As Iranian leader's visit to Lebanon ends, PM Netanyahu says Israel will remain wary of ties between Beirut, Theran; will 'know how to defend itself against such developments'
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 10.14.10, 22:39 / Israel News
As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon draws to an end, Israel remain wary of the latter's strengthening ties with Tehran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that,"Unfortunately, Lebanon is rapidly turning into a satellite of the ayatollahs' regime. This is tragic for Lebanon, but Israel will know how to defend itself against such developments."
Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon included several public speeches, in which he vehemently attacked Israel, saying that "Zionists are the enemies of humanity," and promising that the "Zionist regime will not last long."
"the world should know that eventually the Zionists will be forced to go and will not last long. They are enemies of humanity and will have no choice but to surrender. Palestine will be liberated through the force of faith," Ahmadinejad said, speaking before masses gathered in the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil Thursday afternoon.
"We've heard cursing and abomination from the Lebanon border today," Netanyahu said. "The best answer to these blasphemies was given here 62 years ago. We shall continue building and creating our country and will be prepared to defend it," he added.
Meanwhile, A Hamas official in Gaza, Dr. Khalil Abu Layla told Iranian news agency Fars that the Hamas government hoped Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Gaza, just as he visited Lebanon.
"We hope Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad visits Gaza, but we must remain logical because such a step would involve a series of dangers," he said.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969746,00.html
Friday, October 15, 2010
Back to November 1947
Sever Plocker
Op-ed: Bibi’s demand for recognition of Israel as Jewish state logical but also risky
Published: 10.15.10, 00:24 / Israel Opinion
In his Knesset speech earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the Palestinian leadership recognize Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.” This is not an unfounded demand: It was expressed modestly and is accepted by the states who established diplomatic relations with Israel. US President Barack Obama went even further, recognizing Israel as “the historic homeland of the Jewish people.”
Netanyahu is demanding a little less than that: He wants the Palestinian leadership to recognize the United Nations’ partition resolution from November 29th, 1947 – not word for word, but rather, recognition of its spirit and essence.
Based on the resolution, two sovereign states were supposed to be established in Palestine – a Jewish nation-state and an Arab one. The resolution in fact established the principle of “two states for two peoples”: The Arab Palestinian people in the Palestinian nation-state, and the Jewish people in the Jewish nation-state.
Ever since then, the term “Jewish state” has been used as a synonym for Israel in the world: in the Declaration of Independence, we merely gave the future Jewish state a new name – “Israel.” Although the Zionist movement accepted the UN resolution while the Palestinian movement furiously rejected it, the partition principle was not entrenched in the psyche of both people for many years.
I recall how during the fight to set Soviet Jews free, the Mapam party produced a poster with a Soviet Jew on one end, a Palestinian refugee on the other, and above them a caption that read: “A homeland for each people.” The poster was immediately shelved by party veterans. Even the leftist Mapam did not come to terms at the time with the notion of a Palestinian state. Israel’s public opinion was even more resistant.
The change began to take shape with the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt. Prime Minister Menachem Begin recognized the legitimate rights of the Palestinians in the framework of the treaty, thereby changing the essence of Israel’s political debate. Ever since then, it was clear to both the Right and Left in Israel that a Palestinian nation with a right for self-determination exists. The question that remains in the intra-Jewish framework has to do with the borders, in the broad sense of the word.
Opening old wounds?
A similar process in respect to Israel had taken place on the Arab side – yet to their misfortune, not among the Palestinians. Indeed, Palestinian leaders still view the Jews as members of the same religion, rather than members of the same nation. They are willing to reconcile themselves to the existence of the State of Israel, and even to annexation and territorial tradeoffs, yet they disgustingly reject the partition’s basic premise, which was so accurately described in the abovementioned Mapam poster: A homeland for each nation.
This also explains the Palestinian decision to refrain from declaring an independent state and the lack of enthusiasm over such prospect. Many Palestinians fear that establishing a Palestinian state would be perceived by the world as complete fulfillment of their national aspirations and the ultimate implementation of the partition resolution, which they despise.
By bringing up the demand to recognize Israel as the “nation-state of the Jewish people” or the “Jewish people’s state,” Netanyahu is therefore taking the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back to the discussions that took place in the autumn of 1947. In his view, there is historic and national logic to it – yet this move also entails immense risk. The partition decision includes clauses and notions that current-day Israel would be unable to accept. Revisiting these issues would open old wounds and not necessarily be in our favor.
Netanyahu is very confident and convinced that this risk is worthwhile. Until the Palestinians recognize the partition decision and accept it, he believes, no peace shall prevail between the two nations. His demand may be rejected, thereby putting off peace forever. Yet it is possible that 63 years later, the Palestinians will surprise us and accept the fact that Israel is “the Jewish people’s nation-state.” It’s unclear whether Netanyahu would know what to do with such recognition and how to act in its wake.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969656,00.html
Op-ed: Bibi’s demand for recognition of Israel as Jewish state logical but also risky
Published: 10.15.10, 00:24 / Israel Opinion
In his Knesset speech earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the Palestinian leadership recognize Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.” This is not an unfounded demand: It was expressed modestly and is accepted by the states who established diplomatic relations with Israel. US President Barack Obama went even further, recognizing Israel as “the historic homeland of the Jewish people.”
Netanyahu is demanding a little less than that: He wants the Palestinian leadership to recognize the United Nations’ partition resolution from November 29th, 1947 – not word for word, but rather, recognition of its spirit and essence.
Based on the resolution, two sovereign states were supposed to be established in Palestine – a Jewish nation-state and an Arab one. The resolution in fact established the principle of “two states for two peoples”: The Arab Palestinian people in the Palestinian nation-state, and the Jewish people in the Jewish nation-state.
Ever since then, the term “Jewish state” has been used as a synonym for Israel in the world: in the Declaration of Independence, we merely gave the future Jewish state a new name – “Israel.” Although the Zionist movement accepted the UN resolution while the Palestinian movement furiously rejected it, the partition principle was not entrenched in the psyche of both people for many years.
I recall how during the fight to set Soviet Jews free, the Mapam party produced a poster with a Soviet Jew on one end, a Palestinian refugee on the other, and above them a caption that read: “A homeland for each people.” The poster was immediately shelved by party veterans. Even the leftist Mapam did not come to terms at the time with the notion of a Palestinian state. Israel’s public opinion was even more resistant.
The change began to take shape with the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt. Prime Minister Menachem Begin recognized the legitimate rights of the Palestinians in the framework of the treaty, thereby changing the essence of Israel’s political debate. Ever since then, it was clear to both the Right and Left in Israel that a Palestinian nation with a right for self-determination exists. The question that remains in the intra-Jewish framework has to do with the borders, in the broad sense of the word.
Opening old wounds?
A similar process in respect to Israel had taken place on the Arab side – yet to their misfortune, not among the Palestinians. Indeed, Palestinian leaders still view the Jews as members of the same religion, rather than members of the same nation. They are willing to reconcile themselves to the existence of the State of Israel, and even to annexation and territorial tradeoffs, yet they disgustingly reject the partition’s basic premise, which was so accurately described in the abovementioned Mapam poster: A homeland for each nation.
This also explains the Palestinian decision to refrain from declaring an independent state and the lack of enthusiasm over such prospect. Many Palestinians fear that establishing a Palestinian state would be perceived by the world as complete fulfillment of their national aspirations and the ultimate implementation of the partition resolution, which they despise.
By bringing up the demand to recognize Israel as the “nation-state of the Jewish people” or the “Jewish people’s state,” Netanyahu is therefore taking the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back to the discussions that took place in the autumn of 1947. In his view, there is historic and national logic to it – yet this move also entails immense risk. The partition decision includes clauses and notions that current-day Israel would be unable to accept. Revisiting these issues would open old wounds and not necessarily be in our favor.
Netanyahu is very confident and convinced that this risk is worthwhile. Until the Palestinians recognize the partition decision and accept it, he believes, no peace shall prevail between the two nations. His demand may be rejected, thereby putting off peace forever. Yet it is possible that 63 years later, the Palestinians will surprise us and accept the fact that Israel is “the Jewish people’s nation-state.” It’s unclear whether Netanyahu would know what to do with such recognition and how to act in its wake.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969656,00.html
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Former Chinese Protest Leader Chai Ling Hails Nobel Peace Prize Award to Liu Xiaobo
by Staff
October 12, 2010
BOSTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Former 1989 student protest leader Chai Ling on Friday hailed the decision to award the 2010 Nobel Peace to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and called for prayers for his release from prison and for the salvation of China.
Chai, who was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, recalled the "bonding experience" of spending the last hours of the movement with Liu on the square in central Beijing.
"Liu Xiaobo and I were in the last group at Tiananmen when the tanks moved in. Together we stood our ground, advocating ... non-violence until the last hour," Ms. Chai said.
She applauded Liu's steadfast efforts in the 21 years since those protests were violently suppressed by the Chinese military. Liu was imprisoned after the 1989 crackdown, and was sentenced again in 2009 to 11 years in prison for co-authoring a declaration, called Charter 08, championing political reform, greater human rights, and an end to one-party rule in China.
Chai called the Nobel Committee's decision "a milestone" and said she was "thankful for the Nobel peace prize committee for finally standing up and doing the right thing to acknowledge heroes like Liu and what he represents." She expressed the hope that "the Western leadership would follow the Nobel Committee's example and stand up for human rights and the development of a civil society in China."
Chai in particular called on U.S. President Obama, the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner, "to step up the pressure on China" on human rights issues and for the release of Liu and Chinese Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities for defending the persecuted.
Chai, who became a Christian almost a year ago, called on all Christians to pray for Liu and Gao's release and for "more people to join the movement to bring peace and salvation to China." She also asked Christians to remember the lives lost each day as a result of China's one-child policy, a death toll that far exceeds the number who died in the Tiananmen crackdown. In September, Chai founded the advocacy group All Girls Allowed to fight the one-child policy and to support women's and babies' rights.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09731.shtml
October 12, 2010
BOSTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Former 1989 student protest leader Chai Ling on Friday hailed the decision to award the 2010 Nobel Peace to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and called for prayers for his release from prison and for the salvation of China.
Chai, who was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, recalled the "bonding experience" of spending the last hours of the movement with Liu on the square in central Beijing.
"Liu Xiaobo and I were in the last group at Tiananmen when the tanks moved in. Together we stood our ground, advocating ... non-violence until the last hour," Ms. Chai said.
She applauded Liu's steadfast efforts in the 21 years since those protests were violently suppressed by the Chinese military. Liu was imprisoned after the 1989 crackdown, and was sentenced again in 2009 to 11 years in prison for co-authoring a declaration, called Charter 08, championing political reform, greater human rights, and an end to one-party rule in China.
Chai called the Nobel Committee's decision "a milestone" and said she was "thankful for the Nobel peace prize committee for finally standing up and doing the right thing to acknowledge heroes like Liu and what he represents." She expressed the hope that "the Western leadership would follow the Nobel Committee's example and stand up for human rights and the development of a civil society in China."
Chai in particular called on U.S. President Obama, the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner, "to step up the pressure on China" on human rights issues and for the release of Liu and Chinese Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities for defending the persecuted.
Chai, who became a Christian almost a year ago, called on all Christians to pray for Liu and Gao's release and for "more people to join the movement to bring peace and salvation to China." She also asked Christians to remember the lives lost each day as a result of China's one-child policy, a death toll that far exceeds the number who died in the Tiananmen crackdown. In September, Chai founded the advocacy group All Girls Allowed to fight the one-child policy and to support women's and babies' rights.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09731.shtml
Israelis: For every stone Ahmadinejad throws we'll build another home
Residents of Israel's border communities not letting Iranian president's scheduled visit to south Lebanon disrupt their daily routine. 'It is the Lebanese citizens who should be worried,' they say
Ynet reporters
Published: 10.14.10, 13:31 / Israel News
While Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted Israel during his speech in Beirut and received an honorary doctorate from a local university, his wife has been attending various conferences in south Lebanon. The president himself is due to arrive in the area on Thursday.
Azam al-Sadat Farahi, an engineer with a master's degree in education, and other representatives from the Iranian delegation visited the village of Mleeta, where Hezbollah opened the "Museum for Resistance Tourism" a few months ago.
Female supporters of Hezbollah and relatives of terrorists from the Shiite group who were killed during the war with Israel greeted the delegation with flowers, and Ahmadinejad's wife and son signed the village guestbook.
Meanwhile, the residents of Israel's border communities are continuing with their daily routine. "From our homes we can see the boardwalk that was funded by Iran. On better days it is used to gather information on the IDF's activity, and during bad times it will serve as a Hezbollah outpost," said Shimon Biton, secretary of Moshav Avivim.
Ami Dahan, also from Avivim, added, "There were reports that the Iranian president was planning to approach the border fence and throw stones. For every stone he throws, we will build another home and plant a new tree.
"Those who should be worried are the residents of south Lebanon. They suffered abuse at the hands of the Syrian regime for 40 years, and now they may fall victim to the abuse of an extremist Iranian regime. When looking over the fence you don't see symbols of an independent Lebanese state, but flags of Hezbollah and Iran, which are tightening their grip on the south of the country," he said.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969458,00.html
Ynet reporters
Published: 10.14.10, 13:31 / Israel News
While Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted Israel during his speech in Beirut and received an honorary doctorate from a local university, his wife has been attending various conferences in south Lebanon. The president himself is due to arrive in the area on Thursday.
Azam al-Sadat Farahi, an engineer with a master's degree in education, and other representatives from the Iranian delegation visited the village of Mleeta, where Hezbollah opened the "Museum for Resistance Tourism" a few months ago.
Female supporters of Hezbollah and relatives of terrorists from the Shiite group who were killed during the war with Israel greeted the delegation with flowers, and Ahmadinejad's wife and son signed the village guestbook.
 |
| 'Tightening their grip.' Moshav Avivim (Photo: Avihu Shapira) |
Meanwhile, the residents of Israel's border communities are continuing with their daily routine. "From our homes we can see the boardwalk that was funded by Iran. On better days it is used to gather information on the IDF's activity, and during bad times it will serve as a Hezbollah outpost," said Shimon Biton, secretary of Moshav Avivim.
 | |
| Ahmadinejad's wife (first from left) with Hezbollah supporters |
Ami Dahan, also from Avivim, added, "There were reports that the Iranian president was planning to approach the border fence and throw stones. For every stone he throws, we will build another home and plant a new tree.
"Those who should be worried are the residents of south Lebanon. They suffered abuse at the hands of the Syrian regime for 40 years, and now they may fall victim to the abuse of an extremist Iranian regime. When looking over the fence you don't see symbols of an independent Lebanese state, but flags of Hezbollah and Iran, which are tightening their grip on the south of the country," he said.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969458,00.html
Survey: 17% of Germans believe Jews have 'too much influence'
One in 10 Germans want 'new Fuehrer to lead the country with iron fist'; every third German believes foreign immigrants should be expelled if unemployment becomes problem
Eldad Beck
Published: 10.14.10, 12:21 / Israel News
The "other" Germany - Sixty-five years have passed since the end of the Second World War, but even today it would seem that many Germans still cling to the prejudice and racism which the Nazi party identified with.
A new poll conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation for Political Education, a foundation with close ties to the German Social Democratic party, has found that one in 10 Germans wants "a new Fuehrer to lead the country with an iron fist", and that every third German thinks all foreign immigrants should be expelled from Germany if unemployment becomes a problem. The poll consisted of 2,500 people of different ages. The results were announced on Wednesday.
Some 25% of all respondents expressed racist opinions, and 15.9% said they somewhat understood why a Fuehrer needed to be appointed; 58% of the participants claimed that Germany needed to curb the traditional Muslim lifestyle. As for anti-Semitism, 17.2% of the survey's participants supported the statement that "Jews have too much influence in the world today".
The foundation warned that there was a rise in anti-democratic and racist opinions in Germany, most likely influenced by the recent global economic crisis. In addition, researchers found that racist viewpoints existed not only on the edges of society, meaning the far right, but in all age groups and social classes, with no relation to sex or education.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969418,00.html
Eldad Beck
Published: 10.14.10, 12:21 / Israel News
The "other" Germany - Sixty-five years have passed since the end of the Second World War, but even today it would seem that many Germans still cling to the prejudice and racism which the Nazi party identified with.
A new poll conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation for Political Education, a foundation with close ties to the German Social Democratic party, has found that one in 10 Germans wants "a new Fuehrer to lead the country with an iron fist", and that every third German thinks all foreign immigrants should be expelled from Germany if unemployment becomes a problem. The poll consisted of 2,500 people of different ages. The results were announced on Wednesday.
Some 25% of all respondents expressed racist opinions, and 15.9% said they somewhat understood why a Fuehrer needed to be appointed; 58% of the participants claimed that Germany needed to curb the traditional Muslim lifestyle. As for anti-Semitism, 17.2% of the survey's participants supported the statement that "Jews have too much influence in the world today".
The foundation warned that there was a rise in anti-democratic and racist opinions in Germany, most likely influenced by the recent global economic crisis. In addition, researchers found that racist viewpoints existed not only on the edges of society, meaning the far right, but in all age groups and social classes, with no relation to sex or education.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3969418,00.html
German Military Chief of Staff Visits "Yad Va-Shem" Holocaust Memorial Museum
12 October 2010 , 21:17
The German Military Chief of Staff, General Volker Wieker, toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum on Tuesday (Oct. 12)
The German Military Chief of Staff, General Volker Wieker, toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Jerusalem earlier today (Oct. 12). The IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, accompanied General Weiker on his tour, which included visiting Yad Va-Shem, the Hall of Names and the museums' child commemoration wing, Yad La-Yeled.
Later, General Wieker and Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi placed a wreath to commemorate those killed in the Holocaust in a ceremony that took place in the Hall of Remembrance.
Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi concluded: "I am pleased to stand here today, as the Israeli Chief of the General Staff, next to the commander of the German military, who is visiting Israel for the first time. This visit expresses the special relationship between the IDF and the German military. General Wieker is starting his three day visit in Israel which I am sure will be interesting, professional and productive.”
source: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/10/1203.htm
 |
| ''I am pleased to stand here today, as the Israeli Chief of the General Staff, next to the commander of the German military'' |
The German Military Chief of Staff, General Volker Wieker, toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum on Tuesday (Oct. 12)
The German Military Chief of Staff, General Volker Wieker, toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Jerusalem earlier today (Oct. 12). The IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, accompanied General Weiker on his tour, which included visiting Yad Va-Shem, the Hall of Names and the museums' child commemoration wing, Yad La-Yeled.
Later, General Wieker and Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi placed a wreath to commemorate those killed in the Holocaust in a ceremony that took place in the Hall of Remembrance.
Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi concluded: "I am pleased to stand here today, as the Israeli Chief of the General Staff, next to the commander of the German military, who is visiting Israel for the first time. This visit expresses the special relationship between the IDF and the German military. General Wieker is starting his three day visit in Israel which I am sure will be interesting, professional and productive.”
 | |
| The German Chief of Staff lights a candle in memory of those killed in the Holocaust. Photo: IDF Spokesperson |
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Have American Jews lost faith in Obama?
US president's tough stands regarding Israel seems to be taking its toll as US Jews' support in him falters, contributions to Democratic Party drop 65%
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 10.12.10, 07:59 / Israel News
WASHINGTON – Have American Jews given up on US President Barack Obama? Senior members of the US community Jewish have spoken up against Obama's foreign policy regarding Israel, and it what is considered a rarity, have said that should he continue on his current path, they will stop their contributions to the Democratic Party.
Since taking office, it seems as if Obama has lost ground across every sector in the United States, but throughout, he has always enjoyed wide-scale support from US Jews.
Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told the Huffington Post that although the US president enjoyed a 78% support rate among American Jews at the time of his election, he has now lost about a third.
According to the report, the Obama administration has annoyed Jewish leaders to the point where they are thinking of sitting out the 2010 election. Federal Election Commission records show contributions to Democratic candidates from the financial sector, where Jews hold important positions, are down 65% from two years ago.
"I started breaking with Obama ten months ago," Martin Peretz, editor in chief of The New Republic, told the Huffington Post, "And I know that a lot of West Coast Jews are also having buyer's remorse."
Hollywood billionaire Haim Saban echoed the sentiment: "The assumption on the part of the Obama administration is that because Jews are liberals, they simply will not vote for Republicans.
"Obama can invite the ten most prolific Jewish campaign bundlers to the White House for a discussion, and give a wonderful speech, and he'll think that this may resolve all his problems with American Jews. And it may – or it may not."
Abraham Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, has voiced his policy concerns to Obama directly. Foxman later said that when the two met, he told the US president that while he agreed with his overall Middle East agenda, the perception was that he was lashing out solely at Israel and exempting the Arabs.
While Obama refuted Foxman's premise, the latter said he still left the meeting feeling that the White House's new strategy was "dangerous."
The Obama administration, said Foxman, believes that if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, the wolf and the lamb shall dwell together and all will be well. To that end, all of his advisors are telling him that he should break away from his predecessors' policies and prove to the Arabs and the Muslims that he is different, that he can distance himself from Israel.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3968020,00.html
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 10.12.10, 07:59 / Israel News
WASHINGTON – Have American Jews given up on US President Barack Obama? Senior members of the US community Jewish have spoken up against Obama's foreign policy regarding Israel, and it what is considered a rarity, have said that should he continue on his current path, they will stop their contributions to the Democratic Party.
Since taking office, it seems as if Obama has lost ground across every sector in the United States, but throughout, he has always enjoyed wide-scale support from US Jews.
Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told the Huffington Post that although the US president enjoyed a 78% support rate among American Jews at the time of his election, he has now lost about a third.
According to the report, the Obama administration has annoyed Jewish leaders to the point where they are thinking of sitting out the 2010 election. Federal Election Commission records show contributions to Democratic candidates from the financial sector, where Jews hold important positions, are down 65% from two years ago.
"I started breaking with Obama ten months ago," Martin Peretz, editor in chief of The New Republic, told the Huffington Post, "And I know that a lot of West Coast Jews are also having buyer's remorse."
Hollywood billionaire Haim Saban echoed the sentiment: "The assumption on the part of the Obama administration is that because Jews are liberals, they simply will not vote for Republicans.
"Obama can invite the ten most prolific Jewish campaign bundlers to the White House for a discussion, and give a wonderful speech, and he'll think that this may resolve all his problems with American Jews. And it may – or it may not."
Abraham Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, has voiced his policy concerns to Obama directly. Foxman later said that when the two met, he told the US president that while he agreed with his overall Middle East agenda, the perception was that he was lashing out solely at Israel and exempting the Arabs.
While Obama refuted Foxman's premise, the latter said he still left the meeting feeling that the White House's new strategy was "dangerous."
The Obama administration, said Foxman, believes that if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, the wolf and the lamb shall dwell together and all will be well. To that end, all of his advisors are telling him that he should break away from his predecessors' policies and prove to the Arabs and the Muslims that he is different, that he can distance himself from Israel.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3968020,00.html
North Korea's Christians face uncertain future under next leader
by Brian HuttPosted: Monday, October 11, 2010, 19:31 (BST)
The chief executive of Release International is calling on Christians to express their solidarity with persecuted believers in North Korea next month.
It is holding a day of worship, prayer and testimony on November 6 to highlight the plight of Christians in the reclusive communist country.
One of the main speakers at the conference is a Christian man who defected from North Korea. He will address delegates on the difficulties faced by Christians there.
With current leader, Kim Jong-il, lining up his son to be his successor, it is not certain whether a change of leadership will improve the situation of Christians, who face arrest, imprisonment, torture and even death for their faith.
"The eyes of the world are currently on North Korea - one of the world's worst abusers of religious freedom," said Andy Dipper, Release CEO.
"Christians are treated without mercy. Up to three generations of Christian families are rounded up and thrown in prison camps to try to eliminate the faith.
"The nation is now grooming its next leader. But the question is, will Kim Jong-un finally put an end to his country's policy of ruthless persecution?"
The conference will also hear testimonies from persecuted Christians in Sri Lanka and Eritrea, while a former missionary to China will explain the challenges experienced by unregistered churches there.
Dipper said the conference was a chance for Christians in the UK to stand with persecuted believers around the world "in spirit" and to be "encouraged by the vitality of their faith".
He said: "We can learn so much about overcoming faith from our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world."
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/north.koreas.christians.face.uncertain.future.under.next.leader/26875.htm
The chief executive of Release International is calling on Christians to express their solidarity with persecuted believers in North Korea next month.
It is holding a day of worship, prayer and testimony on November 6 to highlight the plight of Christians in the reclusive communist country.
One of the main speakers at the conference is a Christian man who defected from North Korea. He will address delegates on the difficulties faced by Christians there.
With current leader, Kim Jong-il, lining up his son to be his successor, it is not certain whether a change of leadership will improve the situation of Christians, who face arrest, imprisonment, torture and even death for their faith.
"The eyes of the world are currently on North Korea - one of the world's worst abusers of religious freedom," said Andy Dipper, Release CEO.
"Christians are treated without mercy. Up to three generations of Christian families are rounded up and thrown in prison camps to try to eliminate the faith.
"The nation is now grooming its next leader. But the question is, will Kim Jong-un finally put an end to his country's policy of ruthless persecution?"
The conference will also hear testimonies from persecuted Christians in Sri Lanka and Eritrea, while a former missionary to China will explain the challenges experienced by unregistered churches there.
Dipper said the conference was a chance for Christians in the UK to stand with persecuted believers around the world "in spirit" and to be "encouraged by the vitality of their faith".
He said: "We can learn so much about overcoming faith from our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world."
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/north.koreas.christians.face.uncertain.future.under.next.leader/26875.htm
Monday, October 11, 2010
Church attacked by militant Muslims in Pakistan
by Staff
October 8, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - On September 18, the Nasri Pentecostal Church in Shah Latif Town, Karachi, Pakistan was attacked and vandalized by militants angered over a threat to burn Qur'ans in the United States earlier this month.
"The church gates were open and the locks broken. The attackers broke open a cupboard and vandalized religious items at around midnight," said Pastor Peter Shahzad. Nine copies of the Bible, three hymn books and three wooden crosses were found burned, and a drum was damaged.
It was the second church attack within a week as countrywide protests continue against American Pastor Terry Jones, who withdrew his threat to burn copies of the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks (see www.persecution.net/dove.htm for more information). (Source: Union of Catholic Asian News)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09726.shtml
October 8, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - On September 18, the Nasri Pentecostal Church in Shah Latif Town, Karachi, Pakistan was attacked and vandalized by militants angered over a threat to burn Qur'ans in the United States earlier this month.
"The church gates were open and the locks broken. The attackers broke open a cupboard and vandalized religious items at around midnight," said Pastor Peter Shahzad. Nine copies of the Bible, three hymn books and three wooden crosses were found burned, and a drum was damaged.
It was the second church attack within a week as countrywide protests continue against American Pastor Terry Jones, who withdrew his threat to burn copies of the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks (see www.persecution.net/dove.htm for more information). (Source: Union of Catholic Asian News)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09726.shtml
Nine believers arrested in Iran
by Staff
October 6, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - Nine believers were recently arrested on the charge of carrying out journalism just outside Hamedan, Iran, according to a broadcast on Iranian State television.
Two of the arrested were reportedly supported by organizations based outside the country, in particular the United States and Great Britain, but their nationalities are unknown.
The other seven detained were reportedly cooperating with "Christian-Zionist organizations" -- a term used in Iranian government culture for evangelical Christians who are benefiting from having access to a number of networks and TV satellite programs for evangelism.
It is reportedly the first time in three decades that the State TV has broadcast news about the arrest of a group of Christians. (Source: Farsi Christian News Network)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09720.shtml
October 6, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - Nine believers were recently arrested on the charge of carrying out journalism just outside Hamedan, Iran, according to a broadcast on Iranian State television.
Two of the arrested were reportedly supported by organizations based outside the country, in particular the United States and Great Britain, but their nationalities are unknown.
The other seven detained were reportedly cooperating with "Christian-Zionist organizations" -- a term used in Iranian government culture for evangelical Christians who are benefiting from having access to a number of networks and TV satellite programs for evangelism.
It is reportedly the first time in three decades that the State TV has broadcast news about the arrest of a group of Christians. (Source: Farsi Christian News Network)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09720.shtml
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