefighter Wiam Nevoani saving a Torah scroll from a burning synagogue. – Photo: Facebook page of כבאות והצלה לישראל Israel Fire & Rescue Authority

“On Monday we were called to fight a fire in a Nahariya synagogue,” Nevoani said. Continue Reading »

Done! Trump freezes grant to UNRWA, for “Palestinian refugees”

Israel TV10 news reports diplomats corroborating decision by the United States administration freezing a $125 million grant, or 1/3 of it’s annual funding to UN agency that deals with “Palestinian refugees” exclusively.

By Elad Benari

 

The United States administration froze a $125 million grant to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN’s agency for “Palestinian refugees”, which was supposed to be delivered on January 1, Channel 10 Newsreported on Friday, citing three Western diplomats.

The amount frozen is one-third of the annual funding the United States provides the organization, according to the report.

Flour sacks arrive at UNRWA’s Gaza food distribution centre.

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Adelsons donate $1 million to supply 5 bulletproof ambulances for Judea & Samaria

With the generous donation by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson to Magen David Adom, new bulletproof ambulances can now service the needy in Judea and Samaria.
• Dr. Miriam Adelson, ‘How sad that ambulances have to be protected against deadly attacks.’

By Maytal Yasur Beit-Or and Efrat Forsher

 

A $1 million donation from Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson has enabled the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria to acquire five ambulances that have been bulletproofed to protect emergency personnel and patients from shooting attacks.

The Yesha Council welcomed the new vehicles in a ceremony at the Land of Israel Museum in Tel Aviv on Thursday. Continue Reading »

Swedish envoy admits to Israel: ‘Sweden has failed its Jewish citizens’

Although Sweden is the only European country that formally recognizes a “State of Palestine,” Swedish Ambassador Magnus Hellgren insists his country does not have an anti-Israel foreign policy.
– Amb. Hellgren, “If a single Jew,” feels they must hide their Judaism, “we have failed.”

By JTA

 

Swedish authorities have failed to protect the country’s Jewish community, the Scandinavian country’s ambassador to Israel said following antisemitic incidents in Malmo and Gothenburg.

Magnus Hellgren said this in an interview for the Israeli daily Makor Rishon following the attempted torching of the Gothenburg synagogue and cries about killing Jews in Malmo. Both events happened amid protests over President Donald Trump’s Dec. Continue Reading »

Delta Air Lines forced Jews to stow religious items to prevent praying onboard

A former Delta flight attendant claims Delta, without offering a proper explanation, forced religious Jewish customers to stow their religious items in checked-in luggage, refusing to allow them to be taken on board for prayer.

By Amir Bogen

 

Delta Airlines, the world’s second largest carrier, is facing a discrimination suit by four of its flight attendants who accuse the company of discriminatory policies towards Jews.

Plaintiff Cynthia Fukelman, fired after a decade of service at Delta Airlines – Photo: Linkedin

According to plaintiff Cynthia Fukelman who was fired after a decade of service, “Delta Airlines forced religious passengers to check their hats, Teffilin, Talit and other religious garment in the plane’s undercarriage, and did not allow them to carry them aboard the plane so that they could pray. Continue Reading »

REPORT: White House to review ‘aid’ payments to Palestinians

Senior administration official says the White House on Friday will be looking into cutting its financial aid to Abbas’ Palestinian Authority, following President Trump’s tweets on the issue.

By Elad Benari

 

The White House is actively looking at cutting aid to the Palestinian Authority, and is expected to hold a discussion on the matter on Friday, a senior administration official told Haaretz on Thursday night.

The move follows President Donald Trump’s tweets earlier this week in which he expressed doubt over the usefulness of American aid to the Palestinians, given their refusal to resume peace talks with Israel.

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Did the IDF quietly destroy a Hamas terror-tunnel in the heart of Gaza?

The IDF spokesperson’s unusual announcement regarding the last air strike in Gaza on ‘central terror infrastructure’ left many in Israel curious, since it may well imply an attack on a Hamas terror tunnel.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

In light of the IDF Spokesperson’s unusual wording in describing on the IDF’s airstrike last night in Gaza, assessments are that the IDF attacked a terror tunnel belonging to the Islamic Jihad terror organization.

The Spokesperson had announced a strike on “central terrorist infrastructure in Gaza,” without providing details about the target.

Old-style Hamas tunnel, left, & New-style Hamas terror tunnel, right – Photo: IDF spokesperson

The airstrikes followed three mortar attacks on southern Israel on Wednesday. Continue Reading »

IAF jets destroy Hamas ‘terror targets’ in Gaza after multiple mortar fire at Israel

In response to multiple mortar fire on southern Israel, the IDF responded strongly in Gaza; despite no damage or injuries from the attacks yesterday were reported, an IDF spokesperson said, “The IDF will continue to use all means to thwart attempts to attack the citizens of Israel. The IDF will not allow any breach of Israeli sovereignty.”

By i24NEWS

Israeli fighter jets bombed “terror targets” in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rocket fire at southern Israel, a military spokesperson said early on Thursday.

“In response to the projectiles fired at southern Israeli communities throughout yesterday from the Gaza Strip, IAF (Israeli air force) fighter jets targeted a significant terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip,” Israeli forces said in a statement.

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Israeli First: 2017 exports expected to surpass $100 billion

With a 5% rise in total exports of goods & services world-wide in 2017, Israeli exports to the EU increased by 20%.
• Industrial & agricultural exports up from 2016, but diamond industry down.

By Danielle Roth-Avneri & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Israel’s annual exports of goods and services are expected to exceed $100 billion for the first time when the final figures for 2017 come in, according to a preliminary report by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute and the Economy and Industry Ministry.

The export total for 2017 is expected to be 5% higher than in 2016.

The Port of Haifa, the business district of the city and Carmel mountain – Photo: Wikimedia, Zvi Roger/Haifa Municipality

According to the preliminary report, exports of goods and services, excluding startup technology and diamonds, increased to $92 billion in 2017, up 6% from 2016. Continue Reading »

Master PLO Propagandist Accuses Trump of Threatening to Starve Palestinian Children

Friction between the White House and the Palestinians is growing as PLO chief, PA head negotiator and master Palestinian propagandist Saeb Erekat spins President Trump’s threat to cut UN funding, as seeking to “starve Palestinian children in refugee camps and deny their natural rights to [continued free] health and education.”

By TAMAR BEN-OZER

 

Top Palestinian Authority (PA) official Saeb Erekat claimed that United States President Donald Trump has threatened to “starve Palestinian children in refugee camps and [to] deny their natural rights to health and education” if the PA doesn’t endorse his terms, according to a press release issued by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) on Wednesday. Continue Reading »