India and Israel On Verge Of Major Deal

Wednesday, February 10 2016

UPDATES 7:00 pm Israel time

–>Palestinian terror today.

Whereas yesterday was a day that saw repeated stabbing attempts, today has seen an endless barrage of “rocks”. At least one Palestinian terrorist has been shot to death in such an attack in Gush Etzion.

Other places where “rock” assaults have occurred are Migdalim, Kiryat Arba, Makel, Bethany, Hizma, the Hussan Bypass, Psagot, Hebron, and Silwan.

–>Hamas and the PLO agree to reconcile, again.

So yet another negotiation between Hamas and the PLO has apparently ended in yet another agreement.

The cornerstone of this accord (as the last one) is Hamas handing over control of the Rafah Crossing on the Egyptian border to Mahmoud Abbas’ “presidential guard.” Given the fact that Hamas stands to lose a lot of money in “fees” exacted from those coming and going through the Crossing, one can expect the agreement, again, to be short-lived.

By the way, the Rafah Crossing is virtually closed anyway. The Egyptians only let people through once or twice a month, depending on Egyptian whim.

–>The home demolition charade continues.

The Israel Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against the destruction of the home of the terrorist who stabbed to death Aaron Bennett and Nehemiah Lavi near the Lion’s Gate on October 3rd last year.

This is just the latest in a series of absurd “back and forths” between the Court and government. Every time the government wants to destroy a terrorist’s home, the Court issues an injunction to stop it, and then complains later that the government is not carrying out Court-approved demolitions in a timely manner.

–>Neturei Karta extends its anti-Israel campaign.

Neturei Karta, an extreme leftist branch of orthodox Judaism that annually sends its rabbis to Tehran to Iran’s “Holocaust Didn’t Happen” Convention, had its rabbis out in force yesterday in the U.S. primaries in New Hampshire.

Specifically, they showed up with signs at a Marco Rubio campaign bus. They want the world to know that they oppose Republican hopeful Rubio’s “unqualified support for Israel.”

It is hard to imagine a more slimy, disgusting group of individuals than Neturei Karta. Funded by Iran, they will go anywhere and do anything to bash Israel.

One thing for sure: if Neturei Karta is opposing Marco Rubio, Marco Rubio is a person we should all support.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meet (Photo: Amos ben Gershom LTD).

The long-awaited arms military weapons deal between Israel and India is about to be signed.

Valued at $3 billion dollars, the deal calls for India to purchase:

*321 Spike anti-tank systems

*8,356 Spike anti-tank missiles

*250 bunker busting bombs

*164 laser systems for its Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft

*an undisclosed number of Spice 250 precision guided bombs

The deal has been viewed acrimoniously by the Obama Administration primarily because the Indians chose the Spike system over the American Javelin system. It is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks in advance of Modi’s first official visit to Israel.

Little known is the extensive military cooperation already existing between the Indian Army and the IDF. For some years now, Israel has sold $1 billion dollars a year worth of armaments to India.

As Israel’s Ambassador to India recently stated:  “The Israel-India defense cooperation for many years has been one of the central pillars of our relationship. The changing world, changing parameters, and changing needs are always something that is on the top of our agenda and always on our radar.”