Updates 7 pm Israel time Saturday:

An IDF force came under attack last night at Budrus where seven Molotov cocktails were thrown at soldiers who returned fire. One soldier was moderately wounded and treated by medics on the spot. Elsewhere, IDF soldiers were assaulted by “rock” throwers near Beit Ummar–and again returned fire. Two Palestinian terrorists were wounded. In a third incident, an IDF soldier was wounded in Palestinian riots in Bethany (near Ramallah). He had to be evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

TODAY’S BLOG:

In this intriguing picture today from Getty Images (I have left the attribution on the picture)–we see right to left: Queen Rania (the Palestinian wife of King Abdullah of Jordan), Prince Hussein her son, and the ever devious Mahmoud Abbas.

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa opened today in Shuneh, Jordan, 34 miles southeast of Amman on the shores of the Dead Sea.  It is being attended by the usual cast of Arab characters, but also a sizable Israeli delegation headed by Israel President Shimon Peres.

It didn’t take long for Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, to express his desire for “peace”. Turning to the Israeli delegation, Abbas mellifluously sang the song of a two-state solution: “Come, let this make this peace a reality achieved on the ground, so that our current and future generations would reap its benefits.”

Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the PLO, speaking at the Economic Forum today.

However, in the next breath, these dulcet tones were replaced by the shrill voice of the terrorist that we all know Mahmoud Abbas to be: 

“Ending the occupation of our land (read “ending the right of Jews to live in their historic Jewish homeland”–and when did Palestinians ever have sovereignty over Judea and Samaria?),

and releasing our prisoners (read “terrorists”)

and the eviction of settlers and settlement activity (read “ethnic cleansing”),

and dismantling the apartheid wall (the “apartheid” wall that was successfully built to stop the waves of Palestinian suicide bombers that blew up more than 1000 Israeli men, women, and children),

is what makes peace and guarantees security for you and for us.”

Abbas went on to ludicrously accuse Israelis of “maneuvering, procrastinating, and ignoring the prerogatives of peace.” (See yesterday’s israelstreet blog to discover just how much Israel has sought to block peace negotiations.)

Abbas concluded that “the whole world waits for the efforts that are currently exerted which shall lead to a solution to end the Israeli occupation since 1967, and guarantee for the Palestinian people the right to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

That may be what the world waits for Mr. Abbas, but your humble servant waits for a day that will never come–a day when the Arabs recognize Israel as a Jewish state, renounce the claim that “refugees” should be relocated to Israel, and recognize that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the nation of Israel. 

UPDATES 7:00 pm Israel time Friday:

Hundreds of posters proclaiming “Nitzan Alon No Security” have popped up all along Route 60 in Judea and Samaria in the last 24 hours. General Alon is the commander of the IDF Central Command, and has been in charge of security of the central area of Judea and Samaria as the situation there has continued to deteriorate. This deterioration is especially noticeable along the roads of the area.

The infamous IDF spokesman Yoav Mordechai was quick to blame “the right” for the posters this morning adding that Alon “sensitively preserves the security of our citizens in the best way possible.” 

The security of our citizens? There is no security. There were multiple Molotov cocktail attacks against Jewish community members just last night–with one motorist alone having his car hit by five Molotovs. For his part, Alon has always been more focused on eliminating Jewish communities than he ever was on protecting Israeli citizens.

TODAY’S BLOG:

With John Kerry on the ground in Israel calling for “tough decisions” to be made by Israelis and Palestinians, former PM Ehud Olmert has given yet another self-serving interview to Walla News detailing the outrageous offer he made to Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO (aka Palestinian Authority) on September 16, 2008. 

It is worthwhile to take a look at it again today. And it is worthwhile to remember that Mahmoud Abbas never responded to the offer–and even now refuses to accept it. What Abbas now says is that the offer would be “a starting point” for negotiations.

What exactly did the delusional Olmert offer? 

1. He incredibly gave up sole Israeli sovereignty over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem proposing that the religious sites in Jerusalem would be managed by a special committee consisting of representatives from five nations: Saudia Arabia, Jordan, “Palestine”, the United States, and Israel.

2. He offered to return 5000 so-called Palestinian “refugees” to Israel and at the same time to ethnically cleanse over 100,000 Jews from Judea and Samaria in order to create a “Jew-free” Palestine.

3. He proposed transferring 5.8% of the land of Israel to the new “Palestine” and creating a “safe passage” route from Hebron to Gaza in return for Israel annexing 6.3% of Judea and Samaria to Israel. See map below:

The Olmert Map: the Palestinians would have received territory equal to 99.5% of what they claim they want for a Palestinian state.

Interestingly, because Olmert demanded that Abbas initial the copy of the map he had made for the Palestinians before giving it to them (so that they could not say later that they had not received it)–and Abbas refused to initial it–Abbas went back to Ramallah with his negotiating team and drew up the following replication of the map on a napkin:

On the above napkin map, each one of the bulges with the dots in the middle correspond to the red areas in the first map above–these were areas that the Palestinians were to receive land in Israel in exchange for the areas to be annexed.

So why did Abbas and the PLO refuse to respond? Abbas now says that the map was unacceptable then and remains unacceptable now because of Jerusalem and the “refugees.”  The Palestinian desire to eliminate Israel by flooding it with some 5,000,000 self-proclaimed refugees is alive and well in Ramallah.

And yet this is the person and the organization that King Bibi has agreed to sit down with and plead with for peace–a person and organization committed to Israel’s destruction as a Jewish state.

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Updates 6 pm Israel time Thursday:

*Your humble servant was aghast at the brutal hacking and beheading to death of a British soldier in London yesterday by two Islamic terrorists–and by British PM David Cameron’s response:

“This was not just an attack on Britain and on the British way of life, it was also a betrayal of Islam and of the Muslim communities who give so much to our country. There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act.”  

What makes Western leaders believe that they understand Islam? Why does every Western leader rush to defend Islam whenever Islamic terrorists butcher people? It is a sad commentary on the pusillanimity of the West in the face of the growing threat of Islam–an Islam which no matter what anyone says, fosters and foments savage violence around the world.

*PM Netanyahu’s pathetic catering to U.S. Secretary of State Kerry began anew today with Kerry’s arrival in Israel. Amazingly, Netanyahu said that concerns about Iran and Syria are now on the back burner, and went on to proclaim that “above all what we want to do is restart the peace talks with the Palestinians.” 

Isn’t it amazing that the Middle East is going to hell in a hand basket with Iran heading full speed toward nuclear weapons, Syrians being slaughtered by the tens of thousands, Egypt on the verge of descending into chaos, Jordan teetering on the edge of a Muslim Brotherhood takeover, Hezbollah arming itself to the teeth in Lebanon–and all Kerry and Netanyahu want to focus on is the Palestinians. 

TODAY’S BLOG:

Muslims prostrate in prayer on the Temple Mount–the holiest place in Judaism. Ludicrously, Jews are not permitted to pray on the Mount.

The fraud being perpetrated on the Israeli Jewish community by the Jerusalem Police was revealed for all to see yesterday with the publication of the form that every orthodox Jew is now being forced to sign before ascending the Temple Mount.

Why is it fraud? Simply because the Jerusalem Police has always claimed that no such form exists–even testifying to that effect before Knesset Committees.

Finally, one of those forced to sign the form managed to take a picture of it yesterday:

The “form” that Jerusalem Police are requiring orthodox Jews to sign before going to the Temple Mount (roughly translated below).

“I ( . . . ) Israeli identification number ( . . . ) certify that I met on May 22 with Avi Biton, Superintendent of the Jerusalem Police. During this meeting, he described all the “behavior rules” that I need to follow [on the Temple Mount], and I promise to follow to adhere to them.

1. I agree to follow all the restrictions that have been placed on the Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount before they go to the Mount.

2. I agree not to do any religious movement inside or outside the Temple Mount. I agree not to participate in any group demonstration . . . If  I have any doubt aboutwhat I can do I will consult with Avi Biton and follow his directions.

3. I agree not to bring anything to do sacrifices on the Mount and not to bring Torahs, pictures, signs, or flags. I promise not to wear phylacteries. . .

4. I agree not to act in a provocative way and to blend in….including praying by going on my knees . . .

5. I agree not to publish anything which will encourage anyone not to follow the rules or provoke people to go against the law . . . I promise not to call out for people to go to the Mount when it is closed for Muslim prayer or Muslim holidays.

6. I agree to fulfill my agreement honestly . . . If I need anything I will go to Avi Biton.

7. I know if I will not keep my word, the police will reconsider their decision allowing me to go to the Temple Mount.

Signed: xxxx”

Can you believe this, dear reader? Hundreds of thousands (actually more than one million during the last Ramadan period) of Muslim worshipers are allowed to go to the Temple Mount with absolutely no restrictions whatsoever.

And Jews? They are prohibited from praying, wearing phylacteries, and even carrying Israeli flags onto the Mount. And they must sign a form promising not to do so–on pain of never being allowed on the Mount again.

Absolutely, positively, pathetic.

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UPDATES  6 pm Israel time Wednesday:

Israel’s leftist Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, made public this morning a letter that he had written to Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon.

At a time when lawlessness is rampant in Judea and Samaria with Jewish community members being assaulted on an almost hourly basis, one would think that Weinstein would have called on Ya’alon to crack down on the bands of terrorists roaming the region.

But instead, Weinstein accused Ya’alon of not criminally punishing Jewish community members who Weinstein claims are engaged in “illegal construction”:

“There is hardly any criminal enforcement of planning and construction violations in Judea and Samaria, this largely due to the absence of an investigative body charged with handling the issue . . . In my letter to the previous defense minister, I expressed my view that the unit charged with overseeing construction at the Civil Administration, which operates on the administrative level, should take on investigative duties on the criminal level.“

Excuse me?  Your humble servant thought it was the first priority of the Israeli Defense Minister and the Israeli Attorney General to protect Israeli lives. Apparently, Yehuda Weinstein does not see it that way.

TODAY’S BLOG:

An independent commission reported yesterday that human rights abuses committed against Palestinians in the “West Bank” have accelerated by more than 10% during the last year. 

The commission has noted that most of these abuses against Palestinians include “torture, mistreatment, preventing and dispersing public assemblies, preventing reporters from reporting or arresting them.”

Even more significantly, the Commission reported that seven Palestinians were killed while in detention in what is described as extra-judicial murders, and that two more Palestinians died while languishing in “West Bank” jails.

Can you imagine such atrocities are being committed against Palestinians? Certainly those committing such abuses (and murders) must be brought to justice immediately.

The only problem is that those who committed the crimes are Palestinians.

Oh . . . there are a few facts that your humble servant forgot to mention.

First, the commission making the report was the “Palestinian Commission for Human Rights” directed by Ahmed Harb and based in Ramallah.

Second, the crimes described above were committed by the “security services” of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. As such, most of the crimes took place in PLO and Hamas jails which are ruthlessly run by members of the PLO and Hamas.

So, dear reader, the next time you hear people talking about bogus Israeli human rights abuses in Judea and Samaria, ask them about the Palestinian use of killings, torture, violent dispersion of public meetings, and intimidation and arrest of reporters. 

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UPDATES 7 pm Israel time Tuesday:

The Golan Heights continues to heat up with Syria claiming that it destroyed an Israeli jeep that ventured into Syrian territory last night. Israel denies the report but confirms that there have been multiple instances of sniper fire at IDF positions in recent days.

IDF head Benny Gantz blustered this morning that the IDF will not let the Golan descend into chaos.

TODAY’S BLOG:

The Palestinian Arabic caption reads: “Help clean the world.”

Your humble servant has decided to present you, dear reader, with a brief pastiche of items concerning the ongoing struggle of Israel to beg the Palestinians to return to the table so that Israel can give them more concessions.

I begin with the above graphic that appeared in a Hamas publication yesterday that is intended for all elementary, junior high, and high school students in Gaza. You will note that a figure in the colors of the Palestinian flag is dropping a Star of David–representing Jews– into a garbage can. 

Consider that it has been announced that Hamas and Fatah (aka the PLO, aka the Palestinian Authority) will sign a reconciliation agreement in three months. And consider that this Hamas “gesture of peace” has appeared two days before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is arriving in Israel again.

Contrast this with what happened at the Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday. At the meeting, Israel’s delusional Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said that she and the equally delusional Kerry “want the Palestinian Authority to know that peace talks are the only game in town” (translation: please, please, please return to the “negotiations”).

Couple this delusion with PM Netanyahu’s outright dissembling this morning.

After unilaterally freezing construction throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria (and) unilaterally agreeing to not demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state (and) unilaterally agreeing to release more Palestinian prisoners (and) unilaterally signing on to the Arab League proposal which calls for Israeli concessions based on 1949 Armistice lines and the establishing of Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, PM Netanyahu has announced that Israel will not make unilateral gestures to the Palestinians.

Netanyahu ludicrously declared that not making unilateral gestures “is a matter of principle.”

And, oh by the way, the same Netanyahu–in collusion with our “Defense” Minister–announced today that Israel is unilaterally expanding the fishing area for Gazan fishermen from 3 to 6 km again. After all, the last couple of weeks have only seen about 10 Hamas mortars and missiles fired at the men, women, and children of southern Israel.  

But if you don’t remember anything else today, remember “Help Clean The World”–of Jews.

UPDATES 7 pm Israel time Monday:

*In the last few minutes there has been a terrorist shooting incident in Beitar Illit.

*There have been numerous Molotov cocktail attacks on Israelis and Israeli security forces in the last 24 hours.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Yair Lapid, Israel’s new Finance Minister who has incurred the displeasure of many of his new constituents by proposing draconian cuts to the budget and increased taxes that will severely impact the lower and middle economic classes, has dangerously jumped headfirst into the Israel concession process to the Palestinians (aka the “peace process”) by proposing an “interim” agreement.

In an hourlong interview with the international press reported in Yediot Aharonot, Lapid offered the rather disjointed plan that Israel should NOT change its policy in Judea and Samaria (of course the only policy that Israel has is to freeze all construction) and NOT agree that Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state, but that Israel should agree to a Palestinian state with temporary borders.

Will this interim state bring peace? Of course not. Because as Lapid points out, the “problems” of Jerusalem and the so-called 5,000,000+ Palestinian “refugees” will not be resolved.

And are the Palestinians ready for such an agreement? Of course not. As Lapid points out: “Abu Mazen is still not mentally prepared for an agreement with Israel – not for a full agreement and not for a partial one.”

Are you, dear reader, following any of this? I wonder, because your humble servant certainly is not.

What on earth would be the point of such an interim agreement? There is no point. It would merely give away more Israeli land and to put more Israeli lives in danger. Palestinian attacks on Israelis would increase as would international opprobrium. 

Nevertheless, Lapid would have us believe (and it is probably true) that his Yesh Atid Party, Netanyahu’s Likud Beiteinu party, and Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua party have more than enough votes to push through such an agreement–in conjunction with Meretz and all the Arab parties (Lapid, by the way, does not favor a popular referendum on an Israeli-Palestinian “peace” agreement).

But, according to Lapid, what would happen in the Palestinians reject “temporary borders”?

Lapid notes what israelstreet has been reporting on for the last six months--namely that Netanyahu has dramatically turned to the Left, a move that has rapidly accelerated following the death of Netanyahu’s father:

“Netanyahu is currently fighting for his place in Israeli history, and he also understands that this place will not be influenced by this or that response to a mortar shell fired from Gaza, but by his ability, as a leader, to reach a lasting agreement with the Palestinian people. This is why it is safe to assume that he will ‘go for it.’”

This or that response to a mortar shell fired from Gaza?  Never mind for the moment this crass throwing of southern Israel under the bus, what is it that Netanyahu is apparently getting ready to do?

According to other sources cited in the Yedioth article, Netanyahu is prepared to follow in the footsteps of Ehud Barak in Lebanon, and Ariel Sharon in Gaza–and simply make a unilateral withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. Obviously, this plan would call for the evacuation of more than 100,000 Jews–because Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO, and Hamas have all made it clear that a new Palestinian state must be ethnically cleansed of all Jews.

According to Lapid, such a “relocation” would be heartbreaking but necessary.

What is really heartbreaking is the “surrender mentality” of Israel’s leaders. It is a surrender mentality that is on the verge of leading Israel to disaster.

(israelstreet acknowledges Sever Plocker’s “Interim Deal on Road to Statehood” that appeared in Yediot Aharonot this morning for elements of this blog).

UPDATES 7:00 pm Israel time Sunday (and) TODAY’S BLOG:

During the last year, your humble servant has been constantly bewailing the increasingly lawless situation in Judea and Samaria. Border Guards, IDF soldiers, and Israeli police have been assaulted by Palestinian terrorist “rock” throwers with impunity. Israeli citizens living in Jewish communities throughout the regions are attacked on a violent, daily basis.

Yesterday was no exception.

At around 1:45 am, two Palestinian terrorists hiding among a grove of olive trees pelted a large number of Israeli vehicles traveling in Wadi Haramiya near Sinjil on Highway 60. One resident of Ariel had to be evacuated to Beilinson Hospital by a MADA team from Eli with “rock” wounds, and eight vehicles were severely damaged.  Miraculously, as you will see from the pictures below, no other Israelis were wounded:

Looking at the above windshield, you are probably wondering how a small “stone”, even a “pebble” as is always reported by the international media, could cause such damage. The answer is the reason that your humble servant always puts the word “rock” in quotation marks:

This is a “rock” (photos courtesy Observation Agency).

It is in response to these ongoing attacks that the IDF is changing tactics–from doing nothing to actively engaging the terrorists–but within severe constraints.

First, the IDF is equipping its snipers with different rifles whose shot is reduced in diameter from the already small 0.22 caliber rimfire cartridge of standard “Ruger” rifles (pictured below).

Second, the IDF is equipping its snipers with non-lethal “sponge tipped bullets”–even rubber bullets will not be permitted to be fired.  

Third, the Central Command will begin providing a protective suit to IDF soldiers that will protect against blows, “rocks”, and sticks and will cover a soldier’s shoulders, back, chest, groin, thighs, and shins. Troops will also be issued special gloves to protect against knife slashes.

All of this is fine and good–but what about the 370,000 Israelis living in Judea and Samaria? When are they going to receive their suits? 

Your humble servant suspects that the answer to that question is “Never”. 

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UPDATES 6:30 pm Israel time Saturday:

The Amona community which overlooks the nearby community of Ofra.

*There have been numerous pitched battles between the IDF, Border Police and Palestinians yesterday and today. One of the most absurd of these clashes occurred at the Amona community in Samaria.

The fighting began when Palestinian arsonists attempted to set fire to a field belonging to the community. Immediately, an Israeli community security team from nearby Ofra responded to the incident, and at least one security guard fired his weapon into the air in an attempt to disperse the arsonists.

Thereupon the Border Guards arrived and unbelievably arrested two members of the security team. All the while, the Border Guards and the security team were being assaulted by “rocks” thrown by the arsonists. One of the Border Guards suffered “rock” wounds to the extent that medics had to be summoned to treat him.

Incredibly, none of the “rock” throwing Palestinian arsonists were arrested.

*What is going on with the S-300 missiles in Syria is anyone’s guess. Despite King Bibi’s visit to Putin this week, there are reports that:

–Syria already has S-300 missile batteries (the Russians said yesterday that no one should be surprised at this).

–Syrian soldiers have already been training on the S-300 batteries in Russia.

–The large Russian armada that has just sailed into the Mediterranean and is moored off the Syrian coast may have even brought S-400 batteries.

The simple fact is that with Russian support, Iranian aid, and Hezbollah and Revolutionary Guard (and perhaps Russian) soldiers fighting on behalf of Assad, the tide seems to have shifted in favor of the Syrian regime. Perhaps sensing this, an unnamed spokesman for King Bibi’s government even came out yesterday and declared that the Assad government would be better than a rebel Islamist government led by Al-Qaeda.

*Shabbat Shalom!

As Shabbat draws to a close, a fun story from Bnei Barak today–an orthodox city beside Ramat Gan:

The longest Shabbat table ever.

The world’s longest Shabbat table (60 meters) has just been used (setting the Guiness Record).  Seating more than 300 people, it was the brainchild of the Israel Coca-Cola Company–which is located in Bnei Barak and the orthodox advertising agency Meimad.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Herewith are the answers to yesterday’s quiz–with some explanations. How did you do?

1. How long is the border between Israel and Syria?

A. 52 km, 32 miles (this is the length of the Israel border with Gaza)

B. 238 km, 148 miles (this is the length of the Israel border with Jordan)

C. 79 km, 49 miles (this is the length of the Israel border with Lebanon)

D. 76 km, 47 miles

Of course none of these answers includes the 266 km border that Israel shares with Egypt. 

2. How many United Nations troops (UNDOF) are positioned in or around the Golan Heights DMZ?

A. 1123 soldiers

B. 2252 soldiers

C. 3391 soldiers

4. 4497 soldiers

As your humble servant has pointed out, there have been several announcements in recent weeks about various countries pulling their contingents out in light of kidnappings of UN soldiers by Syrian rebels.

3. What is the distance between Jerusalem and Damascus?

A. 217 km, 135 miles

B. 427 km, 265 miles (this is the distance from Jerusalem to Cairo)

C. 248 km, 154 miles (this is the distance from Jerusalem to Eilat)

D. 235 km, 146 miles (this is the distance from Jerusalem to Beirut)

4. How long is the border between Egypt and Gaza?

A. 51 km

B. 11 km

C. 101 km

D. 232 km

It is a border that is completely closed today as Egypt expresses its anger to Hamas about its 7 kidnapped Army and police officers.

5. Comparatively speaking, how large is Gaza?

A. About half the size of Washington, DC

B. Approximately the same size as Washington, D.C.

C. About 1.5 times as large as Washington, D.C.

D. Approximately twice the size of Washington, D.C.

6. What is the unofficial name of the border line between Israel and Lebanon?

A. The red line

B. The green line

C. The blue line

D. The brown line

7. How many United Nations troops (UNIFIL) are now in southern Lebanon ?

A. 568

B. 2,369

C. 7, 411

D. 10,807

Your humble servant merely includes this as contrast to the number of UN soldiers on the Syrian border.

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UPDATES 7 pm Israel time Friday:

Intense Palestinian “rock” assaults have taken place in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria today. There have been reports of injuries from shattered glass, and other reports of motorists and passengers in cars and buses being treated for emotional trauma.

A car that was attacked on Route 60. Note who was sitting beside the window that was shattered.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Every once in a while, your humble servant likes to quiz you on your knowledge of Israel and the problems facing it. Today, here are seven questions to make you think about the the situation on Israel’s borders. Answers will be in tomorrow’s blog.

1. How long is the border between Israel and Syria?

A. 52 km, 32 miles

B. 238 km, 148 miles

C. 79 km, 49 miles

D. 76 km, 47 miles

2. How many United Nations troops (UNDOF) are positioned in or around the Golan Heights DMZ?

A. 1123 soldiers

B. 2252 soldiers

C. 3391 soldiers

4. 4497 soldiers

3. What is the distance between Jerusalem and Damascus?

A. 217 km, 135 miles

B. 427 km, 265 miles

C. 248 km, 154 miles

D. 235 km, 146 miles

4. How long is the border between Egypt and Gaza?

A. 51 km

B. 11 km

C. 101 km

D. 232 km

5. Comparatively speaking, how large is Gaza?

A. About half the size of Washington, DC

B. Approximately the same size as Washington, D.C.

C. About 1.5 times as large as Washington, D.C.

D. Approximately twice the size of Washington, D.C.

6. What is the unofficial name of the border line between Israel and Lebanon?

A. The red line

B. The green line

C. The blue line

D. The brown line

7. How many United Nations troops (UNIFIL) are now in southern Lebanon ?

A. 568

B. 2,369

C. 7, 411

D. 10, 807

Remember to come back tomorrow for the answers–some of which may surprise you.

UPDATE 7 pm Israel time Thursday:

A building in Moshav Bnei Netzarim–along the Egyptian border in the Negev–was just hit by rifle fire from the Sinai fifteen minutes ago.

TODAY’S BLOG:

What do cigarettes, Egyptian security officials, and Kentucky Fried Chicken have in common?

Cigarettes are smuggled in every conceivable way by Hamas and Hezbollah.

It was announced yesterday that the New York state attorney general, working in conjunction New York City police department, had arrested 16 members of Hamas and Hezbollah. These terrorists were part of an elaborate smuggling ring which had bought over one million cartons of tax free cigarettes from the southern U.S. and then transported them to New York where they were sold at vastly increased prices.

The millions of dollars of profit were then funneled to Lebanon and Gaza to fund Hezbollah and Hamas. 

Closer to Israel, three Egyptian policemen and four Egyptian army officers were riding early this morning in two taxis from El-Arish to the Rafah Crossing when the taxis were stopped and the Egyptians were kidnapped. 

Hamas in Gaza has issued a ludicrous statement saying that it is increasing monitoring of the smuggling tunnels to make sure the seven Egyptians are not smuggled into Gaza to be held for ransom there. Why is it ludicrous? Because every indication is that they were Palestinian Hamas terrorists who kidnapped the Egyptians in the first place.

Where does the money from such endless kidnappings go? Straight into the coffers of Hamas.

Your humble servant wonders if the same taxis that were ferrying the Egyptian security officials were not also ferrying Kentucky Fried Chicken.

A report this morning details the unbelievable story of how the al-Yamama KFC store in El Arish takes orders from Gaza and then delivers the food.

First the order is phoned in; then it is filled and put into a taxi to be taken from El Arish to Rafah. Once in Rafah, the chicken is handed off to a local smuggler who smuggles the chicken through a tunnel into Gaza–and on into the waiting arms of the customer.

The KFC delivery man arrives through the tunnel into Gaza.

According to al-Yamama, because of the increased risks (unreliable taxi service, Hamas men grabbing the chicken–and taking a “piece” of the action–at the entrance to and exit from the tunnels, Israeli planes bombing the tunnels), it is being forced to charge a $30 delivery charge. But business is booming with more than 24 deliveries in the last month. As Aboud Fares, a 22 year old Gazan student puts it: “It’s delicious even though it’s not hot.”

Of course, everyone knows that Hezbollah and Hamas are heavily involved in smuggling drugs from South America to North America, and from Lebanon into neighboring Arab countries and Europe.

A Hezbollah farmer with his crop in Lebanon–just one more instance of narco-Islam.

Their smuggling empire is so vast as to almost defy description–the cigarettes in New York, the Egyptians in the Sinai, and KFC in Gaza are just small blips on the smuggling radar screen.