But for all that one reads in the various headlines, that is not the main news story coming out of Israel. We all already know here – even if you foreigners don’t – that if you do not go to war with the intent of destroying the enemy, you will not win. That is one of the many lessons of the Vietnam War, not to mention the Falklands War, the invasion of Iraq in 1991, and 2003, and the war we were forced to fight last summer. This is all old news here – except for the “crime minister” and his flunkies. They are a little slow on the uptake, and more than a little behind on the learning curve.
No.
The big story comes in whispers. When I stood guard Sunday near the Prime Minister’s Office (really the equivalent of the Executive Office Building in D.C.), a passing fellow started to tell me in a very quiet voice, “My son is near Gaza. You know when he got to his base, there were no supplies; no bullets, no artillery shells, barely any rifles, no underwear, no food, no water – nothing.”
When standing guard at the village gate a couple of months ago, a young kid was telling me of his experiences in Lebanon last year; what the man talking to me about on Sunday was describing was the exact same logistical nightmare we faced in last year’s war with (it really hurts to type this) HizbAllah.
How many Winograd Commissions does it take to drive home the point that an army moves on its stomach? How many Winograd Commissions does it take to make the point that a base must be equipped properly if the soldiers operating from it are to succeed?
How many times must we see the same traitors setting up our military, the cream of our youth and the binding force of the nation, to lose in battle – making sure that they are demoralized at best and at worst, dead – before we get up on our hind legs and denounce the traitors at the top and give them the hanging rope they so richly deserve?
Article comments
1 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Ynet News (Yediot AHronot) reports that a woman was killed by a rocket fired on S'derot by the Arabs this evening. The woman killed in the attack suffered from injuries to her limbs and stomach. She was evacuated by a Magen David Adom crew to the Barzilay Medical Center in Ashkelon, where she died from her wounds. Another man injured by shrapnel was also evacuated to hospital. Twelve people were treated for shock.
2 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Arutz Sheva reports that Hamas intends to extend rocket attacks to Judea and Samaria.
Excerpted from the above article:
Media reports quoted a senior Hamas leader as saying that the terrorist organization intends to wipe Israel off the map, echoing an oft-repeated vow by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has referred to Israel as a malignant tumor.
Hamas has recently become the beneficiary of generous funding, training and other support from Iran as well as its partner in Lebanon, the Hizbullah terror organization.
Soviet-made Grad missiles, with a 22-km range, have been added to the Gaza arsenal, as have Katyusha rockets, which were fired at northern Israel by Hizbullah in last summer’s Second Lebanon War.
3 - Franco
Heated war and debate is raging over who owns the land upon which modern Jerusalem sits.
In Genesis 17:8, God said to Abraham, "I will give to you and to your seed after you, the land wherein you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
God promised Abraham the land would be his for an everlasting possession. Yet - and this is a key point - according to the New Testament, God actually "gave him [Abraham] none inheritance in it [the literal land], no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised him he would give it to him as an everlasting possession" (Acts 7:5).
The answer is in Hebrews 11. Abraham "sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country… with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise… for he looked for a city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God…, these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off… they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth … but now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly" (verses 9-16, italics added).
This can only be realized through the death and resurrection of Abraham's primary "seed" who, according to Paul, is Jesus Christ Himself (Gal. 3:16).
These verses prove that the primary land Abraham was looking for was the same land he physically dwelt in, but in a renovated state. The same is true of all the Old Testament believers, for Hebrews 11 also refers to Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samuel and "all the prophets" (verse 32), saying they all "received not the promise" (verse 39) of the land as an "everlasting possession."
Thus - and don't miss this point! - even though these Old Testament saints lived in the physical land of Canaan, they still waited for the future fulfillment of God's "land" promise to Abraham. Throughout their entire lives they were yet "strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13.
Apart from this, we must always keep in mind that the New Testament clearly reveals that the ultimate hope of Abraham and the Old Testament saints was not the sin-cursed earth upon which modern Jerusalem sits, but The Primary Land - the same land cleansed from sin - which all God's faithful children will someday inherit as an "everlasting possession" through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Abraham's primary "seed" (Galatians 3:16).
Just some thoughts Ruvy...
4 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
This is not the appropriate forum for a debate over religious texts an their interpretation - especially as you are bringing one to the table that is not in my possession - the Greek text of the Christians.
But - as to your assertions in that text, the bottom line is that Abraham did find the city of Shalém, whose ruler Melkhitzédek was a priest of the Living G-d, and a likely ancestor of Abraham. This city is now the city of Jerusalem, and is far more ancient than you realize, and far more ancient than the authors of that Greek text that is the foundation of Christianity realized as well.
The Torah is a lot deeper than you realize.
Nevertheless, in this messianic game of blind draw p0ker, I do not expect you to fold your hand and throw in your cards - just yet.
5 - Franco
#4 �" Ruvy in Jerusalem
This is not the appropriate forum for a debate over religious texts and their interpretation
Ruvy, you are the one who set the forum and stage for debate over religious texts and their interpretation and I am only commenting on what you stated. I sight the following from your article.
"Of course the real “why” is a little deeper than all of their nonsense; yet it is a lot simpler."
"Whether Jews want to admit this or not (and many refuse to admit this at all), we have succeeded in our efforts in returning home to Israel in order to fulfill Divine Prophecy. It is all that simple."
You refer to the Greek text of the Christians twice. Once sighting that these texts are not in your possession. And another sighting that these Greek texts are somehow short sighted in their historic understanding as how ancient Jerusalem is. And you support your premise by saying The Torah is a lot deeper than I or the Greek translators realize.
Ruvy, the Christian Faith originates from among the Jews. It’s not the other way around. The fact that the Mishnaic Hebrew and Judaeo-Aramaic writings have been translated by the Greeks is of little consequence concerning your comment.
Bottom line. The Old Testament translated by the Greeks dose not cancel out anything nor adds anything in the Hebrew Torah, not a single thing either way. I defy you to show anything that the Old Testament cancels out or changes in the laws of Moses as laid out in the Torah. However if you do not have access to these Greek translations and or have not read them yourself, then how would you know?. Surely someone in Jerusalem has a copy you can read.
The Christian Old Testament is the same as the Jewish Tenach. Since the Old Testament is three times as long as the New Testament, 75% of our Bible is the same as yours. That is a lot of common heritage.
Ruvy, can we agree that Judaism refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible as the Torah. (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
Can we agree that these 5 books of the Hebrew Bible, the Torah, tells us of the prophets being sent by God, spiritually preparing the ground in the Jewish nation for building and taking possion of the promisted land and establishing God's Kingdom for the Jews and for all nations and peoples and everything G-d wanted to tell the world concerning His laws and mans salvation He told the world through the Jews.
Can we agree the the path of spiritual development of the Jewish people was not smooth. That there were times of spiritual growth and prosperity, as well as times of decreased interest to religion and even apostasy, which you seem to be referring to in today’s Israel in your article.
My point is my earlier post is this. The Jewish Bible, the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses brings us to the end of the forty-year-long journey of the Jewish nation through the desert of the Sinai Peninsula. While in the desert, the Israelites were renewed spiritually and strengthened in their faith in God. It was now time for the Jews to inherit the land, which God had promised to their righteous ancestors - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The book of Joshua tells us of how the Jews, led by a disciple of Moses, Joshua the son of Nun, conquered the Promised Land. Up until that time the Promised Land was populated by Canaanites, the descendants of Ham, for which reason the land was called the land of Canaan.
You are correct in sighting Genesis 14: 18-20 the bottom line is that Abraham did find the city of Shalém, whose ruler Melkhitzédek was a priest of the Living G-d
It is also sighted in Hebrews 7:1-10
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Ruvy, who was the Melchisdec priest that Abraham meet? Have you ever read John 8:50-59
6 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Franco,
As I wrote you earlier, in this messianic game of blind draw p0ker, I do not expect you to fold your hand and throw in your cards - just yet.
I see you have matched my quarter and raised me a half dollar. Let's draw a card.
Melkhitzedek, according to the Talmud, was a man named Shem, the son of Noah who was the ancestor of the Semites. But let me take a guess. Your book asserts that Melkhitzedek was Jesus.
Franco, if this was all a matter for academic debate, it would be a pleasure to debate you. But it is not a matter of academic debate. It is a matter of power, destiny and control. The Catholic Church is watching this game of blind draw messianic p0ker, and as its wont, is looking for the opportunity to overturn the table and collect the chips.
So, what are they up to? They are up to getting control of Mount Zion, the Dormition Abbey in particular, and installing the next pope from there. They managed to wangle from Shim'on Peres a promise of control of the Old City in 1994, a fact that was published in La Stampa that year, and finally exposed in the Hebrew press in 1996.
Shim'on Peres is presently trying to get himself elected as president here. Only a blind man would fail to see that this country has a very weak government, and with Olmert about to be barbecued, someone will have to step in as the "rescuer." I'm suggesting that this someone will be Peres, whom the glitterati of the New World Order have been trying to install as leader here for over a decade, nearly succeeding in doing so over Rabin's dead body in 1995.
Presidential elections here (by the Knesset) are in three weeks. See if you can figure out how many people are actually running for president.
This is what else I'm suggesting. Note the weakness of the IDF pointed out here and also in this Desicritics article I posted a day or two ago.
Peres, should he succeed to the presidency, nominally a powerless position, will wangle a situation where his power will be considerably greater than it ought to be, and will invite foreign EU and NATO troops in to restore peace and order, posing as the "savior of the nation."
Along with the EU troops, all armed to the teeth, will come a huge Vatican contingent, with the aim of collecting on Peres' 1994 promise. The Vatican has been building at a furious pace in J-lem, and they do not spend money for nothing.
So, the next pope, according to many Catholic traditions, the man who will be the last pope, will be able to say to the world, "from Zion comes forth the law." The Bishop of Rome will rule from Jerusalem. Thus the table of messianic draw p0ker is overturned and the Catholic Church asserts primacy in the Christian world, using the puppet regime of Peres as its witness, and as its tool.
That is their agenda. It is not the only agenda, but it is their agenda.
7 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
After threatening to attack Israel from Judea and Samaria three days ago the Arabs are playing the Western "Skin Flute" in response to Israel's arrest of a passel of top Hamasniks. "Hamas wants to stop the Kassam rockets. They are especially worried about reports that Israel may assassinate [PA Prime Minister] Ismail Haniyeh and [Hamas chief] Khaled Mashaal," the officials told The Jerusalem Post.
Darn! Now the Americans are going to get all over Olmert's ass to ease up on the poor bastards - just when we'd have the opportunity to send them to meet all those virgins in heaven - Jewish virgins with teeth in their vaginas, LOL...
8 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Honestreporting.com reports on the slanted and biased coverage of this war, and of the bombardment of S'derot by Hamas.
Particularly pertinent to this site are these comments on the BBC:
Meanwhile, British commentator Stephen Pollard comments on the BBC's coverage:
How the BBC's journalists must have missed not being able to distort the situation in Gaza over the past few months. How they must be relieved to have the opportunity once more.
Here's how its website reported the IDF strike on Gaza:
Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on Tuesday after a six-month lull. It followed several rocket attacks on Israel.
Several? Several?
COMPARE AND CONTRAST - BLOODSHED IN LEBANON
The current bloodshed in Lebanon has made international headlines as the Lebanese Army battles Islamic terrorists in a Palestinian refugee camp. The world's press has been generally sympathetic towards the Lebanese actions. The Associated Press has even gone as far as to use the words "terror" and "terrorists" in one of its reports. This, despite the increasing number of civilian deaths caused by both sides, including seemingly indiscriminate shelling by the Lebanese Army.
------------------------
So much for the unbiased coverage of the western media, may they burn in the lying papers they sell. The full article can be read at the link.
9 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency Reports that Israelis are sour on peace prospects, but buried deep in the article is the real news.
Let's rub your noses in my predictions of what would happen:
"In the sort of stark policy reversal that observers see as evidence of the desperation for a way out of the crisis, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is pressing for the deployment of an international force on the Palestinian side of the Gazan-Egyptian border to stop arms smuggling. In a break from Israel’s traditional opposition to any international presence in Palestinian territory, she envisages a force modeled along the lines of the 11,000-strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon contingent patrolling the Lebanese border with Israel, with a similarly 'robust' mandate to stop arms smuggling into Gaza from Egypt."
The "international force" is ready and waiting - off the coast of Lebanon.
10 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Let's rub your noses in some more of my predictions. On 21 May I wrote,
The postcolonial idiots have been a bit slow in coming but sure enough they have arrived
The Jerusalem Post reports that the UN "human rights investigator" a one-sided post-colonialist from South Africa, calls for the Quartet to recognize Hamas and
And since nobody else seems to be reading this, Chris, can you please ask the editorial staff where my news article, submitted 03:30 EST is?
11 - sr
Ruvy my friend continue on with the great fight and G-d bless. It's hard to get the news from the drive-by- media because their priorities are Anna Nicole Smith, Cindy Shithan and Fat Rosie. O well if this helps inform our women voters it must be a good thing. G-d help the USA.
12 - Courtney F
the other county Need to leave Israel along cause It is God county and the U.S.A need to help Israel out cause it is and always be God county and me and other christians are praying for Israel and let God have it was..
13 - Dr Dreadful
What d'you think, Ruvy? Fancy slapping on a badge and being the Sheriff of God County?
:-)
14 - Ruvy
First, let me thank Courtney for his prayers and kind wishes. It is support like this, typing errors and all, that we appreciate most, because it comes from his heart, and not some calculated strategy or over-intellectualized theorizing.
Now let's look at the news that just came in on my e-mail from Yeshiva World News.
Olmert Agrees to Oust 60,000 Residents of Yehuda and Shomron
Yehuda and Shomron is the Hebrew name for Judea and Samaria. I live in Samaria. This is what I read in the article. I'll translate some of the Hebrew names for those of you who are Hebrew-challenged.
A few points for you all to comprehend, including the descendant of Viking warriors who suggests I pin on a badge and go to war.
1. Olmert, the consummate ass-kisser, knows that without some big-shot from overseas to somehow make his civil sins go away, he is going to jail in well deserved disgrace once his parliamentary immunity disappears and Bibi Netanyahu takes office.
2. All of the "leading" candidates for prime minister, Netanyahu included, understand what is really going on here. Olmert "commits" Israel, sort of, to expelling 60,000 of its citizens from land it refused to annex in 1967-8, fearing to annex the Arabs who came with it. When Netanyahu takes office, he howls and growls, and beats the table, like the strong nationalist he wishes he was - and in the end - he caves.
3. Netanyahu caves because he thinks there is no way he can get an Israeli army to kick out 60,000 fellow citizens - and invites a combined force of EU and American soldiers to do the job for him.
Bottom line,
BobDD. When the Greeks tried to get the Jews in Modi'im to "go with the flow" and "get with the program" and stop circumcising their sons, stop following the Sabbath and generally abandon the basic elements of what makes us Jews, an old man was willing to do just that and sacrifice a pig to an idol as commanded. And Matatyahu Hashmonai, who was a priest who had left the Sanhedrin in disgust, saw: he took his sword and ran it through the old man, killed the Greek soldier by the idol, and raised his bloody sword in the air, and declared, "who is for G-d and Israel, to me!"If that's what it takes, and it falls to me to do it, then that is what I will do. I prefer it be someone else, but I cannot shrink from my obligation to G-d and to my people, and especially to all of my ancestors who could have turned their backs on the G-d of Israel and their fellow Jews and become goyim.
This land - all of it from the Mediterranean to the Jordan, and in G-d's good time, beyond the Jordan to the Euphrates - will be under the rule of the Children of Israel.
15 - Christopher Rose
Ruvy, did you just threaten to kill members of the Israeli government?
16 - zingzing
go, religious fervor! woo-hoo! kill! kill!
17 - zingzing
ruvy: "And Matatyahu Hashmonai, who was a priest who had left the Sanhedrin in disgust, saw: he took his sword and ran it through the old man, killed the Greek soldier by the idol, and raised his bloody sword in the air, and declared, "who is for G-d and Israel, to me!""
he-man: "Fabulous secret powers were revealed to me the day I held aloft my magic sword and said, "By the power of Grayskull... I have the power!""
is there a connection?
18 - Dr Dreadful
All I did was make a joke based on Courtney's (who is probably a she, BTW, Ruvy) amusing typo.
I suppose next time I go to the supermarket deli counter and ask for half a pound of lean turkey ham, I should expect from the clerk a ten-minute diatribe on the humane slaughter of livestock and hygienic meat processing methods.
(Interestingly, the county I live in actually is almost as big as Israel!)
19 - zingzing
wow, courtney obviously doesn't speak english.
20 - Roger Nowosielski
Funny you should say that, Doc. I'm in Christian county, KY. How I got here, don't ask. Probably the only apostate.
21 - Dr Dreadful
I'm in Christian county, KY. How I got here, don't ask.
An uncontrollable craving for fried chicken?
22 - Roger Nowosielski
Heck, no! Just nicotine. My check's not coming in until the first, so I've got two more days of nicotine-withdrawals. Meanwhile, my brain is a mush.
23 - Dr Dreadful
A lifelong and until now unrealized dream of being a jockey, then?
24 - Ruvy
All I did was make a joke based on Courtney's (who is probably a she, BTW, Ruvy) amusing typo.
Poor DD!
You didn't see what I saw, which was the article that came in the same time I saw your comment. The two ideas - rebellion against the state, and "putting on a badge" are not dissimilar - except that the rebellion requires a whole new badge.... You did see the article, didn't you?
So, I took your little joke (yes, I knew it was a joke) and carried it to its logical conclusion. When I lived in Jerusalem, my comments about killing another Jew if that is what it came to, all would have been just empty bragging, as zing suggested (and therefore, I likely would not have posted it at all). But now, I live in the Shomron, and could easily be one of the 60,000 Jews targeted for expulsion. I may very well have to make good my words.