FURTHER UPDATE 8:00 am Israel time, Tuesday, November 18 2014:
MADA confirms 5 are apparently killed in synagogue attack (some reports list 4 killed). Arab terrorists stabbed worshipers and then opened fire with weapons. Both terrorists have been killed, reportedly by armed worshipers. Paramedics on scene treating the wounded. Situation remains fluid.
SPECIAL UPDATE 7:45 am Israel time, Tuesday, November 18 2014:
There has been a major terror attack in Jerusalem at a synagogue on Agassi St. Two Arab terrorists armed with axes and knives attack worshipers. At least 5 Israelis are reported dead, 4 more reported wounded. Situation is still developing.
UPDATES 7 pm Israel time, Monday, November 17 2014:
—>There have been more “rock” attacks on Israelis in the Jerusalem area today. What follows are two pictures from one such incident today. In this particular attack, the international media reported that the car was hit with a “stone”. How would you describe what hit the car?
A picture of the car from the driver’s side. Note that window is smashed.
Here is a picture from the other side of the car.
Note that the “stone” traveled through the driver’s side and ended up on the floor of the passenger’s side. Miraculously, no one was hit by the “rock” because no one was sitting in the passenger seat. Would you call this large chunk of marble a “stone”?
—>The Egyptian government announced this morning that it is further extending the buffer zone with Gaza to 1 km. You may remember that originally Egyptians were only razing homes within 300 meters of the border, then they extended demolition to 500 meters.
Why is the zone being extended? Because the Egyptians are discovering that the tunnels running from Gaza into Egypt are even more numerous and longer than the Egyptians believed. Yesterday 12 more tunnels were destroyed by the Egyptians.
—>Disgustingly, the COGAT unit of the IDF continues to allow materials into the Palestinian state of Gaza that can be used to construct more Hamas tunnels into Israel.
This morning, state sponsor of terror Qatar delivered 4000 tons of construction material (concrete and gravel) to their Hamas terror partners.
4000 tons.
—>The fighting between Muslims and Druze continues in Abu Sinan in the Galilee. More than 20 people remain hospitalized following the fighting of the last few days.
Schools in the region remain closed.
TODAY’S BLOG:
The international and Israeli leftist media is awash today with condemnations of Israel for our attempt to pass what they call “The Jewish State Law”.
The basic theme of each of these condemnations is that those who want to get the proposed law to the floor of the Knesset (where it will be endlessly modified) are right-wingers attempting to subvert Western values while those who are attempting to block it from even being debated are champions of democratic values.
Here is the beginning of one such article today–this one from Reuters:
“Divisions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition delayed on Sunday a preliminary vote on a proposed law to declare Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads a centrist party, has expressed concern that the rightist-backed legislation would put preservation of Israel’s Jewish character above democratic values, and she blocked its discussion in a ministerial committee she chairs”.
In what Orwellian universe does Tzipi Livni head a “centrist” party? Her Hatnua party is about as leftist as they come and constantly aligns itself with other leftist parties such as Meretz and Yesh Atid.
Your humble servant thought that he would simply give you, dear reader, the proposed draft of the new law–and let you decide how “rightist” this law actually is.
Draft Basic Law: Israel — the Nation-State of the Jewish People
1. A Jewish State
1.1 The State of Israel is the national home of the Jewish people, in which it realizes its aspiration for self determination based on its cultural and historical heritage.
1.2 The right to national self-determination in the State of Israel is uniquely that of the Jewish people.
1.3 The text of this Basic Law or any other legislation is to be interpreted in light of this clause.
2. A Democratic State
2.1 The State of Israel has a democratic regime.
3. State’s Symbols
3.1 The State’s national anthem is “Hatikva.”
3.2 The State’s flag is white, with two azure stripes close to its edges and an azure Star of David at its center.
3.3 The State’s emblem is the seven-branch Menorah [candelabrum], olive branches on both its sides, and the word “Israel” below it.
4. Language
4.1 Hebrew is the official language of the State.
4.2 The Arabic language has a special status, and its speakers have the right to linguistic access to State services, all as will be stipulated in law.
5. Right of Return
5.1 Every Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel and acquire a citizenship of the State of Israel in accordance with the law.
6. Ingathering of the Exiles and Jewish Settlement
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6.1 The state shall act to gather the Jewish diasporas and to promote Jewish settlement within its boundaries, and will allocate resources for these purposes.
7. The Connection with the Jewish People in the Diaspora
7.1 The State will work to strengthen the affinity between Israel and the Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
7.2 The State will extend assistance to members of the Jewish people who are in predicament or in captivity because of their Judaism.
8. Jewish Heritage
8.1 The State will work to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of the Jewish Nation and to foster it in Israel and in the Diaspora.
8.2 All educational institutions that serve a Jewish public in Israel will teach the history, heritage, and tradition of the Jewish people.
9. The Right to Preserve Heritage
9.1 Every resident of Israel, regardless of religion or nationality, may work to preserve their culture, heritage, language, and identity.
9.2 The State may allow a community, including members of one religion or nationality, to establish a separate communal settlement.
10. The Official Calendar
10.1 The Hebrew calendar is the official calendar of the State.
11. Independence Day and Memorial Days
11.1 Independence Day is the State’s national holiday.
11.2 The Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen and the Holocaust And Heroism Memorial Day are official State’s memorial days.
12. Sabbatical Days
12.1 The State of Israel’s official days of rest are Saturday and the Jewish holidays, in which a person cannot be employed except under terms to be specified in legislation; members of legally recognized communities may refrain from work on their holidays.
13. Hebrew Law
13.1 Hebrew Law shall serve as a source of inspiration for the legislator.
13.2 Should the court encounter a legal question demanding a ruling and be unable to find a solution in legislation, in legal precedent, or through clear deduction, the court should rule in light of the principles of freedom, justice, integrity, and peacefulness of Israel’s heritage.
14. Protection of Holy Sites
14.1 The holy sites shall be protected from desecration, other harm, or anything that might impair on the freedom of access of religion members to places they consider sacred or hurt their feelings toward those sites.
15. Durability
15.1 This Basic Law shall not be altered except through a Basic Law passed by a majority of Knesset members.
Hmm. Let’s see . . . Israel is the national home of the Jewish people; Israel has a democratic system of government; Israel has a national anthem, a flag, and a national symbol; Hebrew is our national language, but Arabic is accorded special status and all documents related to state services must appear in both languages.
This is “right wing”?
It continues . . . Jews have a right to come and live in Israel; Israel can build homes for these people within Israel’s boundaries; Israel will strive to make connections with Jews outside of Israel, and try to help Jews in trouble around the world; Israel will attempt to promote Jewish culture and identity, and permit any other ethnic group or religious group to promote its own culture and identity.
This is “right wing”?
It continues . . . the Hebrew calendar will be the basic calendar of the country; Israel has three national holidays–Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Holocaust Remembrance Day; Israel’s national day of rest is Shabbat, but any other ethnic or religious group is free to exercise the tenets of its faith; Jewish law should be an inspiration to legislators and judges.
This is “right wing?”
It concludes . . . All holy sites which are sacred to people of any faith shall be protected and freedom of access to those sites is guaranteed.
This is “right wing?”
What Tzipi Livni and her motley collection of followers is attempting to do is not to stop a “right wing” law, but instead to undermine the democratic, Jewish state of Israel.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.