Most But Not All Exit Polls Show Kadima edging Likud

With the exception of the Jerusalem Post, most exit polls are showing Livni (28-30) to be slightly above Bibi Netanyahu with 26-28. The Jerusalem Post shows Bibi at 26 but Livni at 23.

Remember that Exit polls are often very skewed, so lets not panic yet. The good news is that the Right definitely won many more seats, and it is doubtful that Livni can form a coalition, in which case, Bibi would be able to. This means however, that we would have Olmert for 2-3 more months.

Personally, I have yet to meet ONE person voting for Kadima.. or even able to say a single good thing about them. It makes me really wonder...maybe the exit polls were taken only of voters who are journalists and news commentators.

I will post the comparative results shortly.

Election Tidbits As We Wait

By 8pm the percentage has reached 59.7%. Kol hakavod chaverim (friends)

I have been out on the street a bit, in between falling trees and pelting rain and in my mixed but very traditional neighborhood, Lieberman is still a high choice. Almost everyone I speak to says that they don't care so much for the leader of the party they voted for, but voted for the party platform. I find that interesting, as in America, people are truly swayed by the personality of the party leader.

Tonight, I even met my first Meretz voter. When I told him that, we laughed. He is a young man I have known for awhile, but I didn't know his political persuasion. He told me his thoughts and they were very intriguing - they caused me to stop and think about a lot of issues. His reasoning was not without wisdom and I am really glad he said what he did....in short, he expressed some very valid points for voting Meretz. Whether or not Meretz actually expresses these views in their platform is something I will need to investigate, but I liked what O. said.

One sweet election story comes from the Bedouin village of Rahat... home of the IDF NCO, the Bedouin tracker, who was killed at the Kissufim crossing a few weeks ago. It seems the storm knocked out their electricity, but the community was determined not to let that deter their voting. Between candles and the light of cell phones, they are continuing their voting. According to a Ynet report, one polling station official joked that the candles and cell phones were "... creating a very intimate atmosphere."

50% Vote

In a continued upswing from 2006, by 6pm 50% of Israeli voters have gone to the polls. Some Knesset officials feel the higher turnout was due to the bad weather as those with the day off had little choice of fun outdoor activities.

Could be...this would be a hafook (upside down) result that was good for a change. (...as opposed to the bad weather keeping people AWAY from the polls).

Projections are if the trend continues as people get off work now, the percentage could reach 69%.

We're just chillin', waiting for the results. Keep you posted. Rain and winds dying down..

Pounding Rain and High Winds Election Day Drama

Jerusalem is experiencing pounding rain and high winds right now, with darkness over the City. Hopefully, the burst will subside shortly. Just before the rains started, but the winds ferocious, half of the tree in front of my house came crashing down at the top of the steps into the building. Thanks G-d I didn't leave just then, as I was thinking to do!!

There is some talk of extending the hours of the open polls if the weather is too severe for too long. We'll see.

If nothing else the weather heightens the drama of the day.

Other reports of drama: Fighting broke out between Labor and Kadima voters at the entrance to Jerusalem according to an INN source. Another fight between between police and party activists in Ramat bet Shemesh. (source) Numerous reports (68 by 2:30pm) of stolen or missing ballots, ballots with Lieberman's name written on the back, forged ballots (also Yisrael Beteinu) smuggled into the voting areas...the list goes on. On David Yalin Street in Jerusalem, a young orthodox man reportedly overturned the table containing the ballot notes and stole all the 'gimmel" slips (United Torah Judaism). Many polling stations in the north never opened either due to the weather or missing ballots or unknown reasons.

The 12,000 prisoners in Israel are happily exercising their citizenship rights, even security prisoners. Voting is high among the inmates - over 80% in 2006. I wonder who they vote for.

This just in: As of 4pm 41.9% of Israelis have cast their vote..up 3% from 2006. Keep going friends!!!!!!!

Election Underway!!

Surprising the elections pundits, the stormy weather has NOT kept people from voting. By noon 23.4% of eligible Israelis have voted..up 2% from previous elections. Update: By 2pm the numbers are 34%. Mazel tov to us!!!

The mood on the street is upbeat, almost party like in places. I am hoping it is because people feel they really can make a difference and remove the current government and all it's trappings. Of course, here in Israel election day is a public holiday for many or most Israelis in the private sector (not mandatory however) and those who do work can receive up to 200% salary. Grocers and restaurants are usually open and and they, plus those in critical services (transportation, water, electricity etc.), are not eligible for the bonus pay. My local Mister Zol (Mr.Cheap!!) grocers is offering free salad or hummus if you vote. (no "I voted" stickers here in Israel - you just have to tell the truth!)

Lieberman has a very strong backing on the street. A good friend at my cafe was on his way to vote but unsure between Lieberman and Bibi. A young man just back from miluim (reserve duty), he understood the need for strength in addressing our challenges. After talking with him for awhile, he said I had convinced him to vote Bibi, but then he shared his own thoughts that Bibi was stronger now than when he was previously PM. He's learned to be strong, my friend said, and passed the test. My young friend is intuitive and wise, and I hope he is right on this one...I'm counting on it too.

A balygan in Umm-el Fahm, an Arab town in the Shomron. Conflicting stories are emerging about what exactly happened, but it revolves around Ichud Leumi's presence to monitor ballots and Arab rioting to prevent them from being there. Umm el-Fahm is traditionally notorious for ballot fraud. I will address this subject in a later post as the information becomes more clear.

I will be updating throughout the day and evening here in Jerusalem.

Guess I better go get my hummus!!

Election Thoughts Part 3

Three more days. A sobering time for Am Yisrael. This election is not just any election, this election decides the future of our Land...not forever, as I am still hoping God will have the last Say!!...but at least for the near future. There are many important issues such as the economy and education but the main concern must be our Land. In that context, the position of the potential leaders vis a vis Iran is also crucial.

Briefly, the parties and their "platforms" regarding Eretz Yisrael and Iran, with some comments in blue.

Kadima - (Tzipi Livni) 2 state solution regardless of the reality of any of the dynamics or the players (or lack there of). It supports the unilateral giving up all of Judea and the Shomron, the Golan and dividing Jerusalem and giving half to the PLO for a state. Land give away, appeasement, dependency on Europe. Regarding Iran, follows advice of America and Europe and does nothing. [It needs to be said again that this country is sick and tired of how it's leaders have abused the electorate's wishes and put the country in peril, over and over. Kadima shouldn't be anywhere in the picture as far as garnering seats, yet oddly enough, it remains a viable party. It's hard to understand why it stays as high as it does in the polls...if it really does. It is not too far fetched to wonder if the polls are skewed by the media in their bias for Kadima.]

Likud - (Bibi Netanyahu) Supports a 2 state solution eventually, if ever viable... but not now - only if and when the Arabs who want it are ready, responsible and able. Bibi proposes first trying to strengthen the economy of the palestinian Arabs to see if that moves them towards a future statehood. [In all fairness I don't think he is talking about "giving" them money...but some other method (let's hope so anyway!!) ] If a state is ever viable, it would not include any part of Jerusalem or the Golan, they will remain in Israel's hands forever. In terms of Judea and the Shomron, Bibi has stated that he would not retake Shechem (Nablus), Jenin and the Arab part of Hevron, but would encourage and enable Jewish settlement to expand and increase in the rest of Judea and the Shomron. Illegal outposts all throughout Israel need to come under Israel's laws, including all the illegal arab outposts. (which number in the hundreds if not thousands) Netanyahu would work with the Yesha (Judea & Shomron) leaders for the recognition of many of the Jewish outposts and those not able to come under legal status would be moved or dismantled. Regarding Iran, Bibi feels this is a very top priority and will not allow Iran to become nuclear, even if Israel needs to go it alone to insure that. He understands that Hamas and Hezbollah are Iranian proxies at our door, and is clear that we must destroy Hamas completely, not play a game of cat and mouse. Bibi is also adamant about returning Jewish and Zionist history and values in our education - something removed from the curriculum by Kadima and Labor and other left wing governments. [Needless to say, I don't agree with a 2-State solution, and I would like to see the cities of Shechem and others returned to us. I want to see all Jewish settlements and outposts remain and expand. The idea of helping the economy has never worked... BUT this approach is the only one of the three larger parties which stops the talk of unilateral giveaway, which addresses the illegal arab outposts, which is clear about the Golan and Jerusalem, is clear about Iran and Hamas and is clear about returning Zionist education to our schools. As I said earlier, at this point we need to STOP the appeasement and dismantling of settlements, we can deal with the other issues like Shechem and the rest down the line.]

Yisrael Beteinu (Avigdor Lieberman) Yisrael Beteinu (Israel is our Home) supposedly stands on a secular right wing platform but it isn't totally clear that it is such. Today, Lieberman has made headlines (and garnered votes) by speaking out against the 5th column of Israeli Arabs who have turned against the State. He is advocating an oath of allegiance to Israel and anyone not willing to take it cannot vote or cannot run for office (and perhaps not have citizenship? unclear). In the past he has advocated moving out the borders of Israel (meaning?) and relocating Arabs outside of that in a Palestinian State. He is very strong on Iran, which is also helping him in the polls. The Russian born Lieberman has attracted many from the Russian community and the platform includes civil marriage and other secular issues of importance to various non-religious communities. [It is clear that Israelis are sick of appeasement and want someone to be strong against the rising violence of Israeli Arabs. What is not clear from Lieberman's history, is where he truly stands with regard to a full two state solution and whether or not he really will do what he blusters. In the past he has advocated dividing Jerusalem, was agreeable to Barak's failed (thanks G-d) agreement with Arafat giving away 90% of Judea and the Shomron, so he is not trusted by the national camp - more on this later)

Labor (Ehud Barak) To tell you the truth, what does? Labor stand for? Beats me. Giving away and appeasement etc etc..and never bringing military incursions to victory...never finishing the job. Oy vey.

Ichud Leumi (Yaakov "Ketzelah" Katz) This national camp party, a revitalized National Union is actually the combination of four national camp factions: Moledet, the party started by the late (assassinated) Rechavam Ze'evi (represented by Uri Bank), Hatikva (Arieh Eldad), Uri Ariel who came from Jewish Home Mafdal (although Bayit Yehudi Mafdal still exists, now headed by Dr. Daniel Hershkovitz), and Yisrael Shelanu - the party of Rabbi Volpo and Baruch Marzel, but represented here by Dr.Michael Ben-Ari. There have been several splits and mergers and splits again within these smaller national camp parties - this is the current configuration. Ichud Leumi's platform is very clear: no to a Palestinian State, no to uprooting settlements, no to giving away Eretz Yisrael, no to appeasement; yes to expanding the settlements, yes to developing the Galilee, the Golan and the Negev with Jewish settlement, yes to Jewish education. Jerusalem must remain the undivided capitol of the Jewish nation and the Temple Mount open to everyone, especially allowing Jewish prayer. Regarding Iran and it's proxies, a military solution may be the only realistic answer. [As much as I agree with most, if not all, points in the platform of Ichud Leumi, I am concerned enough about several issues not to cast my vote for this party. ]

Let me discuss three issues, some of them pertinent to my vote for Likud, others simply something I wish to address because of the information we receive in the media or in our circles:

1) Lieberman's meteoric rise in the polls. At the beginning of the election period, Bibi Netanyahu had a very comfortable lead over all the other parties. He had drawn in some very good national camp people to Likud, people like Boogie Ayalon, and Benny Begin, and was showing very well in the polls, expected by all to be the next PM. Suddenly, Avigdor Lieberman is the talk of the town and has sky-rocketed in the pre-election polls, so much so that Bibi's assurance of victory is now tenuous and fragile.

It is very possible that on Tuesday, Likud and Kadima will be tied, or God forbid, Kadima actually win. Usually the head of the winning party goes to the President of Israel (Shimon Peres) and is appointed to try to put together a coalition. Should the two parties tie however, the next runner up is given the honor to suggest to the President who should form the coaltion. Some feel if Lieberman wins the third spot, he will in fact suggest that Kadima once again form the coalition.

Even though people are voting for Lieberman because they think he is a "change" and "hard line", the truth is that his history has shown him to be another political opportunist; thus it is hard to tell what would transpire should the situation occur where he was the one to recommend the party to form the coalition.

The small parties of the national camp have said that they are here to support Netanyahu and keep him to the "right" and to a national agenda, but if Bibi doesn't get in, it is a moot point. While it is very possible Bibi will reach out to the the independent parties and bring them into the coaltion as he has said he will do, most assuredly Kadima or Yisrael Beteinu will not.

The six or seven seats that might go to Ichud Leumi and HaBayit HaYehudi could make the difference between Bibi's victory or not. Therefore I feel it is imperative to keep my vote in the centrist national camp of Likud and do everything I can to assure Likud and Bibi Netanyahu of victory.

2) I want to address briefly the issue of Moshe Feiglin in the Likud and the fall- out from the fiasco of the Likud primary. If you recall, Moshe Feiglin won enough votes to place him #20 on the Likud list...a pretty nice achievement. Bibi, who is definitely not a Feiglin fan, did some gerryrigging to shoot Feiglin down to spot 36, where he can't realistically get a Knesset seat..and actually much to my relief. Nonetheless, it seemed stupid on Bibi's part, and perhaps bad judgement, as he simply brought more attention to Feiglin. Some, if not many, Feiglin supporters are now saying Bibi's decline in the polls is poetic justice for what he did to Feiglin. My answer to that is this: Moshe Feiglin's agenda was never a Likud one, yet ever since he joined Likud, and most dramatically after he won the 20th spot, Feiglin said over and over, he was going to "take over the party"...he was going to transform it to a different party." He says he is returning it to its' roots, but his agenda and the Likud roots are not the same. It seems to me that what Feiglin did and advocated was much worse and along with some other Feiglin issues, it was actually an unfortunate but necessary move on Bibi's part, to protect the broad "Am" ("all the" people) base of Likud .

Which brings me to point three:

3) Ichud Leumi is supposed to be a national camp embracing both secular and religious factions. Indeed, one of the top slots belongs to a strong secular leader - Arieyh Eldad, for whom I have great respect. Nonetheless the party comes across as a religious party, and even though they would deny that characterization if questioned, it is not apparent in their language and statements that they are anything other. This is something they need to think about and address if they desire to reach a broader population. There are thousands of Israelis who want to vote more Zionistically, but will not do so with a religious party. They are secular but fiercely loyal to the State. Ichud Leumi would do well to understand that dynamic if they want to expand their following.

There are some other issues I have with Ichud Leumi, some of it not unique to this party, but things I find myself taking issue with in general within the national camp. They are issues significant for me, but not something I am prepared to publicize at the moment. At some point down the road I am sure I will address those issues, but for now, we have enough to chew on.

Tuesday...a Day of Days ahead. Wish us well and that we act with wisdom in the voting booth. I will update other news as well as we move towards Tuesday.

Election Thoughts Part 2

Having outlined briefly the political landscape here in Israel in Part 1, it is time for me to write my personal reflections and decisions. If I get too long winded [I did] I will complete it in a Part 3. We'll see by the end of this blog :)

It hasn't been easy. Israeli politics, as I have said, are difficult for a lot of reasons. One reason, which one doesn't really understand until living here, is familiarity. Because the political figures are literally the neighbors down the street, the liking or disliking sometimes has more to do with what the wife said at the hairdresser or what the brother did in a bar mitzva. Or what the candidate himself did in the neighborhood.....did he pay for his coffee at the local coffee shop or did he expect gratis? Everyone knows (or has an opinion) about little personal incidents that form, not political decisions, but personal ones.

This is not true in American politics. Yes, the candidates have neighbors who know them personally, but the candidates don't mingle in public very often. Here in Israel, we are a very tiny country, and everybody knows everybody else's business...literally. Jerusalem is just a small town. So is Tel Aviv, but in different ways. The very intimate access to our politicians, while a lot of fun in many ways, nevertheless sometimes clouds our decision making.

That said, what do I think, how will I vote?

When I was in America (though traveling here very often, and staying for 2-3 months at a time) I was a dreamer. I dreamed about Israel, about Zion and how this is our Land. I fought fiercely both with and through various organizations and on my own, with my own two feet and hands, and with my writing, to support strong Zionist causes. I still do and I still will. This is the Land that G-d gave to Am Yisrael, and it needs to be in our custody.

But since moving to Israel three years ago I have changed. I still am a dreamer for Eretz Yisrael, but I have also become a pragmatist. What do I mean by that?

There are times when gut-level idealist energy is needed to accomplish a goal. There was such a time in our recent history. It was before the disengagement from Gush Katif. That was the time for the full force of the national camp to move in unison to stop the explusion. There was momentum, purpose and frankly, righteousness and truth on the side of the opponents to the expulsion - it could have been and should have translated into victory. That was not the time for pragmatism. Yet, in that moment, misplaced, ambitious and questionable pragmatism took the upper hand and lost the battle.

It was a tragedy. More than the homes and lives of the residents of Gush Katif were struck down. Our nation was dealt a blow with much more serious consequences than when an external enemy attacks. The self imposed expulsion tore deeply into the very soul of our nation, an event and an experience from which we haven't yet recovered.

But now, three and one/half years later, three and a half years of a government that says we are tired of winning, that giving away our land is the only alternative, after Gush Katif, after Lebanon, after Regev and Goldwasser, after Gilad Shalit, after rockets and missles raining down on the south, and continued threats (and very recently - activity - unreported in the mainstream media) in the north, our strength must take a different form than it could have shown in the Gush Katif saga.

Combine those three and a half years with the farce and tragedy of Oslo and we have a very serious situation. The momentum of the country is spiraling towards destruction and if the Kadima mentality gets re-elected, we are in deep deep trouble.

It may sound odd, therefore, for me to say that what we do NOT need now, is a loud shout and cry about how right we were about Oslo, about how right we were about Gush Katif, about how right we were about finishing the wars in Lebanon, and now in Gaza. What we need is for someone to stop the spiral downwards, to stop the give away, to stop the appeasement and after that, we can let the playing field level off, and THEN we can return with idealist fervor.

When I posted Part 1 I was still struggling with my decision as to whom to vote for. But two things have happened this week that have made my decision.

In light of these things, which I will explain in Part 3 (as this post is getting too long :), I now believe that it is imperative to vote for Likud. In today's political arena, with all I am observing, I believe it is the right thing to do, for several reasons, again, which I will explain in the next post.

(And I am very sorry, but Part 3 will have to be a motzei Shabbat article as sunset is on it's way. )

Shabbat Shalom

Election Thoughts Part 1

I have promised to write a bit about the elections here in Israel. It is a very complicated subject and not so easy to come to logical and effective conclusions. I have decided to break up the election discussion into at least two separate blogs. Part 1 as more of an overview, and Part 2 some specifics. In addition I will add updated and pertinent information as we move closer to Tuesday.

But to begin with, it needs to be said that we have been longing for elections - the whole of Israel - for a very long time. Since the Ariel Sharon fiasco and how he betrayed the electorate that voted in his party, to the continuum of what he did that is the current cadre of irresponsible "leaders", we are longing to rid ourselves of this seemingly never ending farce. These are not leaders, but corrupt heads of parties, and the trio of Olmert, Livni and Barak - the "three stooges" as they are called here - are held in disdain by the entire country for their lack of moral fiber and leadership, for their willingness to always put personal ambition ahead of the needs of the nation, for their folly in going to war with no intent to finish it or win, risking and losing the lives of our precious young men and women in uniform, for leaving the residents of the south alone to face the barrage of daily rockets for years on end....and on and on.

But, Israeli politics, alas how to explain it....even more, how to understand it. It's not democratic as in America, it's not parliamentarian as in Britain. Parties are elected, not people, and whomever is the head of the party which receives the most seats (not direct votes but seats determined by number of votes) is the prime minister. Each party has a list of candidates, and if a party receives 10 seats, e.g., theoretically the first 10 people on that party's list get a Knesset seat. Theoretically.

The problem of course is that people are "moved around and manipulated" for various reasons, some totally "legal", but the result is that the Prime Minister really does have control over the Knesset seats, and of course, his cabinet. And because he has the authority to remove anyone not agreeing with him, well...you can fill in the blanks. No one in the government is responsible to an electorate, only to the party. And to remain in the government a Knesset member must really shift with the party agenda, even if it ends up being diametrically opposed to what it stood for when elected by the people as was the case with Ariel Sharon.

Pretty bleak sounding, eh? It is.

If you are reading this blog you are probably already aware of the political landscape for this election, or know at least some of the major players. Kadima, Olmert's party being now headed by Livni, and Labor, headed by Barak are still led by two of the "three stooges", and not doing very well in the polls of course. Bibi Netanyahu, leader of Likud is either loved or hated, but is expected to win this election. However, some dramatic action on the playing field makes me wonder about that popular assessment.

First is that Avigdor Leiberman of Yisrael Beiteinu, is rising rapidly in the polls, and may upset the Likud lead because many more right wing Israelis are supporting the Russian Leiberman, even though there is much controversty surrounding him.

Parties like the Haredi Shas and the Bayit Yehudi, (Jewish Home), NRP (National Religious Party) and others remain stable as to their positioning from previous elections. Shas of course, is a larger party and garners many seats - 16-17 excpected in this election. Their biggest issues are monies for education and child support and because of their large number of seats will be courted by any party who gets in the top slot.

There are various small parties and the up and coming one for the national camp is the revitalized Ichud Leumi (National Union). Ichud Leumi is made up of both secular and religious Zionists, is the combination of four Zionist parties, and made up of some very fine people in my opinion. It, like Yisrael Beiteinu, threatens the wide lead that Likud enjoys at present because many of the people migrating to Ichud Leumi would have voted for Likud.

I want to say that I think the leaders of Ichud Leumi are men of high moral character, men who are known for their overwhelming support of Israel and loyalty to it's founding principles. Men like Arieh Eldad, and Uri Ariel are tireless workers and supporters of Eretz Yisrael and well known and trusted in the national camp. Newer names to many, like Uri Bank, an American oleh of many years and the well known (but not in the political arena before now) Yaakov (Ketzelah) Katz, founder of Beit El and Arutz Sheva and the man who has assumed the IL leadership, are all outstanding men.

You would think, that I, as a national camp person, would be thrilled to finally have someone or a party for whom to vote, and in some ways I am, but I am not entirely convinced that voting for Ichud Leumi is the way to go. Most of my compatriots are thrilled, excepting those who are part of the Feiglin camp (who is in Likud) and they will probably, though not assuredly, remain loyal to him. Without elaborating on that subject, I need to say however, that I am definitely NOT a Feiglin supporter, in any way shape or form.

So what's the problem? To be very frank, I think there are several problems which I will address in Part 2...thoughtfully.

Barak's Folly

There is SO much confusion at the national level with our "government leaders". but today was Barak's day to shine. In an interview with Ynet , Barak's explanation for his insipid pre-phoned bombing of empty warehouses and, oh yes, one police station, was this: "If we play our cards right and prevent further escalation than we have a good chance of some peace and quiet."

He went on to say that "it would be unwise to say why we waited to respond to the rocket fire, since Hamas is probably reading this as well."

To add further to his inane announcements, Barak made it clear that he, not Olmert, was the one making decisions: "The prime minister is kept abreast of everything. I briefed him on tonight's actions. He was aware of it, but I don’t think he should deal with such things." [Editorial note: It is quite obvious that NEITHER ONE OF YOU should be dealing with such things]

But his final blurt of stupidity came at Ben Gurion University in Beersheva. Speaking with students there, Barak said that the new Palestinian state could be made contiguous by connecting Judea (what is now Judea, but hoped to belong instead to the Palestinians) with Gaza via a 48-kilometer underground tunnel. Oh my G-d he really said that. Someone should tell our defense minister that in the eyes of Palestinians, tunnels = smuggling routes for weapons, drugs and money.

This is even worse than the Peter Principle (where every employee rises to his or her level of incompetence.)

Sunday News Update

A busy day ! Just a few things for your perusal.

1) Starting at 7am when 4 kassams were fired into Israel (one landing between schools in Sderot - no one hurt), and extending to 10 am when soldiers were fired upon at the Kissufim crossing, to noon, when four mortars landed in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council (by this time 8 rockets fired into Israel). Then in the afternoon 4 more mortars and 1 kassam fired into Israel, again in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. 3 people wounded. Late this afternoon another rocket hit Sderot. Fatah (you know - the peaceful party headed by moderate Abbas) has claimed responsibility for them.

Folks, I have been counting. Since our unilateral ceasefire (remember we ceased not Hamas - Hamas lulled) there have been 32 rocket and mortar attacks, most of these are 3 -4 rockets in one attack...so taking a figure of 24 of the 32 attacks were multiple rockets we are talking well over 100 rockets fired into Israel. In addition there have been six to seven attacks against our soldiers at the border...one of the attacks killing one soldier and wounding three.

When the media says this is the 3rd attack or the 4th attack since our ceasefire, they are playing games with you.

2) Olmert deliberated all day what we should do.

3) And then he(they) had a brilliant idea, he and Barak. They ordered the IDF this evening to PHONE the Gazan residents to tell them they were going to bomb warehouses and terror centers in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Yes, I said PHONED...with a recorded message. Of course, all the Hamas leaders left the area and who knows what the h...ll they did to prevent the civilians from leaving. My blood pressure has stayed pretty normal throughout this whole affair until I read this report. And Barak has the AUDACITY to say "“Leave it to the Chief of Staff, to the OC [Southern] Command and with all modesty, to me as well,” he said. “We know better what to do and when.”

Playing Games with the lives of the residents of the south and with our soldiers should be a lifetime imprisonment offense AT LEAST, in my opinion

4) It was released for publication today (Army Radio, Muqata, INN) that the US stopped Israel from boarding and/or consficating the arms on the Iranian ship now being held by Cyprus. Excuse me? Are we the 51st state? (rhetorical) There is something very fishy about this ship. (pun not intended). If this is true, and the US itself boarded the ship and then let it go, and now Cyprus has backed off from their original statements of the ship being filled with arms and are saying they will take a second look...something is very strange. A second look? It was announced the ship was carrying arms destined for Syria to go to either Hezbollah or Hamas, and you need to look again to make sure ..what, that they aren't toy guns?????

Some kind of a deal has been made somewhere....and it is beginning to reek!!

5) Speaking of deals....Hamas is "leaking" information that they are initiating a one year truce or accepting Egypts' recommendation. Just before our elections? How convenient. Talk about reeking.


6) Thank G-d the shakedim (shkedim) are blooming, or I wouldn't be able to handle the news today.

Yaron London Speaks out Shocking His Audience

On a day where there is much news, escalated rocket attacks and high level confusion in our leaders as to what to do about it all, it is worthwhile to add a second outspoken opinion piece in this blogsite. This time the sentiment is coming from the left, but in an about face from the usual rhetoric. Yaron London, a television personality on the left, now feels that there must be an all out no-holds-barred military operation against Hamas.

In a article by Hillel Fendel in IsraelNationalNews, London's surprising article in Yediot Acharonot, and interview with Razi Barkai on Army Radio are discussed. It is very important to hear this (read this).

The truth cannot be ignored any longer. How many people will come forth and with courage state that they now see things they couldn't see before, remains to be seen. But hats off to Yaron London for his forthrightness. Let's not say "we told you so," but be thankful some are waking up. May many more join him.

The article by Hillel Fendel:

London: 'Population that Votes for Hamas Deserves to be Bombed'
by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) Left-wing television and media personality Yaron London surprised many of his colleagues during the recent war against Hamas by calling for a no-holds-barred military response against the civilian population of Gaza.

London first outlined his views in an article in Yediot Acharonot, and then elaborated upon them for clearly-shocked interviewer Razi Barkai on Army Radio.

“It appears that we have exhausted the options of moderating Hamas fanaticism with measured responses,” London wrote, “and the time has come to shock the Gaza population with actions that until now have nauseated us - [such as] killing the political leadership, causing hunger and thirst in Gaza, blocking off energy sources, causing widespread destruction, and being less discriminating in the killing of civilians. There is no other choice.”..........

Read the entire article here
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129703

Nadav Shragai of Haaretz - An apology is needed

In light of my posting on Friday - regarding the reason we are in Gaza now being because we "unilaterally withdrew" 10,000 beautiful people from Gush Katif, destroying their homes, their lives, their trust - I want to call your attention to an article written a couple of weeks ago by Nadav Shragai, a columnist/writer for Haaretz. He writes Just say you are sorry [to the beautiful people of Gush Katif.]

His comments and advice to Israel was and still is perhaps the only answer to moving forward. No matter what promises are made by our politicians without this component he suggests, healing will not occur and we will continue in our quagmire. I waited for the mainstream press to pick up his article, alas none did, and it goes without saying that none have followed his advice.

Please forward this to any contacts you have in the government, the media and/or among your friends who were so sure that disengagement was right. We don't need to say "we were right and you were wrong," we just need to say, all of us, even those of us who fought against the expulsion, we are sorry, please forgive us. Because perhaps those of us who fought, just didn't do enough.

w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m
Last update - 01:56 20/01/2009
Just say you're sorry
By Nadav Shragai
Now, after the war and just before the election whirlwind sucks in our politicians once again, it would be appropriate for many of them to go out of their way and visit the mobile-home sites where those uprooted from Gush Katif live. This way they can tell them one small thing: I'm sorry.

Tzipi Livni, Ehud Olmert, Shaul Mofaz and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israel Defense Forces and the police should do this - they, their agents and everyone else who initiated, implemented and aided in using force to uproot 10,000 people from their homes in Gush Katif and Northern Samaria, maliciously and without any real purpose. Everyone who saw some good in the evil of the disengagement and evil in the good of Gush Katif has turned light into darkness and darkness into light. At the very least, they are obligated to make this small apology.

This includes the judges of the High Court of Justice who did not even bother to visit Gush Katif and made due with defense experts acting on behalf of the state "because that is the postion of the court since it was founded." The justices who ruled as they did because they automatically assumed that such a plan "improves the security situation" because "the evacuation reduces the desire of the Palestinians to harm the Israeli population." It would be appropriate for the honorable justices to take a vacation day as an act of forgiveness and go down south for a close-up look at the results of their decisions.

This also includes the media, which provided a challenge for Ariel Sharon and allowed him to turn a prosperous agricultural land, a world full of communities, synagogues, yeshivas and magnificent educational institutions into piles of rubble. Also the heads of the IDF and Shin Bet security service who never spoke in public what they whispered in the backrooms, and the soldiers and policemen who dragged the pioneers of Kfar Darom and Neveh Dekalim from their houses while raining blows on the demonstrators who understood what would come.

The apology must also include everyone who painted those who warned that the rockets from Gaza would reach Sderot, Ashdod and Be'er Sheva as delusional and opponents of peace. Everyone who promised that they would "give it to them" after the first Qassam, but in the end cried about the moral and international constraints that prevented them from doing so, and for years abandoned the south. It must include those who took the name of democracy in vain and aided Sharon in deceiving Likud members and breaking his promises to honor Likud's decisions once it became clear to Sharon that the party's members did not agree with him.

You, too, who paid almost no attention to the hundreds of thousands who tried to stop the evil, who paid no attention to those who internalized the lessons of Oslo and warned that we should not give them land and guns again. You who paid no attention to those who warned of the Hamastan state, foresaw exactly the trajectories of the rockets, and understood that this was something we gave away for free, a further disintegration of our power of deterrence and an adrenaline shot for terror.

Now rise and ask for forgiveness from those who paid the highest price, with their bodies, souls and property for your close-mindedness, arrogance and wickedness. Ask for forgiveness from the Gush Katif expellees, the noble souls who did not steal land from anyone, who made the empty dunes bloom as ambassadors of the State of Israel and who turned into the south's security buffer and absorbed over 6,000 Qassams and mortar shells with their bodies and belongings in the last years of Gush Katif.

Ask for forgiveness from those who swore to "win with love" - who believed and sowed until the very last minute; from those who did not raise a hand against the soldiers. Apologize to those who continued to enlist in the IDF and pay the ultimate price even after they were expelled from their houses, because they understood that the state - the national homeland of the Jewish people, even within limited borders - is still bigger than any mistaken and confused government.

There is no way to know if they will forgive you, but you at least need to ask.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056966.html