Yom Shnee
Monday
17 Nisan 5782
April 18 2022
Photo of the Day
The scene on the Temple Mount this morning. The man is smiling because his family was one of the few Jewish families allowed on the Mount this morning–despite the fact that this is Passover week. That is the Kipat HaSela (Dome of the Rock) in the background under which is the Foundation Stone, the holiest place in Judaism.
Notice in the above photo how the Jordanian-Palestinian Islamic Wakf ordered that “blocking” stones be placed in the walkway that is used by Jews who go to the Mount. That walkway is one that the Wakf “allows” Jews to use when they walk around an area that is supposedly under Israeli sovereignty.
Quote of the Day
“I salute every Palestinian and every employee of the Islamic Wakf (on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem) who attacks the Zionists in defense of the Al-Aksa Mosque. Jerusalem is occupied territory belonging to the Palestinians.”
Jordanian Prime Minister Bishar al-Hassona in a session of the Jordanian Parliament today.
It is simply amazing how world media continues to describe Jordan as a “moderate” Arab country.
The News on the Israeli Street
Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .
Incoming missile sirens were heard in Nahal Oz yesterday. As always, despite reports of explosions, the IDF spokesman said it was a false alarm. Note the 1950 Armistice Line which is the de facto border between Gaza and Israel.
Palestinian terrorists attacked Israelis with “rocks” and Molotovs at Katavim, Road 55 near Ponduk, Lupine Aia northeast of Ramallah, Petzail, Huwara, between the Hutsach Checkpoint and Peduel, near Kedumim, north of the HaOfakim Junction, on the Hevron-Gush Etzion Road, and at 17 other locations. A number of Israelis were wounded in these attacks.
Palestinian terrorists attacked the security fence at Givon.
Palestinian terrorists burned agricultural fields at Sde Kalev.
Palestinian terrorists throwing rocks in Jerusalem near the Dung Gate wounded 5 people who had to be evacuated to Sha’are Zedek Hospital.
IDF forces shot two terrorists in Jenin, and captured 11 terrorists in Yamum.
Problems in the Coalition Government . . .
The Israeli reaction to continuing Muslim provocations on the Temple Mount has led to an announcement that the Islamist Ra’am Party is going to “freeze” its membership in the Coalition and freeze its membership in the Knesset.
The apparent effect of this is to reduce the number of Coalition members to 56 (61 minus Idit Silman minus 4 members of Raam).
Is this enough to topple the government?
Probably not. The Netanyahu-led opposition only has 54 members, and it remains unclear exactly what “freezing” means. On the other hand, it definitely means that the Coalition will be unable to pass any legislation that requires 61 votes.
TODAY’S BLOG:
Humanitarian Naivete
PM Naftali Bennett issued this statement this morning:
“In the past week, a wild Hamas-led incitement campaign has been waged against us. Here’s the truth: Israel is doing everything so that everyone, as always, can celebrate the holidays safely – Jews, Muslims and Christians. We expect everyone not to join in the lies and certainly not to encourage violence against Jews. The State of Israel will continue to keep our capital, Jerusalem, open to all.”
Let’s examine this statement.
“In the past week, a wild Hamas-led incitement campaign has been waged against us.”
Yes, Hamas has waged an incitement-to-violence campaign against Israel. But so have the PLO, Islamic Jihad, Jordan (witness the Quote of the Day above), and Turkey. Other entities have waged an Israel-is-to-blame campaign including the European Union, Biden Administration, and Egypt.
Has the fact that Hamas has led an incitement campaign affected Israeli concessions to Hamas in Gaza? Of course not. If anything, Israel has increased “humanitarian” supplies to Hamasniks in Gaza.
“Here’s the truth: Israel is doing everything so that everyone, as always, can celebrate the holidays safely – Jews, Muslims and Christians.”
Yes, this is true. Israel always does everything it can to help Jews, Muslims, and Christians to celebrate all the holidays safely even if it works against the national interests to our country.
“We expect everyone not to join in the lies and certainly not to encourage violence against Jews.”
The humanitarian expectation that Muslims in particular will not encourage violence against Jews is absurd on its face. The encouragement of violence against Jews is at the core of Islam via the Koran and the Hadith.
“The State of Israel will continue to keep our capital, Jerusalem, open to all.”
It is one thing to keep our capital open to all; however, what Benny Gantz and this “humanitarian” Coalition Government have done this Ramadan is beyond belief. In the midst of terror, the government has permitted and even encouraged hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to come to Jerusalem–and it is precisely many of those who are now fomenting violence on the Mount.
In sum, Bennett’s statement is naive in the extreme which is not surprising given that the Bennett-Lapid-Gantz government obsessively manifests “humanitarian naivete” in every facet of government from domestic to foreign affairs.
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.