ALERT

Arens: Israel missed opportunity to destroy Hamas rocket capability

 “The IDF operation was late to get started, proceeded at a leisurely pace, and then halted before the objective of eliminating the Hamas capability to rocket Israel had been accomplished. . .The IDF should have been given the task of destroying Hamas’ rocket capability and accomplishing that task within a short time, something that the IDF easily had the ability to do.” Read more

Merkel: Pope must clarify Shoah stance

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Pope Benedict XVI to make a very clear

rejection of Holocaust denials after a former bishop was rehabilitated by the Vatican. . . Her demand came amid increasing outrage among Germany’s Roman Catholic leaders over the pope’s decision to lift the excommunication of British-born Richard Williamson, who questioned whether 6 million Jews were gassed during the Nazi Holocaust.”
Read more

Explosive device found at Ukrainian synagogue

“KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — An armed explosive device was found in the ventilator of a Ukrainian synagogue. One of the leaders of Lutzk Progressive Jewish Congregation found the homemade bomb in the synagogue’s basement Monday morning. . . Shvardovsky told JTA that law enforcement agencies arrived without delay and blocked off nearby streets for about two hours. The explosive was successfully neutralized.” Read more

Italian Jews support Indian immigrant

“ROME (JTA) — Italian Jewish leaders expressed solidarity with a homeless Indian immigrant who was beaten and set on fire near Rome. . .When we [Jews] are the object of hostile acts, we receive support from all sides, and we want to do the same in this case, said Rome’s Jewish community president, Riccardo Pacifici.” Read more

Study finds U.S. Jewry’s willingness to strengthen Israel ties very low

French Jews ask Sarkozy to help curb anti-Semitic attacks related to Gaza op

German Jews break ties with Catholics over Bishop who denied Holocaust

New depiction of Fagin on London stage sparks fears of anti-Semitic stereotypes

Anti-Semitism effects minuscule Jewish community of Iceland

 Israeli & Turkish officials say that ties between two countries are strong

Anti-Semitic graffiti cleaned from Kiev buildings

 South African Muslims condemn Jewish boycott

Poll shows U.S. Jews overwhelmingly back Gaza operation

“WASHINGTON (JTA) — Seventy-nine percent of American Jews felt Israel’s actions in Gaza were appropriate, according to a new Anti-Defamation League poll.

“Just 17 percent said Israel’s response to the current crisis in Gaza was excessive, according to the poll of 400 American Jews surveyed from Jan. 13-19. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

“An even greater number, 81 percent, felt Hamas was responsible for the recent escalation in violence, with only 14 percent blaming Israel.

“The poll also found that 63 percent of American Jews support the creation of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and 66 percent approve of Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza.” Read more

ADL brands Caracas synagogue vandalism a modern day Kristallnacht

 “The Anti-Defamation League issued a response to the vandalization of Caracas’ oldest synagogue saying it was a modern day Kristallnacht and reminiscent of the darkest days leading to the Shoah.

“On Saturday, an armed group vandalized Caracas’ oldest synagogue, shattering religious objects and spray-painting walls in what Jewish leaders called the worst attack ever on their community in Venezuela.

“The ADL said the incident was not random, rather it was directly related to the atmosphere of anti-Jewish intimidation promoted by President Chavez and his government apparatus.” Read more

Caroline Glick comments on Obama overtures to Iran

 “Beyond its sponsorship of terrorism, due to its nuclear weapons program Iran is the largest emerging threat to global security. Together with its genocidal rhetoric against Israel, its calls for the destruction of the US, and its incitement for the overthrow of the governments of Egypt and Jordan, among others, Iran is the single largest source of instability in the region. Moreover, as US Defense Secretary Robert Gates made clear in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Iran is working actively in South and Central America to destabilize the western hemisphere.” Read more

From the Washington Post, commentaries on Obama’s Muslim Outreach

 Jim Hoagland: “Obama has abandoned a George W. Bush slogan — the war on terror — But the struggle to locate, disrupt and destroy international terrorist networks — which target other Muslims even more often than they target foreign infidels, Jews and crusaders — goes on. The Taliban’s quest to return Afghanistan to its misogynistic savagery goes on. Egyptian fanatics who assassinated Anwar Sadat still aim to kill Hosni Mubarak. These efforts will continue, irrespective of Obama’s words.” Read more

Charles Krauthammer: “Every new president flatters himself that he, kinder and gentler, is beginning the world anew. Yet, when Barack Obama in his inaugural address reached out to Muslims by saying “to the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,” his formulation was needlessly defensive and apologetic. . . it is both false and deeply injurious to this country to draw a historical line dividing America under Obama from a benighted past when Islam was supposedly disrespected and demonized.” Read more

FBI cuts off CAIR over Hamas questions

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has cut off contacts with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) amid mounting concern about the Muslim advocacy group’s roots in a Hamas-support network, the Investigative Project on Terrorism has learned.

“The decision to end contacts with CAIR was made quietly last summer as federal prosecutors prepared for a second trial of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), an Islamic charity accused of providing money and political support to the terrorist group Hamas, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

“CAIR and its chairman emeritus, Omar Ahmad, were named un-indicted co-conspirators in the HLF case. Both Ahmad and CAIR’s current national executive director, Nihad Awad, were revealed on government wiretaps as having been active participants in early Hamas-related organizational meetings in the United States. During testimony, FBI agent Lara Burns described CAIR as a front organization.” Read more

Importance of FBI Action on CAIR

“…after years of legitimizing CAIR as a mainstream Muslim organization, has finally cut of their dealings with the organization. This is the first time a part of the government has publicly linked the presence of CAIR in meetings to the government entity’s refusal to attend the meeting. This stand is long overdue, and one that should be followed by other government agencies. The FBI has said it won’t deal with CAIR until certain issues are addressed to the FBI’s satisfaction, and must be addressed by the national FBI, not local field offices.” Read more

 

 

NY Times Columnist: From War on Terror to Strategic Challenge

“The war on terror is over. Yes, the with-us-or-against-us global struggle - the so-called Long War - in which a freedom-loving West confronts the undifferentiated forces of darkness comprising everything from Al Qaeda to elements of the Palestinian national struggle under the banner of Islamofascism has been terminated.

“What’s left is what matters: defeating terrorist organizations. That’s not a war. It’s a strategic challenge. The new president’s abandonment of post-9/11 Bush doctrine is a critical breakthrough. It resolves nothing but opens the way for a rapprochement with a Muslim world long cast into the against-us camp. Nothing good in Israel-Palestine, Afghanistan or Iran could happen with that Manichean chasm.” Read more

Top U.N. official blasts Hamas for cynical use of civilian facilities

 “United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Chief John Holmes blasted Hamas Tuesday for its cynical use of civilian facilities during recent hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

“The reckless and cynical use of civilian installations by Hamas and indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilian populations are clear violations of international humanitarian law, Holmes told the UN Security Council.” Read more

Study warns of possibility that Iran will have nuclear capacity by 2010

“Iran will amass enough low-enriched uranium this year to have the ability to build a nuclear bomb by the end of 2010, a respected think tank has predicted.

“The International Institute for Strategic Studies has said Iran is months away from crossing a vital threshold which could put it on course to build a weapon.” Read more

 

Military expert calls for flexible armed forces 

“Future warfare is likely to be hybrid in character, possessing interlocking elements of both conventional and irregular warfare. Under such conditions, strategic flexibility must be the watchword for U.S. military and policy makers.” Read more

 New EU president called “true friend of Israel”

 “Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has been at the helm of the European Union’s agenda for nearly a month now in his capacity as current President of the EU Council of Ministers. He is 71 years old, a Catholic by religion, a conservative by habit, a liberal by leanings, identified with the left and a representative of the Green Party in the Senate of the Czech Republic. In Israel, they are pleased to add to this unique mix that he is a true friend.” Read more

 9 Alumni of Saudi program for ex-jihadists arrested

 “BEIRUT, Lebanon - Nine graduates of an influential Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists, including some who had been imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay, have been arrested for rejoining terrorist groups since the program started in 2004, Saudi officials said Monday.” Read more

On the 64^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we look at ceremonies, or lack of them, around the world

Host of U.N. Holocaust Memorial skips event

Council of Jews snubs Berlin Holocaust ceremony

Hundreds in London mark Holocaust

Barcelona calls off ceremony marking Holocaust

Swedish city cancels Holocaust event

 

Palestinians not high on Arab priorities

 “The mild reaction by Arab countries to the Hamas-driven Palestinian predicament in Gaza refutes the assumption that the Palestinian issue is a top Arab priority and that it constitutes the core cause of Arab hostility toward the West, USA and Israel” Read more

Head of right wing think tank calls for repartition of Israel

 “Inbar writes that the best solution would be to repartition the country, with Egypt resuming control of the Gaza Strip and Jordan controlling the West Bank. But since such an arrangement would take time to implement, for now focus should be placed on managing the conflict in its current state.” Read more

What the Jewish Orgs are saying plus Rahm, Franken and Coleman

Read a lively and informative sampling of American Jewish commentary on a variety of immediate topics, including: Mitchell Pick, Inauguration Prayer, Tracking Obama’s Promises. . .

Wilders says decision to prosecute him is political

 “Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, the director of a controversial film on radical Islam, says the decision by the Amsterdam Court of Appeals on Wednesday to prosecute him for allegedly inciting hatred against Muslims was strictly political. . .It puts hundreds of thousands of Dutchmen on trial for opposing Islam’s violent messages, the MP told Haaretz on Thursday.” Read more

Dershowitz calls accusation of war crimes against Israel phony

 “The accusation of war crimes is nothing more than a tactic selectively invoked by Israel’s enemies. Those who cry war crime against Israel don’t generally care about war crimes, as such, indeed they often support them when engaged in by countries they like. What these people care about, and all they seem to care about, is Israel. Whatever Israel does is wrong regardless of the fact that so many other countries do worse.” Read more

What effect will uranium shortage have on Iranian nuclear program?

 “Iran is facing a shortage of uranium, according to assessments by Western analysts that were published yesterday in The Times of London. The material is essential for Iran’s nuclear plans, but unlike the impression given by the report, intelligence assessments maintain that even if the shortage is real, it will not affect Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons in one to two years.” Read more

Caroline Glick: History’s Tragic Farce

“US President Barack Obama’s reported intention of appointing former Sen. George Mitchell as his envoy for the so-called Palestinian-Israeli peace process will provide us with a spectacle of an unvarnished repeat of history. . . What is most remarkable about the new administration’s embrace of its predecessors’ failed policy is how uncontroversial this policy is in Washington. It is hard to come up with another example of a policy that has failed so often and so violently that has enjoyed the support of both American political parties. Indeed, it is hard to think of a successful policy that ever enjoyed such broad support.” Read more

Obama & Autocratic Muslim Regimes

 “He should make it clear that the root causes of religious extremism and its byproduct, terrorism, must be ended by those who created them in the first place. The President must make it clear to Arab and Muslim autocratic regimes that all governments’ owned and financed religious schools and mosques that advocate intolerance of non-Muslims, ethnic and religious minorities must be either transformed from the ground up, be closed without any delays or face dire consequences. The leaders of non-compliant countries must be banned from participating in international organizations and forums, banned from traveling and have their assets frozen.” Read more

ACLU Sues MAS-run Minneapolis Charter School

 “A Minneapolis charter school has been sued by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argues taxpayer money is being used to promote religion, in violation of the Constitution’s Establishment Clause in the First Amendment.” Read more