UPDATES
10:00 am Israel time, Saturday, July 25 2015
**The dangerous mix of scorching temperatures and Palestinian arson:
Israel finds itself this morning in the midst of a searing heat wave. The temperatures from north to south today: Tiberias 98 F (37 C), Beit Shemesh 96 (36), Jerusalem 95 (35), Ashdod 95 (35), Beersheva 99 (37), Eilat 109 (43)–and these temperatures are expected to climb even higher during the coming week.
The Beit Shemesh fire yesterday (photo Gil Magen: Haaretz).
In temperatures like these, it doesn’t take much for someone to start a fire, and the Palestinians are very good at doing that. Two fires were brought under control early this morning: one in the Galilee region near Tiberius, and a much larger one in the area around Beit Shemesh. In the latter one pictured above, more than 400 acres went up in smoke.
**Remember the picture of the woman who was stopped going up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem a few days ago because of her earrings and necklace?
Yesterday we were treated to another outrageous demonstration of police discrimination as the Jerusalem Police did nothing to enforce its own guidelines on the Mount concerning political demonstrations–but, of course, these demonstrations were Muslim ones.
Directly in front of the Kipat HaSela (Dome of the Rock) under which is the Foundation Stone–the holiest place in Judaism. Can you imagine what would have happened yesterday if Jews had displayed such a banner? They would have been arrested and charged with provoking unrest. These particular banners were in support of the military wing of the PLO.
Any religious symbol, any religious book, and any political demonstration or march is fine on the Temple Mount so long as it is carried or enacted by Muslims.
Unbelievable.
**The Obama Administration signs off on Turkish attacks on the Kurds:
Erdogan and Obama: birds of a feather (picture: Jpost).
How long has it been now that Turkey did not want to get involved in Syria? Months? Years? The government of Erdogan made it clear time and again that it did not want to do anything to help Syrian President Bashar Assad (in fact, it has long been rumored that Turkish security services have been providing help to IS). And time and again, the Turks refused to give the U.S. permission to use its air force bases to strike IS in Syria.
So what just happened between Erdogan and Obama?
Suddenly, we have an agreement for the U.S. to use the air force bases (particularly the one at Incirlik near the Syrian border), and as of this morning we have Turkish planes bombing IS in Syria.
So why did Turkey change its mind?
Was it because of the vast numbers of refugees trying to come across the Syrian border into Turkey? What a joke. Erdogan does not have a humanitarian bone in his body.
Was it because IS claimed responsibility for the recent attacks in Turkey which have killed some 30 Turks? Not likely. These attacks have been going on for a while.
No, the reason is much more basic. It turns out that not only are Turks bombing IS this morning; they are also bombing the Kurds in Iraq (the Turks claim they are hitting PKK bases). What the Turks are afraid of is that the Kurdish independence movement will grow and reach into Turkey.
What is amazing is that the Obama Administration signed off on the Turks carrying out the attacks on the Kurds.
**Speaking of the IS, how about those Cobra helicopters?
Cobra helicopters.
It was revealed yesterday that Israel has now–with American permission–given Jordan 16 decommissioned Israeli Cobra attack helicopters.
Supposedly, the helicopters are for the Jordanians to use in fighting IS on its border with Syria; after all, Israel has apparently agreed to come to Jordanian aid should IS break into Jordan and threaten Amman.
Obviously, the real point of the Cobras as is the point of what goes happens on the Temple Mount (where the Jordanian-based Islamic Wakf holds sway) is to prop up King Abdullah.
**UNRWA begs for money, again:
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UNRWA, the completely despicable United Nations Agency which does nothing else except perpetuate Palestinian victimhood, whined yesterday that unless funding is immediately forthcoming it will be forced to close 700 Palestinian schools in all of its self-described “refugee” camps.
And what will happen if the abominable UNRWA schools close? The Palestinians might actually have to take a little responsibility on themselves and open their own schools. Of course, these schools would be no better than the UNRWA schools in terms of inciting Palestinian children to hate Israel, but at least UNRWA would be out of the picture.
Let’s all hope that UNRWA does not get a penny to perpetuate itself.
**How about a feel-good story today?
Who is Ran and who is Niv? Your humble servant has no idea!
Ran and Niv Cohen, 24-year-old identical twins, became chozer bechuvah (newly religious) two years ago. They joined the Breslov sect of orthodox Judaism in Yavne’el. Immediately the rabbi there set them up with two sisters, Leah and Rebecca who also happened to be identical twins. Leah and Rebecca were born 20 minutes apart.
Last year the two marriages took place within 4 days of each other.
This past Sunday, Leah and Rebecca each gave birth to a baby daughter–born 20 minutes apart.
TODAY’S BLOG:
Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois: aggressively taking the battle to BDS.
Three cheers for the state of Illinois!
Three months ago, the Illinois state legislature unanimously (by a vote of 102-0 in the House and 49-0 in the state senate) passed a law requiring all Illinois state pension systems to divest from their portfolios any company that boycotts Israel. Futhermore, the law requires that pension fund managers be warned when companies supporting a boycott against Israel are indirectly held inside larger fund portfolios.
Yesterday, the law was signed into being by Governor Bruce Rauner. In attendance was the Israel Consul General of the Midwest, Roey Gilad, as well as other Jewish community leaders.
Rep. Peter Roskam of Illiois, who you may remember co-authored the legislation in the U.S. Congress against BDS in the European Trade Law a few months ago, added this:
“This is a great day for the State of Illinois and the ongoing battle against the insidious BDS campaign. Once again, Democrats and Republicans have joined together to stand up against those who seek to delegitimize and isolate our ally Israel.”
In signing the law, Gov. Rauner declared:
“We need to stand up to anti-Semitism whenever and wherever we see it. This historic legislation is an important first step in the fight against boycotts of Israel and I hope other states move quickly to follow our lead.”
Apparently New York is next on the list of states to take the same action.
Again, your humble servant says “Three cheers for Illinois!” Everyone should follow its lead and boycott, divest, and sanction the boycotters.
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.