Eye On Israel

[Rasputin]

An American Rabbi who has been a leading campaigner against homosexual events in Israel is enlisting the active support of senior Muslim religious leaders in the Holy Land against next week's planned gay parade in Jerusalem.

The move, which aims to bring to the fore Muslim opposition to the parade, comes as Jerusalem police are weighing banning the event due to mounting public opposition and threats of violence.

Police are expected to inform the High Court of Justice by Sunday of their final position on holding the parade.

Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco met with officials from the State Attorney's office late Wednesday night to discuss the legal justifications of banning the parade, amid a second night of low-level haredi rioting in the city over the event.

A police veto will immediately be met with an appeal by Jerusalem's Gay and Lesbian Center, which is organizing the event, the group's executive director Noa Sattath said this week.

The parade, which was scheduled following an appeal to the High Court, is slated to take place next Friday in central Jerusalem.

New York Rabbi Yehuda Levin, of the Orthodox Rabbinical Alliance of America and the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the US and Canada, will be holding a public meeting in Jerusalem with the chief Palestinian Islamic cleric Taisser Tamimi to denounce the parade.

The meeting, which is scheduled to take place early next week with Israeli Arab parliamentarians, will include a speaker-phone address by the Mufti of Jerusalem.

"If someone comes to my house, my community, to attack my wife, daughter, children, Torah, and God, what do you think my reaction is going to be?" Levin said.

"I hold the police and the High Court responsible for any violence that will almost certainly come at the parade because they didn't cancel this provocative act a long time ago," he added.

Levin has been to Israel eight times in the last three years solely to campaign against what he dubs the "homosexualization of the Holy Land."

The Muslim community in Israel has vehemently denounced the planned parade, but has so far not publicly indicated that it would actively take part in violent counter-protests.

Meanwhile, Magen David Adom announced Thursday that they would be on high alert next Friday if the parade goes ahead as scheduled.

The rescue service said that 200 medical personnel and 47 ambulances are being assigned to the event as well as a treatment station and 10 medics on motorcycles.

Separately, Jerusalem police on Thursday questioned a Bar-Ilan university professor for comments he made against the parade in a TV interview last week that are suspected of constituting incitement to violence.

Professor Hillel Weiss, who called for stopping the "monstrous" parade "by any means," was released on bail, with the State Attorney's Office slated to decide whether to press charges against him in the coming weeks.

The debate over the parade 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 holding the international gay parade in Jerusalem has only served to intensify the struggle over the local parade.

The annual parade, which draws several thousand participants every year, has been the source of constant debate, with many religious city councilors and a significant number of largely traditional city residents considering such an event inappropriate for a "holy" city.

Nearly 70 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have signed a petition against holding such a parade in Jerusalem.

The bitter debate on the issue in the Knesset has created a rare alliance of ultra-nationalists, haredi and Arab Parties.
On Thursday, Labor MK Collette Avital, a long-time supporter of the homosexual and lesbian community in Jerusalem, became the latest parliamentarian to oppose holding the parade in the capital.

"The concern over expected clashes [at the parade] obligates us all to do everything we can to prevent the expected violence," she said.

[Rasputin]

Gay parade tensions rise in Tel Aviv

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.

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.

[mike435]

lol this was the only thing all the three exterimist from all religion agreed
lol

i thoght it would be cancelled
well anyways if they want to march they should

[Rasputin]

Two women have been killed as Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of women gathered to help besieged gunmen flee a mosque in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.
One of the women told the BBC they had dressed the militants in women's clothes to help them escape.

The Israeli military said the women were used as "human shields" and that there had been armed men in the crowd.

Reports said at least 16 Palestinians were killed on Friday, the third day of a major Israeli raid on Beit Hanoun.

Several of the dead were killed during a series of air strikes which took place after dark on sites across Gaza.

At least one Palestinian died at a building used as a mosque in Beit Hanoun, another was killed close to nearby Beit Lahiya; two more were killed in the Jabaliya refugee camp, also in northern Gaza.

In Rafah in southern Gaza, a member of a security force linked to Hamas was killed and three wounded when their vehicle was hit in an air strike.

An Israeli military spokesman said five air strikes had taken place, targeting suspected militants who were planting explosives or involved in rocket attacks on Israel.

Hamas appeal

In the dramatic mosque rescue, Hamas radio issued an appeal to local women when a tense stand-off developed between Israeli forces surrounding the building and up to 15 militants who had taken refuge inside.

One of the women, Nahed Abou Harbiya, described what happened to the BBC Arabic Service.


We risked our lives to free our sons

Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman


In pictures: Gaza offensive
"All the women headed to the mosque to get the Palestinian resistance men... But the Israeli occupation forces were firing heavily at us with their machine guns and also threw stun grenades at us.

"We entered the mosque and indeed we got all the resistance men out and put female attire on them so that the Israeli occupation forces wouldn't arrest them," she said.

Israeli troops had moved in and sealed the town off on Wednesday, in one of the biggest offensives in recent months, which Israel says is aimed at stopping militants firing rockets into Israel.

Shots were fired as the women approached Israeli forces. As some of the women tried to pass the troops, further shots came and two women fell to the ground.

At least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured.

"We risked our lives to free our sons," Um Mohammed, a woman in her 40s, told the AFP news agency afterwards.

Hamas radio reported that all of the militants in the mosque escaped and were uninjured.

Men 'disguised'

Israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said: "Unfortunately, maybe one woman was killed - I don't know if it's by IDF or not. But our purpose is definitely not to hit the innocent ones.

"We saw crowds of women. Behind the women hid some of the militants. Some of them were even dressed up as women: we have footage," she said.

"Unfortunately because the militants shot at our forces, sometimes we had to respond."




Press despair over Gaza raid
Gaza's rocket threat

The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that in television footage of the incident, some men are visible in the crowd, but there is no evidence that they were carrying guns.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, said the event was part of a "planned annihilation" of the Palestinians.

He called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to come to see what he described as "massacres" committed against them.

In other developments:


An Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed four Hamas militants, with a local commander of Hamas' military wing reportedly among the casualties

The Palestinian housing minister was arrested by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Ramallah

An elderly Palestinian woman was killed in the West Bank town of Bethlehem during an Israeli army arrest raid

At least one Palestinian youth died during an Israeli operation in the West bank town of Nablus

Major raid

About 30 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in violence since the Israeli operation in Beit Hanoun began on Wednesday. Many of those killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.

BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says that Israel's most immediate aim is to prevent rocket attacks against its territory, but beyond that it wants to strike a decisive blow at Hamas.

Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit, in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June.

More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in army operations since then, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.

[mike435]

and then they say IDF pourposly targets wommen
if you dont want to be targeted dont go in front of the fire
and worse the womman ruin their own credibility by dressing these terrorist as womman i wonders whats gonne happen next time

how many palastinians have to die untill they finaly get ther state

[mike435]

IDF may face a war with Syria, Hezbollah in 2007

By Amir Oren, Haaretz Correspondent

Syria and Hezbollah are likely to start a war against Israel next summer, according to General Staff assessments that have been gathered during a series of meetings in recent weeks.

While there is no specific estimate concerning the timing of a potential attack, all preparations are being made to ensure maximum preparedness in advance of summer 2007.

Since the lessons of the war in Lebanon have not yet been finalized in reports, it was decided to consider 2007 as an interim period, and to make decisions concerning a multiple-year force build-up only at the end of that year.




Advertisement

Meanwhile, two important interim decisions were made during the recent deliberations: The development, within three years, of a system capable of intercepting 220 mm. and 302 mm. surface-to-surface rockets, of the sort that Hezbollah used to target Haifa and other towns during the recent war; and to wait to make a final decision with respect to cancellation of the Merkava tank production line.

The rocket interceptor system will be developed on the basis of existing missiles, and according to future developments of these platforms.

Regarding the Merkava, an analysis of the use of tanks during the fighting in Lebanon in the July-August campaign, and particularly the performance of the Merkava Mark-4, suggests that if properly deployed, the tank can provide its crew with better protection than in the past.

The conclusion is that the Israel Defense Forces still requires an annual supply of dozens of advanced tanks in order to replace the older, more vulnerable versions that are still in service.

Also, it was decided to postpone for a year the decision made by the previous defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, on shortening the duration of military service for conscripts by four to eight months, which was to go into effect in March 2007.

Retaining the current terms of service will allow the necessary training to enable divisions to be prepared for combat and to heighten their effectiveness in battle.

The IDF would also like to relinquish control of the Home Front Command and pass on responsibility for coordinating the police and other relevant authorities to a civilian entity.

This view has been presented by the IDF to the National Security Council, which is expected to oversee this coordination.

In its evaluation of Israel's strategic capabilities for the interim and long-term, the General Staff relies on the assessments of Military Intelligence and the work of the Planning Directorate.

At the end of a series of General Staff meetings, Chief of Staff Dan Halutz designated five main areas, or scenarios, that the IDF must seriously consider:

Preparation for conflagration in the north: A war initiated by Syria or Hezbollah, separately or together, with backing from Iran. The likelihood is that such a conflagration will erupt in the next two years, peaking in the spring-summer months of 2007.

Among the reasons for tension: a growing sense of "success" among forces in the region that oppose Israel and the West.

A decision in Washington to withdraw the majority of its forces from Iraq will contribute to this atmosphere and will necessitate concentrating on the possibility that Iraq may become part of an eastern front comprising Iran and Syria. Military Intelligence estimate that there are 5,000 Katyushas in southern Lebanon, even after IDF mop-up operations there.

Asymmetric fighting: Hostile Arab states, with Syria at the lead, and paramilitary organizations, prominent among them Hezbollah, have relinquished − even before the fighting in Lebanon and as a consequence of it − the possibility of a direct confrontation with Israel.

In their view, Israel's superiority in both air and armored forces negates the chances of a major ground offensive succeeding.

Instead they have opted for a war of continuous attrition, with the deployment of infantry forces heavily equipped with anti-tank weapons, commando units, ballistic weapons and tunnel access.

In countering them, the IDF would like to develop necessary preparedness, partly overt, in an effort to deter them, or in case of failure, to achieve a significant military gain quickly, along parameters determined by the political leadership.

Terror: Continuous effort on the Palestinian front to carry out terrorist attacks, with increasingly overt direction by the Hamas government. This places a question mark over the IDF's intention, following the abduction of Gilad Shalit, to develop a working relationship with the Hamas government, aimed at achieving a long-term cease-fire.

The arming of Hamas in the Gaza Strip in recent months, and the ongoing refusal to accept the terms put forth by the Quartet (recognition of Israel, relinquishing violence, acceptance of previous PLO accords with Israel), lend weight to the adoption of an
offensive strategy.

The final say on this matter belongs to the political leadership.

The expected escalation in terrorism also includes the gradual but increasing role of the global Jihadist element, and a regional movement operating in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and other states affiliated with Al Qaida.

Long-range challenges: The focus here is mainly on Iran, which is considered to be a growing threat, even though it does not pose an immediate threat in the coming year. Its place on the list of priorities is relatively low, and stems from the fact that there has been no need to immediately alter the preparations of air, sea and intelligence units in dealing with it.

Advanced Western equipment in armies of the region: Aircraft, naval vessels, missiles, armored vehicles in armies whose governments have peace treaties with, or do not have immediate hostile policies toward Israel, but who could become immediate threats upon the collapse of their regime, or in-fighting over succession, and the rise of hostile regimes.

The United States will try to preserve the principle of "quality advantage" in favor of the IDF, by making available the most advanced systems to Israel, while delivering to (currently) moderate states systems lacking the more sophisticated upgrades.


Haaretz.com

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

Israeli cabinet minister calls for Arab-free Israel

Less than a week after being appointed to the Israeli cabinet, ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman called for Israel to become "as much as possible" an all-Jewish country without an Arab minority.

The Scotsman reports that Mr. Lieberman's remarks deeply embarrassed the government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who had assured the Israeli public that "Lieberman had accepted coalition guidelines pledging equality between Arab and Jewish citizens and the combating of racism." Mr. Olmert said that the remarks did not reflect his government's policies.

However, Lieberman, a deputy premier who is also minister for strategic affairs, ignored the prime minister's clarification and restated his idea during an interview yesterday with Army Radio. "Anywhere in the world where there are two peoples and two religions there is conflict," Mr Lieberman said. "What we have seen in Cyprus is that since they have that model, there is no terror. There is security."

In his book, My Truth, Lieberman terms the Arab minority of Israel, which makes up 20 per cent of the population, the gravest threat facing the country.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Olmert had brought Lieberman's ultra-nationalist Israel Beiteinu Party into his governing coalition last week, much to the consternation of many who felt Lieberman's hawkish views would undermine any attempts at finding a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last week during one of his first cabinet meetings, Lieberman said that as far as Palestinians were concerned, Israel should adopt tactics similar to those used by Russia in Chechnya.

Though they ignored Lieberman's comments last week, members of Israel's Labor Party, which is also a part of the governing coalition, issued strong rebukes of his latest remarks.

"His statements are unacceptable and completely offensive. I hope the prime minister conducts a thorough inquiry into this matter," said Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog (Labor).

Education Minister Yuli Tamir (Labor) denounced Lieberman for taking an "anti-Arab" stance since he became minister.

"A democratic state in general, and a Jewish state in particular, must allow room for minorities within it, and must make every effort to make them equal partners," said Tamir.

But The Independent reports that the strongest statements condemning Lieberman came from Israeli novelist Daniel Grossman, who addressed a crowd of 100,000 Israelis, gathered to mark the 11th anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination by an ultra-nationalist. Mr. Grossman's son, a tank commander, was killed during the recent Israeli-Hizbullah war. The Independent reports that Grossman called the appointment of Lieberman a "crude kick" to Israeli democracy and said it was like appointing "a serial pyromaniac to manage the fire service."

Grossman also condemned the Israel government as a whole, saying that a failure of moral leadership was "was undermining the vision of a Jewish state." Grossman said the military and political leadership of Israel was "hollow."

Grossman railed against the apathy with which Israelis were reconciled to the failure of the peace process. While saying it was impossible to talk with the Hamas government, he urged Mr Olmert to appeal to the Palestinian people over the heads of their elected leaders.

"Appeal to the moderates among them, those who are opposed like you and me to Hamas and its path," Mr Grossman said."Speak to their deep wound, recognise their suffering ... Just for once, look at them not only through the sights of a gun and not beyond the closed barrier. You will see there a people that are tormented no less than we are, an occupied and oppressed and hopeless people. Look at the overwhelming majority of that miserable people, whose fate is linked to ours, whether we want it or not."

Grossman's speech was widely covered in the Israeli media, and was broadcast live on Israeli TV. Some commentators said they had not heard a speech like it "in many years." But The Jerusalem Post reports that the response among Israeli politicians was "startling" and varied depending on their political affiliation.

Faced with Grossman's critique of the government and a crowd waving dozens of giant signs reading, "Olmert and Peretz have abandoned his [Rabin's] path" and "Meretz won't sit with Lieberman," many Labor and Kadima politicians sat silent and grim-faced.

[Rasputin]

'Shells Kept Falling' On Gaza Apartment, Killing 17 in Family
BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip, Nov. 8 -- Islam al-Athamnah was asleep on a foam mattress next to her brothers and sisters, crowded together like puzzle pieces on the floor of their top-story apartment. Uncles and cousins slept in the levels beneath, her mother and father in an adjoining room.

"Then something hit us," Islam, 14, recalled from a hospital room with sky-blue walls. "The windows shattered, and then a second shell hit the house. It was all smoky. We were using our hands to find the kids."

Palestinian emergency workers and frightened neighbors pulled scores of Islam's wounded relatives from the ruins of their home in the frantic hours after the 5:30 a.m. blasts, which witnesses here said came from Israeli artillery fire.

Palestinian health officials said 20 civilians were killed, 17 of them from Islam's extended family. At least seven of the dead were children asleep at the time of the blasts, which left heavy jagged shrapnel on rooftops and in living rooms.

More than 60 people were wounded, including Islam's 5-year-old sister, Israh, and 3-year-old brother, Mohammed, who tossed in a hospital bed here with thickly bandaged legs, crying for his wounded mother. Islam's father, two grandparents, an uncle and many cousins were among the dead.

"I just grabbed who I could and ran," said Islam, her face freckled with dozens of pinprick shrapnel wounds. "I was lucky because more shells kept falling."

The blasts along Hamad Street, which witnesses said numbered between four and 10, ripped through several generations of a family of farmers, doctors and taxi drivers who live near fruit orchards on the northern edge of this town. A grandfather died along with his 23-year-old son and 1-year-old granddaughter. Three brothers died. So did two sisters.

The mourning tents that appeared throughout this agricultural town became the venues for public despair, nationalist fervor and strident anger toward the Jewish state and its ally, the United States, which provides Israel with roughly $2 billion annually in military aid. Palestinian leaders called for three days of mourning across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as international pressure to stop Israel's operations in this town of 28,000 people.

"We expect the international community to intervene," said Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government. "But the United States bears direct responsibility for this by giving Israel the green light. We don't expect anything from them."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret for the incident, and the Israeli military announced a suspension of artillery fire into Gaza, designed to suppress the frequent Palestinian rocket fire directed at Israeli cities, pending an investigation.

The inquiry will be led by Maj. Gen. Meir Kalifi, deputy chief of ground forces, who headed the June investigation into an explosion on a Gaza beach that killed six members of the Ghaliyah family. He concluded that Israel was not responsible for the blast, although a Human Rights Watch investigator said the explosion most likely came from a fired artillery shell.

In a statement, Israel's military said that "the responsibility for any civilian casualties lies with the terrorist organizations" firing rockets toward Israel. Six of the crude rockets landed in Israel on Wednesday despite the recent intensive military operation here intended to stop them.

In a separate incident in the West Bank town of Yamoun, near Jenin, Israeli soldiers in civilian clothes killed four fighters from the military wing of the Fatah movement and one civilian. As night fell here, an Israeli airstrike on a car in northern Gaza killed two gunmen from Hamas's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, bringing the day's toll to 27 dead.

"Our response to these crimes and these massacres has to be unity," said Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and head of Fatah. "I condemn anyone who launches rockets. It is fruitless and gives an excuse, not a reason, for the Israeli massacres, which have no justification."

Abbas is in Gaza for talks with Hamas to form a national unity government, hoping to end economic sanctions that have been in place against the Palestinian Authority since the radical Islamic movement took power over its ministries in March. The United States, the European Union and Israel classify Hamas, which does not recognize the Jewish state's right to exist, as a terrorist organization.

Palestinian officials warned that the deaths in Beit Hanoun would increase tensions between Fatah and Hamas, especially the harder-line Hamas leaders in exile.

Khaled Meshal, head of Hamas's political wing in Damascus, Syria, called on "all the factions of the resistance, despite the difficulties on the ground, to respond."

"This is an Israeli act of escalation and provocation that will have a negative impact both internally and bilaterally," said Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian legislator from the Third Way movement. "The consequence of this unleashed violence against a civilian population will be yet, unfortunately, another circle of violence."

In a statement faxed to news agencies here, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades said that "America is providing the political and financial cover" for Israel's military operations. It called on supporters "around the world to teach the American enemy a hard lesson."

Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas's military wing, said in a telephone interview later that "our only theater of operation is in Palestine and only against the Israeli occupation." He added, "We appeal to the American administration to apply one standard of humanity to Israelis and Palestinians."

In Washington, President Bush said in a statement: "We send our condolences to the families of all those affected. . . . We call on all parties to act with care and restraint so as to avoid any harm to innocent civilians."

Israel withdrew most of its forces here Tuesday after a six-day operation that left dozens of homes in ruins, sidewalks crumbled, lampposts toppled and backyard orchards torn up by bulldozers. Al-Nasser Mosque, site of a standoff between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen, lay in ruins, only its turquoise-tipped minaret still standing.

[mike435]

Israel in the EU

Last update - 02:56 10/11/2006


Two Italians in European Parliament campaign for Israel to enter EU

By Meron Rapoport, Haaretz Correspondent

Italian members of the European Parliament intend to embark on an international campaign to further a proposal to include Israel in the European Union after peace agreements are signed in accordance with international law.

Behind the initiative are the two MEPs of a small party, the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, one of whom, Marco Cappato, arrived in Israel to further the idea.

Cappato plans to participate in the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem tomorrow, which he describes as a struggle "against all types of fundamentalism: Christian, Muslim, Jewish."




Advertisement

The Italian MEP says Israel is threatened, both as a national minority in the Middle East and also because of the dangers posed by Iran and Hezbollah.

"The sense of fear is real," Cappato says, "and one of the ways through which the Israelis could overcome the fear and reach settlements with the Palestinians and the Syrians is through joining a large block like Europe."

If Israel joins Europe, the Italian MEP explained, it will be safer because an attack on Israel will constitute an attack against Europe, "an attack against London or Rome."

The European representative also said an Israeli application for European Union membership will bolster those in the country supporting concessions because peace accords will not only be based on a deal with Arab states but will be backed by 450 million Europeans.

Cappato is a proponent of the idea that Europe should "reach from one to the other side of the Mediterranean." As such, any country along the Mediterranean coast that meets the necessary criteria on human rights and international law could join the EU.

"We must tell the Arabs that we will not leave them to their dictators," Cappato says.

The campaign, which is scheduled to begin in the coming months in Europe, will include non-violent action.

[golgol85]

This is funny. Israel is always looking for more people to have its back and defend it if it decideds to do crazy things. I hope Israel does not join the EU, it doesnt need any more support than it already has. And I love how Iran and Hezbollah are mentioned, its not enough to fight the palestinians, to bomb the lebanese, i think syria, iran and the hezbollah are next on Israels to do list. europe should mind its own bussiness and leave israel to wage its own wars. what Cappato means is: "we must tell the arabs that will exploit the middle east ourselves." what is non-violent action? I dont believe that israel can be non-violent seeing as it seems to love violence.

Thanks for the article Mike.

[donsaeid]

it isnt just two!
Read this!

http://www.tapesh.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6412

[Rasputin]

US official: Israel won't bomb Iran

Iran's nuclear facilities are too vast to be destroyed by a single air attack so Israel is unlikely to bomb it to forestall Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, a senior United States official said on Tuesday.

"We do not have enough information about the Iranian nuclear program to be confident that you could destroy it in a single attack. The worst thing you could do is try and not succeed," the official said. He spoke in advance of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Washington next Sunday.

In considering Israel's military options regarding the Iranian nuclear threat, the official said one should not be swayed by the ease with which Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear program in 1981 with a single raid against the Osirak nuclear reactor.

"This is a much more difficult problem militarily than taking on Saddam Hussein's [nuclear] program," he said. In Iran there are as many as 200 sites that are part of their nuclear program, although some are more important than others, he noted.

As a result, he said, "I do not see that Israel is going to do something like that. ... In all our conversations, thus far, Israel has stressed that this is an international problem. Israel does not want to make it an Israeli problem. Israel is committed to the political approach that the international community it taking,' added the official.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni concurred in speaking to The Jerusalem Post. Livni said that "control of the nuclear game was in the hands of the great powers." She added, "I expect that the [key international players] will go for sanctions - and severe sanctions, not soft ones - for their own sake.

The US official said the text of UN sanctions against Iran would be discussed with Olmert when the Israeli leader met with the US President George Bush in Washington next Monday.

The hope, he said, is to prevent an arms race in the region by changing the policies of the regime. Still, he said, the fear that Iran would soon have the capacity of producing nuclear weapons has had some positive effects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is pushing moderate Arab states to work to resolve the problem.

"They want to reduce to the greatest extent possible the friction created by the Israeli-Palestinian dispute," he remarked.

Regarding Iraq, he said, "I do not see the United States withdrawing from Iraq in the next two years." He did not believe such a withdrawal would promote stability.

He spoke of the close ties between Israel and the United States, but noted that there were some disagreements. The US is asking Israel to stop its surveillance flights over Lebanon and to find the intelligence information they provide from other sources.

The US, he said, shares Israel's concern that Syria and Iran may not be abiding by the arms embargo imposed on Hizbullah and said the embargo needed to be monitored.

"We strongly support Israel's right to defend itself and we recognize the value of some of these flights," said the official. The risk, he said, is that the overflights "provide a pretext for Hizbullah" to accuse Israel of not abiding by UN resolution 1701, which calls for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.

In the absence of the over-flights, he declined to explain how Israel would acquire surveillance information.

Equally in Gaza the US respects Israel right to defend itself against Hamas rockets launched into Israel, but at the same time it should minimize operations in Gaza.

"At this time we think a military strategy alone is not sufficient, there has be a political component," he asserted.
According to the official, the United States is not directly involved in talks on the release of the two IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev that were kidnapped by Hizbullah in July 2006.

"I believe that the process has moved forward but until it reaches results, we can not talk about progress, he said.

[mike435]

sorry you feel that way
but i think if it joins the EU it will be beneficial for all
maybe not so much terrorist groups like hezbolah or hams and iran in the short run

but think about if israel joins the EU it has to adhere to policys of the EU
EU is alot less hawkish than the US israel alliance
and since it is part ot the EU it will be forced to make compormises

and what is their to fear for hezbolah and iran arnt their acts totaly justified so why would they be scared if israel joins the eu and it becomes a time when an attack on israel is an attack on EU.

well let me tell you EU will never let israel get involved with it
one becuase they dont have the moral objectivity to engage terrorisom when israel get attaked they will let it go becuase their is tomuch at stake for them to want to creat a solution
2 this hate of israel by the world makes EU look so good and bussiness and money goes to the EU

this israel palastinian situation is like a never ending self making market for the world

because of this
europe is the favorit trade parter
us sells wepons to israel
russia the other
and wuropeans they profit both ways

oh also everytime israel attacks these targets its aroosi for europeans
it is powerplants that they will fix infurstructure that they will built loans that they will issue.
the sad thing the people who really pick up the check are the israei and palastinians who pay with it with their bad quality of life and their lifes
no one gives f about the region

wow how did i end up here i dont think what i said belongs here i dont even know were it belong if want post it in the proper place if this is not proper

[zubin]

sorry you feel that way
but i think if it joins the EU it will be beneficial for all
maybe not so much terrorist groups like hezbolah or hams and iran in the short run

Mike did you know that the founders of Israel targetted civilian populations?