HizbAllah did what I expected and reasserted its control over south Lebanon, barring UN access to a good part of the territory under its control. Last week, there was a confrontation between a German ship in the huge flotilla off Lebanon and two Israeli F16’s. And there has been a major change adopted in the Israeli system of government. The next president will be a powerful official in the government.
At the end of September, events began moving in a direction that did not surprise me, except for their speed in developing.
Two or three battle groups of the American fleet started sailing for this part of the world, in what ostensibly were to be battle exercises, called “war games.” They arrived here a few days ago, which is when DEBKAfiles reported on them. At first they were announced to be part of what the Americans had called them, “war games.” But on 30 October, DEBKAfiles was singing a different tune.
Some of the words of the new song go like this:
Hundreds of US and allied war ships foregathered in the strategic seas of the Middle East and India in the last days of October 2006 for two primary missions: To prepare for a US-led military strike against Iran which has stepped up its uranium enrichment program with a second centrifuge project - undeterred by the prospect of UN sanctions; and measures to fend off palpable al Qaeda threats to oil targets.
It is highly doubtful that Al Qaeda will strike at oil targets owned by the family of ibn Sa’úd, the thugs who rule Arabia. They are two branches of the same outfit, the Wahhabi war machine that is trying to spread its version of “Islam” using every method possible. But you cannot convince secular intelligence analysts who dismiss religion of this. In their eyes, everything has a price and all one need do is to discover the price and find a way to pay the price, and whatever one desires is theirs. War in the service of a messianic ideal, such as we see from Iran, or war based on conscience and long range planning, such as we see out of Saudi Arabia, is just not within the mind-set of the secular Jews in DEBKAfiles. All they understand is money and power. It should never be forgotten that DEBKAfiles is the Mossad’s back door news service.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - John Bambenek
The claim that the President will declare martial law and disband the Congress basically neuter this piece into irrelevance.
It won't ever happen...
Even if it does, I will personal raise an army and lead those men into battle to remove any such President who attempts it.
2 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
John, look at the facts around you instead allegations. We shall see shortly if this article is irrelevant.
From DEBKAfiles;
DEBKAfile Exclusive: Iran announces new military exercise, test-fires medium-range ballistic Shehab-3 missile
November 2, 2006, 9:35 AM (GMT+02:00)
DEBKAfile’s military sources report: Iran responded Wednesday night, Nov. 1, to the US-led naval movements and buildup in the in the Red Sea (see separate item) with an announcement by its Revolutionary Guard commander General Rahim Safavi of a big, new naval exercise opening on Nov. 2. Dubbed Great Prophet, the 10-day maneuver will take place in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The RC Air Force would, he said, for the first time test-fire the Shehab-3 armed with “a cluster warhead.”
Our military experts add: This war game will demonstrate whether or not the Shehab-3 stands up to Iran’s boasts of its capabilities, including its effective deployment in large numbers. If so, it will pose a lethal strategic threat to Israel and Iran’s neighbors. Israel’s Arrow anti-missile missile system, developed for defense against the Shehab, is not capable of fending off an attack by large numbers of multiple-warhead missiles.
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Syria accused of plotting to destabilise Lebanon
Financial Times
By Guy Dinmore in Washington and Daniel Dombey and Roula Khalaf in London
Updated: 3:12 a.m. ET Nov. 2, 2006
The US on Wednesday said it had mounting evidence that Syria, Iran and Hizbollah were planning to "topple" the elected Lebanese government and told them to keep their "hands off".
The US warning reflects growing concerns that Lebanon's Hizbollah, an armed faction and political party backed by Syria and Iran, is raising the pressure for a change of government, now dominated by pro-western forces.
Related Stories
• US accuses Syria, Iran, Hezbollah on Lebanon
• Hezbollah sets deadline for new Lebanon government
--------------------------------------------------
Read further at the link above.
Will this be the trip wire that America uses to attack Iran?
4 - DENNIS PETERSON
ISRAEL IS THE COUNTRY WHO IS GOING TO WASTE IRAN WITH BUNKER BUSTERS .IRAN IS ASKING FOR IT.NOW THERE GOING TO GET IT.IT'S TOO NOT A WISE IDEA FOR US TO DO IT. THOUGH THEY LIKE TOO.
5 - Bliffle
Ruvi: "...spitting in G-d's face..."
This lurid metaphor seems to be a favorite expression of yours. What is the significance?
6 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Bliffle,
G-d, of course, does not have a face. G-d is an Entity beyond our understanding. So, it is literally impossible to spit in G-d's face. The significance is to demonstrate the arrogant attitude of mere humans in dealing with a patient, long-suffering Creator Who will soon impose His order on us creatures and begin their final judgment.
7 - gonzo marx
oh Ruvy...
last time we will *talk* like this...but reading this piece, i just couldn't resist...
in your Opening you cite "Bila'am, the seer hired by King Balak of Moav to curse the Children of Israel,"
now, riddle me this...ig asll is as you say, then how does this mercenary Prophesy? and what possible power and weight can his prophesy and *curse* possibly have against the "Chosen"?
flies in the face of Logic and the scrictures of the first Commandment
just a Thought
the last bit, is your feelings towards those gays and their wanting to march, and it being some spittle hurled at *deity*
this link... videosift takes you to a bit of fiction, where one character completely shreds the relevance of Leviticus to modern day existence , but using quotes from Leviticus to prove his Argument
all my best to you and yours, Ruvy..and my sincere Hopes that someday you Awaken from the nightmare
Excelsior?
8 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Nowhere in the Bible is ist written that only Hebrews get the power of prophecy, and it specifically cites Bila'am as an evil man who feared G-d. He's hired by King Balak to curse the Children of Israel and he consistently tells Balak's emissaries that he can ony say that which G-d puts in his mouth to say.
He goes along with Balak's emissaries and tells this to the king himself - who (in a fashion typical of modern Israelis) does not listen to him at all. Only after wasting some some 21 bulls and getting three blessings upon Israel instead of the curses he had sought, does he wise up. And that is when Bila'am pronounces the prophecy that frames this essay. So we Jews prize the praise out of the mouth of an enemy.
But the bottom line is that his prophecy appears to be coming true. Americans (and their big ships from the coast of Kittim) have been afflicting Assyria for fifteen years now, and now they are moving in on "the other shore" in a big way.
I may have the specifics wrong here - but it will only be a short time before American missiles fly to afflict "the other shore."
9 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
It looks like the cops here are really getting nervous. They are afraid to cancel the "pride parade" but on the other hand, they know they have not got the power to protect the homosexual marchers (many of whom support the Arabs against us) in Jerusalem aqainst very angry Jews who have finally drawn a line in the sand.
So they are withholding the permits needed to hold the parade. Very typical avoidance behavior of Israelis.
If the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments of many who wish to march here get out, the marchers are likely to be torn to bits by an angry mob that has
just too much of the secular hatred shit stuffed down their throats by the courts, the government, the media and the police.
Firing point blank into that mob will spark a revolution here, and that is the last thing that the police want.
10 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Well, I tried, but the links in the last comment didn't work, so:
Gay parade tensions rise in Tel Aviv
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS AND JPOST.COM STAFF
The windows of the Geulot Israel synagogue on Tel Aviv's Shenkin Street were smashed overnight Wednesday, and the words, "If we can't march in Jerusalem, you won't walk in Tel Aviv," were spray-painted on the synagogue walls, police said.
A police investigation was underway, as well as a search for the perpetrators of the vandalism.
# Religious gays keep faith despite hatred
The synagogue attack was likely a response to outcries on the part of the religious community, which have escalated into riots in Israel's capital city against the planned Gay Pride Parade, scheduled to take place in Jerusalem on November 11.
Meanwhile, ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav filed a petition with the High Court of Justice on Thursday against the intention to hold the November 10 parade.
Meshi-Zahav is asking the court to order the police not to authorize the parade since, according to the ZAKA head, it would lead to violent protests and would put the public at risk.
For the second day in a row, about one hundred haredim rioted in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood on Wednesday against next week's planned parade, police said.
The protesters pelted police and motorists with
stones, and set garbage bins on fire blocking traffic in the street, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said.
Two demonstrators suspected of attacking a cab and bus driver who chanced upon the demonstration were arrested by police.
Three police officers were lightly wounded by stones during the violent protest.
Eight of the demonstrators were detained by police for allegedly taking part in the violence.
Meanwhile, Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco met late Wednesday night with officials in the State Attorney's office to discuss the legal justifications of banning the parade.
Earlier Wednesday, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said that next week's planned parade in Jerusalem would be cancelled if the event severely disrupts police operations.
His comments were the clearest indication to date that police were weighing banning the event -- or at least curtailing it -- amidst mounting public opposition and threats of violence.
A final police decision on the parade is expected in the coming days.
The prerogative for issuing permits for public
events rests with police, who could ban the move due to concerns over public safety.
Protests against the parade broke out Tuesday night in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, as hundreds of haredim pelted police with stones and blocks in protest against the planned event.
14 suspects were arrested for allegedly taking part in the violence.
The debate over the event, which is slated to take
place next Friday, mirrors a similar controversy
over this summer's planned international gay parade in Jerusalem, which was eventually cancelled due to the war in Lebanon.
The burgeoning opposition to the local city parade has again united an unusual cross-party and inter-faith coalition of Conservative Orthodox Rabbis, Muslims, and Christians who call the event a deliberate affront and provocation to millions of believers around the world.
Supporters of the parade counter that freedom of
speech enables them to hold the event in Jerusalem, as a symbol of tolerance and pluralism, even if theirs is the view of the minority of residents in the city.
The two-year-old public debate over the holding the international gay parade in Jerusalem in the last two years has only served to intensify the struggle over the local parade.
The local organizers of the event, still smarting over having to cancel two international parades in the city in as many years, have appealed to the High Court of Justice to to force police to approve the local event, while haredi and religious opponents of the parade have warned police of plans for a massive "million-strong" counter-protest against the event in an effort to show that the parade poses a danger to public safety and is a threat to peace.
Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Yaacov Edri condemned the threats of violence, but said the event was not fitting for Jerusalem.
He has repeatedly urged organizers to relocate the
parade to a different city.
The parade is slated to take place through the streets of central Jerusalem, and will not enter religious neighborhoods, or the Old City.
If police decide to ban the event, they would need to explain their reasoning to the High Court of Justice.
The annual local parade, which draws several thousand participants every year, has been the source of repeated debate, with many religious city councilors and a not insignificant number of largely-traditional city residents considering such an event inappropriate for a "holy" city.
The organization has held four previous gay parades in the city.
The last gay parade in the city was marred by violence after a haredi attacker stabbed three participants in the event.
The assailant is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence.
--------------------------------------------------
Police withhold permits for Gay Pride parade amid ultra-Orthodox protest
By Yair Ettinger
It is still unclear if the Gay Pride march will be held, and the police are withholding permits for next Friday's planned Jerusalem event, but the ultra-Orthodox community is bustling with protest activities. However, community sources believe they are mostly aimed at creating public pressure and deterring authorities from allowing the events to take place. The police had claimed the protests were to take place at the event itself.
Plans to hold the gay pride event generate rare moments of unity among various religious circles.
One of the Jerusalem "war rooms" this week houses cooperation between anti-Zionist extremists Neturei Karta and extreme right-wingers. Even more dramatic is a poster slated for publication today or tomorrow signed by the most important ultra-Orthodox rabbis. Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox leader Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Sephardic ultra-Orthodox leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef will call for protest against "the evil mob seeking to defile the holy city of Jerusalem." They call on "every Jew who fears for the dignity of his holy Torah and the dignity of the holy city of Jerusalem to protest against the abomination in the holy city in particular and the holy land in general."
In the extreme ultra-Orthodox community, a poster was published yesterday by the heads of its own rabbinical court - the Eda Haredit rabbinical court - calling on the public to "protest and demonstrate against evildoers and their sponsors," alluding to Mayor Uri Lupolianski, Elyashiv's protege.
The rabbis, including Eda Haredit rabbinical court head Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss, call for demonstrations next Friday and doing everything possible to prevent the parade. They warn of "evil plots that the evil, impure and sinful people are scheming to defile and desecrate the holy city of Jerusalem with abomination and ugliness."
Yesterday anti-gay activist Rabbi Yehuda Levin landed in Israel claiming to represent U.S. rabbis who seek to prevent the parade. He was warmly welcomed in extreme Jerusalem circles and met with Eda Haredit leaders. Levin said he targets not just the parade but the "homosexual threat" and against the activities of parade-organizer Jerusalem Open House. "A large population wants to fight efforts to make our society homosexual," he said.
Last night small groups of youth congregated in Mea She'arim, and tried to block roads. A more organized protest is expected in the neighborhood today.
Senior ultra-Orthodox sources said there is some cooperation with the Muslim community, mostly from a distance, without any joint organization. But the ultra-Orthodox take pride in the understanding between conservative elements in both communities surrounding the pride parade. A Jerusalem poster recently stated "Arabs and Jews against the evil ones of the parade of filth," and one-time Shas house singer Nissim Shemia yesterday recorded a duet with an Arab performer. In the song, the pair threaten that "Jerusalem will burn" if the parade is held.
11 - JustOneMan
Be warned this is a clear sign of what is yet to come. Last night at closing time at Moes Deli in NE Philly a sign of the Ai Babba as formed when Moe dropped a pickle jar...he immediately began to say the following prophetic verse of the old testament, cica 1970's. Head these words!
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius Aquarius! Aquarius!
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revalation And the mind's true liberation Aquarius! Aquarius!
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius Aquarius! Aquarius!
Remember Larry begat Curly who begat Shemp who begat Moe..who begat Curly Joe (who I never really liked"
12 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
The main thrust of this article is the distinct possibility of a war starting this coming week and its conseqences. But, as my article on Judaism and homosexuality is not done, and as the pagan provocation labelled as a "pride parade" plays a role in this article, I thought it worth while to forward here this analysis of the supporters of the "pride parade" in Jerusalem that is as yet scheduled (the police are withholding the permits - see comment #10, the second article).
This article, IT ALL BEGINS WITH A FORD was written by Barry Chamish and published yesterday, 2 November 2006.
In it, he traces the funding for the "Open House" organization sponsoring this march as well as other Ford Foundation projects in this country.
The government here (and its extension, the Ministry of Police) is scared shitless of offending the Ford Foundation. In this sick import of the Polish shtetl culture, if you're a goy, the Jews in charge bow and scrape low; if you are a Jew, they view you as the same kike they view themselves as, and feel free to stomp on you.
13 - MAOZ
Ruvy, take a lot at this if you haven't seen it already:
Shabbat shalom!
14 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
MAOZ,
Thanks for the link. It gives one pause, considering that the Nazis were truly an evil force in 'western civilation.'
Shabbat Shalom, dude
15 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
A note for you all. Since the pagan provocation "pride parade" scheduled for Friday has been ORDERED to be allowed to go on by the little prick who has the title "attorney general" in Israel, I would expect G-d to show a grim sense of humor.
Look at all this from an Arab or Moslem point of view, the point of view of a Moslem who takes his faith seriously and who is thoroughly disgusted by these goings on.
Moslems call Jerusalem Al Quds (the Hebrew equivalent is "haQodesh") "the holy one".
In that person's eyes, "not only are the filthy Zionist occupiers occupying our Holy City, which is bad enough, they are hauling in their fag whores in to parade naked in the Holy City, AND they are doing it on the same day that we gather in the Al Aqsa mosque to pray. Damn them, double damn them, triple damn them, they deserve to die for their desecrations against Allah!"
Hmmm... Wouldn't it be interesting if Hizballah (actually Iran) decided to start an attack on Israel during this parade? And wouldn't it be even more interesting if one of their missiles fell on it?
From my own point of view, this parade is a pagan provocation. It has nothing to do with whether two men who are homosexuals fulfull their normal human desires behind closed doors, the way most of humanity practices sex. But now let's look at it from the point of view of someone with the globalist mentality of viewing all human beings as nothing more than "human capital," units who produce and consume, and whose sole role in life is to make the übermenschen (the lucky members of the real upper class in the west) rich. These would be the boys (ands girls) at the very top of the Ford Foundation and organizations similar to it.
One tactic of accomplishing this is to break loyalties to any entity other than those entities approved by this globalist group. IN this paradigm, religious people, particlularly those who believe in Judaism, Christianity or Islam, are nothing more than "faithists," if I may steal a term from our own Chris Rose, and who are a danger to society because they place their 'faith', if you will, really their trust and their loyalty, in something other than the sources of knowledge and wisdom recognized by these globalist groups.
A second tactic is to break up the traditional family unit that has been the basic unit of humanity for millennia, so that you have atomized lonely individuals who do what they are instructed, and who can be addicted to drugs to make them dependent on the products of the society around them.
The drugs can be coffee (to which I'm addicted,) liquor, wine, cocaine, marijuana or hashish, morphine, glue, gasoline, sex, pornography. Now look at the culture around you, particularly the one emanating out of the USA. While there are overlying messages of looking out for one's health and idividual responsibility, the underlying ones are of being addicted to the various drugs above described and of living a life dominated by pursuing immediate pleasures.
Look at the divorce rates, the amount of pornography and the levels of illegitimacy of children in Europe, America and many other countries, and you see the success of this campaign.
This parade, and others like it, are important in pushing values that are very much at variance with the ones of responsibility, righteousness, and sense of seeking to secure the future that make a family prosperous.
This parade, like most others like it today, celebrates hedonism and immediate self-fulfillment. It is the kind of activity one would see at a pagan temple in ancient Canaan - where people engaged in sexual orgies of vsaious varieties in an attempt to appease "gods" and get things for themselves. Let's look at a comment by a fellow who wrote in to this article at Desicritics.org. This is from the first comment there.
"Do any of you that are old enough, or have at least watched footage of these marches, ever recall anyone behaving in a sexually exploitive manner? Do any of you remember anyone marching without being fully clothed? Do any of you remember anyone pride fully exposing their countless nipple piercings and many with the backs of their pants cut out for the sole purpose of exposing their bare rear ends? Does anyone really and truthfully believe that these behaviors are going to further the rights for gays? On the contrary, all these 'parades' do is to deepen the age-old stereotypes of gays and their sexually exploitive lifestyles. Being a gay man myself, I am embarrassed at these parades, and let's call them what they are. They are parades, not marches, which are organized for the purpose of exploiting the exhibitionists and their desire to be a part of just another party. It seems to me that gay culture has reduced itself to this need for endless partying and delighting over inappropriate street theater. There is a time and place for theater of all kinds. However, let's not blur the lines or fool ourselves into believing that these parades are going to benefit anyone other than the voyeuristic nature of those that enjoy inappropriate street theater. If gays really and truly want to make progress in regards to equal rights, then perhaps we ought to borrow some very important lessons from the days the civil rights movements under the leadership of Martin Luther King and his style of furthering the common cause that they all shared."
16 - Christopher Rose
Ruvy, so if it doesn't kick off by November 9, will you admit that you're talking complete nonsense or will you come up with yet another excuse?
To my mind, a march like Pride is a welcome sign of humanity shaking off it's repressive religious past and taking some small but significant steps into the blessed light of reason and compassion.
Will you be joining us anytime soon?
17 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Chris, this war is happening - now. Whether it expands to the all out assault I predicted by Friday or Saturday or not is irrelevant. It is not only in the cards, the cards are being dealt out. I only tried to take a reasonable guess as to when it might happen using parameters that I understand.
Other sources in the government and elsewhere, sources that I cannot reveal, indicate that there will be a major war here soon, probably by Hanukkah.
The point is that the American ships in and south of the Persian Gulf are not there for war games, and the Iranian war games are scaring the western powers observing them.
And, if I might remind you, war does not kick off like a football game. It is not like last night's football game between Betar Yerushalayim and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The consequences are a lot more permanent.
Two nights ago, a friend of mine in the Border Police participated in the arrest of twenty odd Arabs who could be terrorists. Daily, missiles fly from Gaza and Israeli soldiers have to fight in a place they thought they could withdraw from and forget about. Nine hundred Qassam rockets have flown from Gaza since the expulsion of Israeli citizens from Gush Qatif, and continue to as I write. It is the only by mercy of the Almighty that so few have died from them.
The withdrawal from Gush Qatif was not a step towards peace, but a failure. The assault from HizbAllah is the plain proof that the withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 was a failure. That is the bloody truth, in the most literal sense of the phrase.
Read this article from the
Daily Telegraph
I quote the following from the aricle because it is essential to understand.
Since Israel's reason for existence is to provide a secure base for the Jewish people, and that of the IDF is to act as their shield and safeguard -
functions that have been carried out with high success since 1948 - it is obvious that neither can tolerate a zone of invulnerability occupied by a sworn enemy located directly on Israel's northern border.
It is therefore an easy prediction to foresee that the IDF will - at some time in the near future - reopen its offensive against Hizbollah in south
Lebanon and will not cease until it has destroyed the underground system, even if, in the process, it inflicts heavy damage on the towns and villages
of the region.
It is likely that it will also move against the underground system being constructed in the Gaza Strip. Hamas resupplies itself with arms and
munitions brought from Egypt through those channels. Gaza is a softer target than south Lebanon, since it is an enclave that Israel easily dominates.
Indeed, the IDF may attack Gaza as a distraction from south Lebanon in an effort to make Hizbollah divide its forces and efforts.
Destroying the underground military facilities may be straightforward, but it is likely to create diplomatic complexities, particularly with the UN.
Entering south Lebanon risks provoking a clash with Unifil, the major part of whose strength is provided by France. It is unlikely that such a risk will deter Israel. When national survival is at risk, Israel behaves with extreme ruthlessness. It attacked an American communications ship during the Six-Day War because it objected to America listening in to its most secret signals (this is a distortion by the author; the USS Liberty was attacked because it was listening in to and sending data to Egypt - RiJ).
18 - Christopher Rose
Firstly Ruvy, let me say that you need to be a little more circumspect about your sources.
It was only a few short weeks ago that you were hopping up and down like a Duracell Bunny about a report from the Daily Mail claiming that the BBC had admitted it was biased. As I subsequently demonstrated to you, this right wing newspaper had made it up.
The Daily Telegraph is or was until very recently owned by Jewish people so it is hardly surprising that it, an even more conservative paper than the Mail, should take a pro-Israeli line.
Unless Israel is prepared to either conquer the region or slaughter all the indigenous Arab population, its only course of action is to seek a negotiated peace with its neighbours.
Until you and your compatriots understand this, take it to heart and find a way to make it happen, the kind of rampant paranoia you keep displaying can ony continue to inflame the situation.
19 - Martin Lav
"rampant paranoia you keep displaying can ony continue to inflame the situation"
Seems like the goal to me and it's probably not a stretch to think Ruvy or one of his friends did this:
"The windows of the Geulot Israel synagogue on Tel Aviv's Shenkin Street were smashed overnight Wednesday, and the words, "If we can't march in Jerusalem, you won't walk in Tel Aviv," were spray-painted on the synagogue walls, police said."
20 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Chris, you are indeed a fool. It is not the newspaper that gives the opinion piece I cited weight, it is the writer. This fellow is a high ranking military officer with quite a number of ties to the power establishment in your own home country, some ties that are obvious, and some less obvious.
His point of view isn't favorable to Israel at all. He is making a number of observations of what will be expected of the puppet regime here by its masters in the EU and the United States. Naturally, he doesn't write this in so many words, and the article is published in a "pro-Israel" paper. That gives it greater credibility among British Jews, who appear to be the intended
audiencepigeons.As it is, he appears to give away quite a lot to the great unwashed, who in this case, include you.
I would stick to cheering for Manchester United if I were you. You have your facts down clear, an know the issues rather well. In terms of this part of the world, your point of view is rather blinkered, to put it politely. You need to take the blindfolds off if you wish to intelligently discuss what is going on here.
I would start with reading Chromatius' blog. He and I agree on the general shape of the battlefield, though he takes a different side in the battle, one that you can sympathize more easily with. There is also a fellow who occasionally drops by who uses the moniker "ss" who has a very good grasp on what is going on around here. You need to look for his comments. I'd read what Stan Denham has to say, and finally read Dave Nalle's pieces on this neck of the woods. He grew up here, and even if he might prefer rosewater with his baklava rather than honey, he knows how the shwarma gets cut.
21 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Martin,
There is a kulturkampf here between secular Jews who would spit in G-d's face and the religious Jews who try to believe.
In essence, it is a left wing secular tactic to use violence. They are good at it, and good at taking advantage of its use when they haven't actually done the deed. Loads of Jews have died at their hands, victims of a hatred that knows few bounds.
No religious Jew would damage a place where he himself would worship. That is something that religious Jews hold to rather strongly. Because you are obviously not Jewish, I do not expect you to know this.
22 - Martin Lav
"In essence, it is a left wing secular tactic to use violence"
...but some are better at it than others....
"hundreds of haredim pelted police with stones and blocks"
"a haredi attacker stabbed three participants"
23 - Mac
Well after reading a bit of this week's Torah portion I have to say that I am definitely proud of Abraham for sticking up for the sinful queers of Sodom, although it was a lost cause. I know you can appreciate that Ruvy, as you so patiently (and constantly) counter the idiotic homo drivel about how religion is so bad because it makes people beat up gays.
Now, when the two travellers made their way into the city (to assess whether it needed to be destroyed) they experienced severe cynicism and hostility from the locals, which is very strongly mirrored by those entering their comments here.
Interesting, definitely.
However, those Haredi types with the stabbing are not being very Abrahamic....
Remember, it is not sacrifice that is desired, but acts of lovingkindness.... Don't we say that every morning? (well, we Ashkenazi Jews do anyhow).
24 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Mac,
I was in training all day today learning the details of doing guard duty and the use of the M16, the weapon of "choice" by the Israeli Army for what they allow guards of little towns and villages like Ma'aleh Levona to use.
A better weapon would be the Uzi. First of all, it is made at home rather than overseas, so its manufacture could employ more Israelis. Second of all, a light machine gun is far preferable for scaring an enemy away than a relatively heavy semi-automatic rifle. Even though the bullets of the Uzi are smaller and do less damage, I can get shooting a lot faster. Finally, the damned gun jammed twice on me while training on it. In action, I'd be a dead man.
But I digress.
I do not like the violence of the Haredím in demonstrations either. But the fact of the matter is that because in this pathetic shteitl atmosphere, where the only way someone in power listens to you at all is if you bang on the table or crack his skull, the Haredím have done well in conveying to the globalist oligarchy running the joint here that we do not want pagan provocations.
Until Menny Mazuz (the little prick who is attorney general here) forced the police to work out a parade route for the Ford Foundation flunkies, the police were ready to cancel this parade. It wasn't because of the nice letters to the members of the Knesset either.
25 - Mac
I agree, M16s are shit, but that isn't the problem. You need more people like Lieberman who aren't afraid to stick up for Israeli security. I thought Sharon was a pretty good guy till he had that brain cramp that led to his stroke.
Personally, I think Israel would be better off by taking some initiative, rather than waiting for G-d to save the day. I have no idea what would be the best course of action, but I'd maybe start by destroying Syria's military capability: completely surprise them. Sure, Hezbollah and Iran will respond. Sure, some rockets land in Northern Israel. Israeli's are going to die if you do nothing, just as sure as if you do something. Anyways, when Europe starts hollering and crying (and very little else), you start kicking Arabs out of central and southern Israel. There ya go Egypt and Jordan! Try taking care of your own shit for a change!
How would that sound? Better than waiting around for something useless to happen, like a Hezbollah missile landing on gay pride day. To tell you the truth, I like gay people. They are tidy and are a boon for the economy, wherever they live. It's the Islamofascists that I hate.