Kerry's Peace Deal with PA and Israel Due in April

Nadene Goldfoot                                                               

For background in laying down talks this week, members of the World Economic Forum met back on May 26th of last year at the Dead Sea in Jordan to discuss getting peace between the Abbas PA group and Israel.  They decided on a $4 billion dollar package for the PA group to stimulate their economy.  The truth that they are not facing is that it will take more than money to stimulate them from being unwilling to make peace.  They need to change their whole attitude towards a Jewish nation among them.   Businessmen from both sides attended this meeting.  King Abdullah of Jordan is all for relaunching the peace negotiations.  Actually, he is in deep trouble of losing his crown if the Arab Spring takes over his country like it did in Syria, so peace is very meaningful for him as well.

 Back in 1967 after the war, Israel did everything in their power to assist and teach the Arabs in their economic pursuits, but they rebelled against it.  The PA's aim was not to be successful but to be a thorn in the side of Israel.  Note that when Israel pulled out of Gaza, they left their businesses that could have been used by the future Hamas terrorists, but they destroyed them.  The business they have been in has been to agitate and cause fear into the southern Israelis, and hopefully, even to kill a few.

Attending this conference this year were representatives from all the countries in the world with at least one person.  It was attended by  the USA with 72 members, UK with 31, China with 10, Canada with 9, Switzerland with 8, Germany and France with 7 each, Mexico with 5.  Kerry gave the opening speech.

Kerry and Barack Obama, President of the USA, are very disappointed in the Jewish complaints over their treatment in the 11 meetings they've had in these peace discussions with the Palestinians.  Israel has been placed in security risks in Kerry's plans and this Israel can't buy into. After a 90 minute meeting of the minds, Netanyahu let Kerry know that he will not uproot the Jews living in the Jordan Valley, which is 62 miles long and goes from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.  Jericho and Jenin are in the Jordan Valley and are Muslim centers today. Sderot, Beer Sheva and Masada are major Jewish cities in the Jordan Valley.  Kibbutz Degania Aleph, the first major kibbutz lies there as well.
                                                                 

                                                               
" The Jordan emerges from an area of stately date groves near the first kibbutz, Degania, flows past "Yardenit" Pilgrim’s Baptismal Site and becomes the peaceful border between Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In fact, you can cross into Jordan at the Sheikh Hussein Bridge, just opposite the city of Beit Shean."  
                 
Evidently Kerry and Obama have a higher optimism level than the Israelis do.  Israel needs the security that they have attained after the 1967 attack of all the Arab nations and realize that in itself was a miracle.  They lost lives they do not wish to repeat again since the Arabs have continuously attacked them since 1948.  It happened in 1956, 1967, 1973, 1981-82, and has been repeatedly happening in-between these major but short wars.  Since 2001, southern Israel has been rained upon with missiles, mortars and rockets.  Their neighbors, Lebanon and Syria in the north have a line-up of rockets aimed at them.  Security in a hostile neighborhood is of the utmost requirement for peace with people who covet your land.  Kerry must remember that all the official hoops required to gain this land was official back in the 1920's with the League of Nations and that Israel had already lost 80% of that promised land to Jordan who became Jordan out of it.  Now, it's a fight to keep this 20% left for the Jewish homeland of Israel.  Everyone knows, except Kerry and Obama, that the aim of the Arabs is to take that 20%.   In that, they must know the truth, but are unwilling to accept it as it goes against their agenda.

Netanyahu and Kerry spoke in private during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  Later Kerry was to give an important address on the Middle East to this forum.  Earlier Kerry had spoken with Tzipi Livni, Israel's top negotiator.  The PA negotiators will get to go to Washington this week for their private talks with him.  "Some critics of the administration have suggested that Kerry is spending too much time trying to bring the Israelis and Palestinians together and not enough time dealing with more urgent crises."

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/01/24/3437393/kerry-israeli-pm-talk-peace-in.html#storylink=cpy

 Kerry's speech started off attacking President Assad of Syria.  Kerry isn't winning any points since Syria was not acted on by the USA.   Instead, the USA managed to arm the rebels who have been just as bad as Assad's regime in slaughtering people.  About 130,000 have died in this ongoing Civil War.  The Arab Gulf allies of Saudi Arabia and their peers are not happy with the USA and their dealings in the Middle East.  Kerry's defense in this round will be to talk about his commitment to engagement in every region in the world, even though their engagement in Syria was very little and took its time in coming to the point of aiding and abetting certain rebel groups.  He will make the point of being committed to diplomacy, but even that is turning out to be one-sided in matters between Israel and the Arabs being he sides with the Arabs more.  This Civil War has gone on for 3 years now.  Millions have lost their homes and jobs and are either in refugee camps or might be heading there as countries like Egypt are discharging refugees to leave their countries.

Being Kerry has visited the Middle East with the Peace Talk agenda 11 times already, he can say that the USA has not disengaged from this goal.  He has let down much of the world, especially Israel in the Iranian discussions over their nuclear weapons program which is continuing with his guidance where Israel and other wary countries needed to hear that it was not only contained but stopped.  Not much was gained with Iran at all.  Sanctions were lifted that can never be reinstated.  The heavy hand was lifted by Kerry's policy.

Kerry's method of arbitration and discussion as been to push Israel the hardest and the Palestinians a little to accept tough changes in their policies.  Israel is always the one who gives into the hope for peace by giving land in a deal.  The last one was Gaza which turned out to be a disaster.  Hopefully, Tzipi Livni will not forget this in her decisions.  Israel gives and the Arabs take, which  has been the pattern for the past 66 years.  It's time it changes, and to do that would take a whole new charter for the millions of Arab Muslims.  Hamas's charter, with Hamas ruling in Gaza, is exactly like the Muslim Brotherhood's charter, an extreme goal of taking Israel and ruling over everyone with their brand of religion.  Buyer, beware.  Six months down and three more to go.  The end of the peace talks is in April.  How many more meetings will Kerry extend himself in order to reach his goal?  What about Hamas and Gaza, now?  What more does he think he can do with that can of worms?
Update:  from Breaking Israel News:

"The Jordan Valley: Israel’s Security Belt

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is once again in town trying to reach a framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. One of the issues of dispute is the fate of the Jordan Valley, which is indispensable for Israel’s national security. The Jordan Valley is the only available defensible border on the eastern front, which is the closest border to Israel’s heartland — the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv-Haifa triangle — which holds 70 percent of its population and 80% of its economic infrastructure."

Reference:  Arutz Sheva, news@israelnationanews.com, Kerry, Netanyahu discuss Peace Talks at Davos by AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff.
http://www.weforum.org/search/google/Kerry%20speech?query=Kerry%20speech&cx=005374784487575532108%3Azwr8u4lxoba&cof=FORID%3A11&sitesearch=
http://www.weforum.org/news/kerry-announces-us4-billion-economic-plan-break-israeli-palestinian-impasse?news=page
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/01/24/3437393/kerry-israeli-pm-talk-peace-in.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-kerry-discuss-peace-talks-at-davos/
https://www.google.com/#q=Israeli+cities%2C+towns+in+Jordan+Valley
http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Geographic%20Regions/Pages/The%20Jordan%20Valley.aspx
http://www.mapisrael.info/jordan-valley
Facts About Israel, Division of Information Ministry for Foreign Afairs, Jerusalem
Update: 4:45pm http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/01/10/israel-arabs-prefer-to-remain-israelis-despite-fm-liebermans-call-for-territory-swap-video/
Breaking Israel News Update:
UPDATE:  http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2013/11/06/the-funniest-video-about-israel-you-will-ever-see-give-the-middle-east-to-the-jews/

All About Israel's Administered Areas From Six-Day War

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                       

  We Jews Do Not Enter Area A.  There is no similar sign on the other side for B and C.

Territories that were occupied by Israel in the course of the Six-Day War against Israel came about when the Israel Defense forces miraculously defeated the massed Arab armies which menaced Israel's frontiers.  There are 4 administrated areas.

1. Judea and Samaria (West Bank) of the Jordan.  This territory had been until 1948 part of the British Mandate of Palestine.  Between 1948 and 1967 it was ruled by Jordan, which annexed it in 1950.  Since Judea and Samaria were never officially annexed by the Israeli government, the IDF Civil Administration has jurisdiction over the districts today.

2. The Gaza Strip had also been, until 1948, part of the British Mandate of Palestine.  Between 1948 and 1967 (with a short interruption in 1956-7), following the Sinai War, it was administered by an Egyptian Military Government.  It was not annexed by Egypt. Israel left completely in 2005 but keeps control of shipping lanes to keep out arms to be used against her.  .

3. The Sinai Desert was, until 1967, under Egyptian administration. It was given back to Egypt in return for peace agreement in March 1979 by Sadat with Begin.  .

4. The Golan Heights were, until 1967, under Syrian administration.  Since the 67 War, the Golan has officially been incorporated as parts of Israel.

The status of the administered areas had not changed from June 1967 to 1973.  Pending a peace settlement in which the borders between Israel and its neighbors will be decided, it is that of territories occupied during a war.  Israel had not annexed any part of the areas.  East Jerusalem was reunified in June 1967 with West Jerusalem.

Population: By July 1972, almost a million Arabs lived in the administered areas.
640,600 of them in Judea and Samaria (2,270 sq miles)
388,600 of them in the Gaza Strip and North Sinai (140 sq. miles)
   8,000 of them in the Golan Heights (500 sq miles)

The population of the areas is predominantly Muslim.  The smaller Christian communities of Greek Orthodox and Latins are mainly in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Beit Jala.  In the Golan Heights there are Druzes.

Until a peace settlement, which will determine the political future of the areas, Israel's policy tries to achieve the objectives of co-existence and cooperation between the Arabs of the areas and Israelis.  It is trying to enable the people to live normal lives  and to maintain security to all alike.  During the 1970's, Judea, Samaria and Gaza were the 4th fastest growing economy in the world-ahead of such places as Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea, and substantially ahead of Israel itself. (Historian Efrain Karsh).  Israel had been working hard to improve their lot.  

Local Authorities include 23 municipalities and 31 rural councils in Judea and Samaria.  Elections were held in 1972 in accordance with Jordanian law.  75% of voter participation caused about half the mayors to be replaced by new ones.   There were 3 municipalities and 7 rural councils in the Gaza Strip and North Sinai.  Liason officers of the Israel Ministry of the Interior approved their budgets, arranged to lend them funds at low interest, and audited their finances and administration.

Israeli Living in Administered Areas:  Between June 1967 and December 1972, Israel had established 14 towns in the Golan, 6 in Judea and Samaria, 7 in Gaza and North Sinai and 5 in East and South Sinai.  by 1977 there were 76 Jewish communities built in the Territories on undeveloped land.
 There are 3 different types:

1. Nahal villages:  Established by the IDF.  Nahal is a corps which combines military training with farm work.  Members become farmers when service ends.  The villages are military points, like those held by any other unit of the IDF.

2. Civilian villages:  Established in areas which Israel hopes may be assigned to its jurisdiction by peace treaties.  Israel knows where borders need to be for security.  These positions are not conditions and that in peace talks, everything will be negotiable.

3. Communities: Established where political future is not covered  with the assumption that should the area revert to Arab sovereignty under a treaty of peace, it should be allowed to continue to live in it just as Arab communities live in Israel..  We are talking about our ancient history of Judea and Samaria, established by King David and his son, King Solomon of which this land contains the Jewish holy shrines in areas beyond the bounds of pre-1967 Israel.  No Israeli would relinquish large parts of the administered area or accept any arrangement that banned Jews from living in places which are of religious and historical significance.

By 1977, some Israelis, such as the survivors of the Gush Etzion block, returned to rebuild Jewish communities that Arab forces had captured and destroyed in the 1948 war.  After 1977, 74 additional communities were built in the Territories on unallocated government land.  By 2005, the 150 communities included about 200,000 Israelis living on less than 2% of the land of Judea and Samaria.   80% of the people here live in communities close to the Green Line, currently consisting of suburbs of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.  The Green Line (a pre-1967 boundary) is not an internationally recognized border.  It is an armistice line, marking positions held by Israeli and Arab troops when the final truce was called at the end of the 1948 War.  the Green Line remained an armistice line because Arab leaders refused to negotiate to set final border lines.  The Oslo Accords called for Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate for a final border between the State of Israel and a future Palestinian state.  To date, these negotiations haven't resolved outstanding issues to the satisfaction of both parties.

Disputed Territories:  The communities that Israel built in Gaza and Judea and Samaria were in undeveloped, uninhabited areas and are entirely legal.  Palestinians have legitimate claims to sovereignty over some of the land..  Many are longtime inhabitants who feel they have been deprived of political rights and self-determination.  Israel disputes their territorial claims and Israel also has strong claims to the land.  Therefore, these lands are referred to as disputed territories.  Israel has 3 types of claims:

1. Legal claims:  The British Mandate 1920-1948.  this was the last legal sovereign authority for the Territories.  Jordan and Egypt illegally held them between 1948 to 1967.  They remain unallocated portions of the British Mandate since no government formally replaced the mandate's jurisdiction.  The guidelines called for Jews to settle the area on what was called, The Jewish Homeland as per League of Nations.  the Jews' right to live on the land is a "legal right assured by treaty and specifically protected by Article 80 of the UN charter.  ...the Jewish right of settlement in the area is equivalent in every way to the right of existing Palestinian population to live there.  (Eugene Rostow, former US under Secretary of State, 1990).

2. Historical claims:  Judea and Samaria (West Bank) were the cradle of Jewish civilization since the 2nd millenium BCE and had a continuous Jewish presence until the 1948 War when Jewish inhabitants were killed and about 10,000 were expelled by the Jordanians.

3. Security-related claims:  Arab states had repeatedly launched attacks against Israel from the Territories' strategic locations and UN Resolution 242 envisioned bilateral negotiations that would give Israel more secure borders and lead to greater regional stability.  Until 1988, the PLO officially continued to call for a Palestinian state to replace Israel, not for a separate state that would exist alongside it.  Today Abbas offers recognition if Israel takes his steps that would allow the destruction of the state as they continue to call for the destruction of the state!

Ending Occupation:   From 1993 to 2007, Israel gradually ended the "Occupation."  when the Oslo peace process began in 1993, Israel began ending its military administration as it turned civil governance of the Palestinian population over to their elected government.  In 1994 Israel began turning the administration over to the PA.  However, radical Palestinian groups call all of Israel "Occupied Territory."  Since 2005, Israel uprooted Jewish communities from Gaza.  Israel's goal was to help create a self-governing Palestinian state in all of Gaza and most of Judea and Samaria, incorporating land where 98% of Palestinians live.

Since 1993, the regions have been divided into areas A, B, and C.  Area A was assigned to the Palestinian Authority where most of the Arab residents live. According to many estimates, 1.5 million Arabs live in the region.  Accurate statistics have been difficult to obtain with claims that Arab demographics have been artificially inflated.   Area B is under joint control and has large tracts of barren land.  Israel has full control of Area C where most of the over 340,000 Jewish residents live.

All the while, Israel's security needs remain urgent.  In Gaza, the Hamas-led Palestinian government continues to call for Israel's destruction and even after the recent cease fire, have fired rockets, missiles and mortars into southern Israel.   Israel has been repeatedly attacked from Palestinian and Lebanese territories.  Hamas has ties with Iran, Syria and Hezbollah and has forged ties with al Qaeda.  They all call for Israel's destruction.  

Today an even bigger threat looms over Israel with Iran getting atomic capabilities and their threat to destroy Israel.  Syria, though engaged in a 2 year old civil war and has killed almost or more than 80,000 of their own people, are now threatening Israel with missiles bought from Russia.  Egypt is falling apart since putting in a Muslim Brotherhood leader, Morsi.  Jordan is straining with taking in Syria's refugees and a large Palestinian citizen population.  The Middle East is heating up along with the weather.   

Resource:  Facts About Israel 1973, published by the Division of Information, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem
Israel 101 published by Stand with Us, supported by Christians United for Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_Peace_Treaty
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163774 Sections A, B, C
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea_and_Samaria_Area
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2013/04/some-facts-about-occupation-subject.html
http://israel-nadene.blogspot.com/2013/05/1973s-real-nitty-gritty-on-judaea-and.html

Conundrum About giving Millions to Palestinians to Get American Security ?

Nadene Goldfoot
Hamas, which is the Islamic Resistance Movement of the Muslim Brotherhood, declared its intentions to eradicate Israel. Their 1988 charter speaks of replacing Israel with the Palestinians.  They have a military branch, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.   The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928.  It encompasses religion, politics and social beliefs.  "The Brotherhood's credo was and is, "Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations. Its most famous slogan, used worldwide, is "Islam is the solution." Their goal is to wipe out Israel.

The Muslim Brotherhood was active in Gaza since the 1950's and out of it came Hamas in 1987. Their Sheik Ahmed Yassin said in " 1987 that Hamas was founded  to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and to establish an Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip." Abbas, the Palestinian authority chairman, seeks a unity government with Hamas and got it. They reject direct negotiations with Israel.  By doing this, they are being honest for a change.  They have no intentions to make peace and stop attacking.

Yet Obama claims that American support for Israel is unbreakable.  He has given the people who openly say they will eradicate Israel, who have been shelling Israel daily in some sort of mad Russian Roulette practice, $192 million per year.  Congress had imposed a ban on this "financial aid" but Obama lifted it under the excuse that it was important to the security interests of the USA.  Only he seems to know what that is.  To me this sounds naive or disingenuous.

Congress saw right away that they were giving the enemies of Israel who are out to destroy her the money to do it with.  Why is it that Obama sees it quite differently?  How does he expect Netanyahu to believe his support is unbreakable?

The Arabs who had been living in Palestine along with the Jews were led by politically-minded leaders who brained washed the whole lot of them into hating their neighbors, the Jews.  They promised them the homes of the Jews if they'd get out of the way so they could win a quick war and it didn't happen.  The people, as brain-washed as they were, followed orders and lived in camps instead of becoming relocated.  They still were being fed promises the leaders couldn't keep.  Now we have a people maddened by their leaders who have nothing on their minds but hatred for Jews, thus for Israel.  They've multiplied quickly in the camps and each baby is thought of as a future fighter against Israel.  Hatred has become their religion. It's too bad that they were presented with Democracy so soon because they were only in the mood to destroy Israel and chose the ones who they thought could do it the best and fastest.  Those who followed the history and developments in this area knew what was coming.

This didn't happen with Arabs who remained in their homes alongside the Jews during the times of attacks.  They have become citizens of Israel and number about 1.5 million.  They are in the Knesset and have a better life than their friends who were the greedy ones to start with, not minding a take over of their slaughtered neighbors.

Has the millions of American dollars being spent on weapons to use against Israel?  They seem to have a never-ending supply.  Israel has to keep borrowing money from USA to pay for their arsenal.  It's  a ridiculous vicious  circle.  It's not one made by Congress, that's for sure.  The  Arabs thought that Obama would side with them in the struggle over Israel and so this is his solution, perhaps?

This brings back memories of the 20's where mobsters demanded payoffs for security.  If businesses didn't pay up, they'd find their stores all busted up.

So the USA is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt with $1.2 billion with our taxpayer money we had to borrow from China  in order to do this.  This didn't buy very good security and our flag was torn down while the Al Qaeda one was put up.  Now under lots of Washington pressure hundreds of protesters are being arrested in Egypt.

Next door in Libya, our embassy had no security at all.  The country has a new regime with President Mohamed el-Megarif, who feels it was al-Qaeda of Afghanistan who premeditated this attack.  Our Susan Rice of the UN goes along with Obama in that the whole thing came about from a video made about 6 months ago denigrating Mohammad, if you could follow the poor story line.  More facts show that Megarif is correct.    The American ambassador was killed along with 3 others and still no security visited.  Finally on the 3rd day, Obama got on the phone and there was action.  It took the phone call.  Libya has 6, 173,579 people of which 97% are Sunni Muslims which is their state religion.

Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
http://frontpagemag.com/2012/joseph-puder/obamas-betrayal-of-israel/
Book:  From Time Immemorial by Joan Peters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/world/middleeast/anti-american-protests-subside-in-middle-east.html

How Paul Ryan Looks at Israel

Nadene Goldfoot
Congressman Paul Ryan, 42 years old,  has just been picked as the running mate for  Mitt Romney, 65 year old Republican candidate for President of the USA.   His position on Israel is very important.  Being the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee from Wisconsin has not called on him to be in on working on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but he has written his opinion about it and I see he shares my opinions.   Paul has been a 7 term congressman, so has had lots of experience.

He would not jeopardize Israel's safety or do anything to legitimize terrorism.  He realizes that Hamas is a terrorist group who call for Israel's destruction.  He knows the Palestinian Arabs  refuse to recognize Israel's existence and even call Osama Bin Laden a "martyr."  He may not even realize, though, that every fallen Palestinian is a "martyr" in Gaza and Judea-Samaria and many have holidays to celebrate their actions.

He reports that America shouldn't force Israel to come to a peace compact that will not result in peace and security for them.  First, the "Palestinians Arabs" must recognize Israel's right to exist.  If they want a state, they must accept that Israel is there as a state as well.  This is Israel's position as well.

Paul co-sponsored legislation H. Res. 268 that passed the House on July 7, 2011 by 407-13, introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in May that reaffirms the US commitment to negotiate a settlement through direct negotiations.  I note that so far Abbas, the Palestinian leader, refuses to come to the table as he wants things settled his way before he even opens his mouth.  

He was also the co-sponsor of the HR 4133, United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, also introduced by Cantor, passing in the House in May 2012 stating that it is the US policy to reaffirm commitment to Israel's security as a state, provide Israel with military capabilities to defend itself, expand military and civilian co-operation, assist in a negotiated settlement of the conflict, and encourage Israel's neighbors to recognize its right to exist.  It passed, 411-2.

Paul has been a very active congressman.  He had also been the author of a House-backed budget plan that curbed overall entitlement spending and changes in Medicaid into a voucher-like system to save costs.  He's a man with a "vision for the country, according to Romney.

Paul attended the funeral for victims of the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin.  Romney's son, Tagg joined him there.

Congressman Paul Ryan  has been picked for his successes and goals in the economy and budgets, not on his outlook on Israel, but I'm sure that didn't hurt.  Together, they make a great team that also should be good for Israel.

PS:  The Sunday paper has an article telling that Oregon Democrat Senator Ron Wyden, (Jewish) authored a 2,300 word piece in March explaining a plan he and Ryan developed which is quite different from the Ryan-authored Medicare proposal adopted by the republican led House.  This Wyden-Ryan plan will allow seniors to continue receiving Medicare coverage while revamping and expanding private options.  It's different from the "end Medicare as we know it" approach that caused Democrats to fire away at Ryan.  Wyden will now have a new prominence in the race since Medicare is a huge issue.  Being a senior and on Medicare through our social security, I find this reassuring.

PPSS: The Oregonian newpaper 8/14/12 page A4  this morning has another article saying that the Wyden-Ryan package was followed by Ryan's later who "advocated a formal budget-slashing proposal that passed the House which Wyden voted against when it came to the Senate".  Wyden denies that he co-lead a piece of legislation with Ryan now. He said this after Romney suggested Wyden ws embracing his running mate's ideas.   More than being angry with Ryan, Wyden is attacking Romney throughout the piece.

Resource: http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/House/Wisconsin/Paul_Ryan/Views/Israel/
Oregonian newspaper, Frontpage: Ryan is reportedly Romney's VP choice by Kasie Hunt and Brian Bakst
Fox News TV channel 118-morning announcment
http://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-elections-2012/romney-campaign-confirms-paul-ryan-as-running-mate-1.457478
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443404004577582112521141598.html Mitt Romney/Ryan
http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=280850
1:45pm Sunday:  Oregonian newspaper 8/12/12 Wyden has a history with GOP pick by Jeff Mapes p: A6.
Oregonian newspaper 8/14/12 page A4   

Syria, Israel's Nasty Neighbor Just Hasn't Changed a Bit

Nadene Goldfoot
In February of 1982, President Assad  mowed down a quarter of Hama to stop an uprising there.  Does that sound familiar today in 2012?  Nothing much has changed.  Then it was the Muslim Brotherhood that was doing the uprising.  Between 10,000 to 30,000 civilians were killed in that massacre.

Syria is made up of 22,505,000 people with 90% being Sunni and the rest Shi'a.  President Hafez Assad has absolute authority and his many security services have been responsible for severe human rights violations.  They use torture complete with reported equipped torture chambers where they gouge out eyes, extract fingernails and toenails and use electric shocks on sensitive parts of the body, arrests and detentions, lack of fair trials in security cases, and do not have freedom of speech, press, associations, or the right of citizens to change their governments nor workers' rights where they might have independent trade union.  It's autocratic and that's it.  No wonder Assad has been scared of a democratic state of Israel right next door.  People will get ideas!

Public criticism of Assad has been illegal.  He belongs to the Baath party who owns and operates all broadcast media and publishing houses.  How convenient for him.  Mail is censored, telephone conversations are often recorded and the security police are always listening in.  Demonstrations and public meetings are illegal unless the government gives permission and when has that been?  How have they stopped political opposition?  By mass murder, of course.

Quite frankly, all of Israel's neighbors are nasty people with  non democratic regimes that take advantage of their people but the world has preferred to charge Israel, the one democratic state,  with human rights violations, and it has been just such violators who have wielded the charges in the UN!

Jews living in Syria today number less than 80 as of 2005, but at one time had a large population living there, going back to King David's time when Damascus was at times even a friend to Israel.  In Herod's day it had a large Jewish population.  Many Jews found refuge here in 1492 from the Spanish Inquisition.  .  30,000 were living there in 1948.  by 1970 Israel held Operation Blanket, involving Israeli navel commandos and Mossad operatives to rescue young Jews  that had to leave because of persecution.  Many Jews from Syria are living in Brooklyn, NY today as well.

Today Assad has destroyed a Sunni-populated village, Haffa,  with his Syrian forces and militiamen who cleansed it from rebel fighters.  The population either were massacred or fled because other Sunni sites experienced mass killings.  The report is that they used Russian equipment like helicopter gunships.  Russia is Syria's main supplier.

Resource:  Myths and Facts-a concise record of the Arab-Israeli conflict by Mitchell Bard and Joel Himelfarb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Syria
Oregonian newspaper, 6/15/2012 page A9, Monitors find village in ruins by Rick Gladstone, NY Times news service
New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia
http://israel-nadene.blogspot.com/2012/06/syria-israels-northern-border-neighbor.html

Our Country's Security System

What kind of security system do we have that allows someone to board a plane with explosive material strapped to his body and this is not detected? I'm sure we all expected that such a situation would have been detected by our terrific security system. It isn't happening.

Without that amazing young passenger who dove toward this terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, and stopped him while putting himself in harm's way, even burning his own hands, that plane of some 270 passengers would have been blown up. It wasn't our security system that saved them all.

We can't count on a super hero every time we fly. We need a serious security system. I don't even know the name of this young man, but thank him for all he has done. He's one in a million.

Reference: http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/

12/29/09 : The superhero's name is Jasper Scheringa, a Dutch passenger on the Northwest airline heading for Detroit. I can find nothing on him, other than Dutch news. He was certainly brave and acted quickly. I saw him interviewed on Fox News, and that's all I've seen or read. I did read a translation from Dutch inferring that the al Quaida may try to harm him possibly for rescuing the plane. Perhaps that's why all has been silent about him.