16 Elul 5778
27 August 2018
Special Notice:
Along with many others, we mourn the loss of U.S. Senator John McCain yesterday. Back in 2008, your humble servant and his wife campaigned for him when he ran for president against Barack Obama. We did so because we admired Senator McCain as a man and as a patriot who served his country. We also did so because of his steadfast support of Israel which stood in contrast to what we could see of then-candidate Barack Obama. We often wondered in the years since then how much better the U.S. would have been had a man of principle like McCain been elected. In the last few years, we disagreed with Senator McCain on a number of issues, but we never doubted his integrity. Our sincerest sympathy goes out to his family.
Quote of the Year
“The U.S. is meddling in the internal affairs of other people in an attempt to impact their national options. [U.S. financial aid] is not a favor to the Palestinians, but a due duty of the international community that bears responsibility for the continued occupation which is blocking the possibility of development and growth of the Palestinian economy and society.”
If there were ever a quote that captured the Palestinian mentality, this one by Saeb Erekat yesterday is it.
Try to wrap your mind around the idea that the U.S. is “meddling in the internal affairs” of the Palestinians by reducing its annual donation to the PLO.
Try to wrap your mind around the idea that when countries give hundreds of millions of dollars to the Palestinians, are are not doing it as “a favor.”
Try to wrap your mind around the idea that giving free money to the Palestinians is “a due duty of the international community.”
To put this another way, all countries are required to give the Palestinians money with no strings attached.
Amazing, unmitigated, infantile gall.
The News On the Israeli Street Today
Lieberman’s disgrace . . .
It was a mere three days ago that our Non-Defense Minister Lieberman pledged that the crossings from Israel into Gaza would remain closed as long as there was Palestinian violence on the border.
Yesterday, the IDF had to repel yet another Hamas terrorist attack on the border, this time stopping a group of terrorists who assaulted IDF positions in eastern Gaza near Sufa. And while this assault was going on, the ongoing assault of explosive balloons launched from Gaza continued to set fires in Israeli border communities. The worst of the fires was at Moshav Talmim.
So what was Lieberman’s reaction to the violence?
First, he opened the Kerem Shalom Crossing yesterday afternoon to allow 409 trucks to transport goods into Gaza. Then he announced that he was opening the Erez Crossing today.
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In making the announcement about the Erez Crossing, Lieberman declared that it was being opened because of “the calm along the border.”
There really is no way to describe Lieberman except to say that he is an absolute disgrace as Defense Minister.
Speaking of Hamas . . .
To no one’s surprise, the Israeli High Court of Injustice ruled yesterday that relatives of Hamas members must be given access to hospitals in Israel for treatment.
In fact, the Court opinion seemed to state that Israel is required to provide treatment to anyone anywhere.
That’s great news for Israeli taxpayers who often have difficulty calendaring needed surgeries and exams because of the shortage of doctors and hospital facilities.
Speaking of medical items . . .
It was revealed yesterday that terrorists in Israeli prisons have access to cutting edge drugs that Israeli citizens do not have.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The Israeli Prison Service actually provides drugs to treat such diseases as diabetes that Israeli citizens cannot obtain.
TODAY’S BLOG:
The IDF General Command Is Trembling In Its Boots, Again
As is often the case these days, your humble servant wonders what has happened to our once vaunted IDF Command.
Reports were aired on Israeli television last night that the defense establishment in general, and the IDF General Command in particular are fearful of what might happen if President Trump revokes recognition of the Palestinians’ so-called “right of return.”
One senior military official was even quoted saying: “American policy is liable to ignite the area, which is already on the brink of confrontation.”
It was a comment that could have just as easily been a threat coming from the mouth of a PLO or Hamas leader.
Do you have any idea, dear reader, how many times Israeli defense officials have expressed fear of violent Palestinian reactions in the last year alone?
Whether it was advising against moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem or recommending removing the metal detectors from the Muslim gates of entry to the Temple Mount, our security-defense establishment bases its every decision on possibility of Palestinian violence.
How have we become so afraid? How have our lives become hostage to the threat of Palestinian violence?
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.