Joel Leyden reflects on international public relations, public affairs, Internet marketing, search engine optimization SEO, crisis communications, social networking - Web 2.0 and the State of Israel.
Jerusalem ---- April 30, 2010 …. A YouTube video has recently been released urging the American public to keep Israel safe.
The YouTube video depicts Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stating that: "Iran will erase Israel from the pages of history" and "will wipe Israel off the map".
The "Keep Israel Safe" YouTube video, which has been viewed by thousands on Facebook and Twitter, also illustrates US President Barack Obama response to Iran threats by condemning Israel for building in its ancient, historic and biblical capital of Jerusalem, by snubbing Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and making the friendliest overtures to Iran. US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is quoted saying that the US has: "no plan for dealing with a nuclear Iran."
Barack Obama has been insisting that Israel should allow non-defensible borders to be placed in and around Jerusalem which would make it possible for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Qaeda to launch terror rockets into Jerusalem and every city in Israel.
Obama lied to American Jews and Christians when running for President in June 2008 saying that he would defend a "united Jerusalem". Obama called for Jerusalem “to remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”
Under the Obama administration, Iran has been getting closer to completing a nuclear weapon that could be used not only against Israel, but could strike Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Europe and the US.
Recently, thousands of Jewish and Christian protesters spoke out in New York against US President Barack Obama and his apparent sacrifice of Israel for the appeasement of Islamic terrorists.
"Americans and other world leaders are shocked by President Obama's reckless, radical policies that they believe are endangering America, Israel,and world freedom. Their voices of conscience - and deep disappointment in President Obama - will be raised," said Beth Gilinsky, President of the Jewish Action Alliance.
"The protesters called upon President Obama to stop disarming America, stop undermining America's best friend and ally in the Middle East, Israel, and to stand with Israel and America's friends rather than appeasing Iran, dictators and Jihadists (advocates of an Islamic Holy war against Jews and Christians as illustrated by 9/11 and the London Bombings)."
"Obama in demanding that Israel cease building in its ancient capital of Jerusalem and dividing up Jerusalem between East and West would allow Hamas and Islamic Jihad to place the same lethal rockets that they fire into from Gaza into Israel to be launched from Jerusalem or near Jerusalem into every city in central Israel including Tel Aviv," an international security analyst stated.
A veteran US Defense Department official described the Obama impotency with Iran in an interview with the Times of London, April 20:
"Fifteen months into his administration, Iran has faced no significant consequences for continuing with its uranium-enrichment programme, despite two deadlines set by Obama, which came and went without anything happening. Now it may be too late to stop Iran from becoming nuclear-capable."
News sources state that Iran, which has the capability of hitting most nations in the Middle East and Europe today with conventional weapons, may be able to strike the US with a nuclear weapon by 2015 in it's global Holy War against Jewish and Christian infidels - or what is commonly referred to as Islamic Jihad.
The Israel News Agency, which is accredited by Israel Government Press Office, was the first on line news organization in Israel. The INA reaches up to 60 million readers through Google News and Internet social networking channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube from New York, London, Moscow and Paris to Toronto, Los Angeles, China and India. Leyden is presently launching the United States News Agency using the INA as a successful working model.
JERUSALEM — Aides to Israel prime minister said Thursday that his government has officially rejected President Barack Obama's demand that it suspends all construction in contested east Jerusalem, a move that threatens to entrench a year-old deadlock in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.
The aides said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his government's position to Obama over the weekend, ahead of the scheduled arrival later Thursday of Obama's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell.
Washington had put Mitchell's shuttle diplomacy on hold as it awaited a reply from Israel, and aides to Netanyahu provided no information on whether the Israeli leader had offered any other concessions to the Palestinians in an effort to restart the long-stalled talks.
The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the contact between the two leaders was private.
Israel and the Palestinians had been set to launch U.S.-mediated negotiations last month when Israel announced plans during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden to build 1,600 homes in a Jewish housing project in east Jerusalem. The Palestinians claim the city's eastern sector as capital of a future state.
The negotiations were put on hold and infuriated the Americans. U.S. officials have been pushing Israel to call off the project, freeze further construction in east Jerusalem and make other goodwill gestures to the Palestinians.
Proposals have included a release of some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and the removal of some of the roadblocks hindering the movement of Palestinian people and goods in the West Bank.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the Netanyahu position "very unfortunate" and said he hoped the US "will be able to convince the Israeli government to give peace a chance by halting settlement construction in east Jerusalem and elsewhere."
Netanyahu has argued that his position on east Jerusalem is long-standing policy of past governments.
The status of Jerusalem, home to shrines sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, is the most emotionally fraught issue dividing Israelis and Palestinians.
Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and immediately annexed it, and does not consider Jewish construction there to be settlement activity.
The Palestinians and the rest of the international community do not recognize that annexation or distinguish construction there from settlement activity in the West Bank, which Israel did not annex after capturing it also in the 1967 war.
Last week, Obama issued a surprisingly pessimistic assessment of peacemaking prospects, saying the U.S. couldn't force its will on Israelis and Palestinians if they weren't interested in making the compromises necessary to end their decades-old conflict.
AP correspondent Ben Hubbard contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.
A family member who was stranded in London wrote of the unbelievable assistance that she received from the Jews of Luton, England. Her story delighted and inspired me.
The Merits of the Jewish Nation By: Lenni Golan
For years, I pondered why the Gentiles seem to hate us, the Jews, so much. Why do they envy us? Why are they intimidated by us? And, above all, why, time and again, do they wish to annihilate us? I wish to share a recent episode that I experienced that shed substantial light upon this topic and answered many of my questions.
My husband, seven-month-old son, and I traveled to England to tour the country. We spent fun-filled days sight-seeing and enjoying the world-famous attractions that London has to offer. But, eventually, it was time to return home to Israel.
We packed our belongings and arrived at the Luton airport at precisely 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2010. It was only after arriving at the airport that we discovered that a volcano had erupted, and that all flights were temporarily canceled.
Our El-Al flight was postponed to 11:30 p.m. earliest, and there was a chance that it would not take off at all. Further inquiries revealed that our El-Al flight would certainly not be departing until the following day, Friday, and perhaps not until the day after that, which of course, was Shabbos. We were totally at a loss, unsure of what to do or where to go… With no alternatives, we decided to stay where we were—right in the airport—until we had a better idea.
In the meanwhile, a young man, who, like us, had been scheduled to be on our flight and was currently waiting aimlessly in the airport, gave us the number of a Gemach. (I wish I could recall its name in order to give credit where credit is due!) In any case, the Gemach sent a special taxi to the airport, with a generous package of baby formula, sandwiches, cookies, cakes, and drinks—everything we could ask for!
In sudden epiphany, I realized that no Gentile, anywhere in the world, benefited from such help and generosity—and for free! Which nation other than the Jews so gladly and willingly exerts effort and resources to help a stranger, just because he shares the same heritage? It is certainly this inspiring unity and willingness to share that arouses the envy of all the nations.
If you think that my story ends here, you’re mistaken.
In the meanwhile, the situation at the airport had not improved; and later that evening, we were officially informed that the El-Al flight to Tel Aviv was canceled. Exhausted from our ordeal, we headed for a motel to spend the night. The next morning, still with no flight, we realized that we would be spending Shabbos in the hotel—with no kosher food.
Someone advised us to contact the local Chabad House on Montrose Avenue, Luton LU31HW. We called the number and were answered by a woman who introduced herself as Rivka. (I will forever think of her as Rivka the Matriarch!)
After describing our circumstances, Rivka promptly invited us for Shabbos. When we declined, she pleaded again and again, and finally compromised by sending us a large box packed with delicious Shabbos food—chicken, rice, pasta, salads, cakes, challah and rolls, Kiddush wine, Shabbos candles, paper goods, and baby wipes.
On Sunday morning, Rivka called us at the hotel and inquired if we needed anything else—food or other provisions. Several hours later, her husband called and asked if he could drive to the hotel to pick us up and take us to their home for dinner.
Today, Monday, March 19, 2010, Rivka and her husband once again sent us a generous package of baby formula, baby wipes, food, and other provisions to our hotel.
Tell me the truth, dear readers, can this story fail to stir envy in the heart of others? Such generous assistance, such loving care and sincere desire to help, is only drawn from a Jewish heart and extended to fellow Jews!
I fervently hope that we’ll be back in Israel by the time next Shabbos rolls around. However, if we remain stranded here for a second Shabbos, I’m comforted knowing that we are in wonderful, loving hands.
My husband, child, and I are greatly indebted to this wonderful Chabad family, and we request that our story be disseminated to the public, as our token expression of appreciation to them!
The Obama Administration is sending conflicting and confusing messages both to Iran and to those who fear an Iranian nuclear weapon. According to The New York Times, defense secretary Robert M. Gates sent a top secret memorandum to White House officials bemoaning the fact that the United States simply has no policy in place to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. At the same time, it is telling Israel that although Iran has threatened to wipe it off the map, the Jewish state should not take military action to prevent a second Holocaust. Indeed former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who has participated in White House discussions concerning the Middle East, has threatened that if Israel tries to destroy Iran's nuclear weapon facilities, the United States is fully capable of shooting Israeli jets out of the air.
Although Gates subsequently denied that his memo, which he acknowledges writing, was intended as a "wake up call", a senior White House official has confirmed that it was just that. There is no evidence, however, that the White House is prepared to confront the grave threat posed by a nuclear Iran. The policy that seems to be emerging from the White House is one called "containment." But what is containment? It is little more than an acknowledgment of failure. Containment implies that the United States will not succeed in preventing Iran from securing nuclear weapons, but rather it will accept such an eventuality and seek to deter the use of nuclear weapons by threats and by the deployment of defensive measures. The analogy that proponents of containment point to is North Korea, which has nuclear weapons but has thus far been "contained" from using them. But there are vast differences between North Korea and Iran.
North Korea is a secular Communist regime that is risk averse and that has no sworn existential enemies. The goal of its leaders is simply to remain in power and maintain their totalitarian control over their people. Iran is a theocratic, apocalyptic regime that believes that it has a religious obligation to destroy Israel and threaten the United States. Iran, unlike North Korea, also operates through surrogates, such as Hezbollah, Hamas and other smaller terrorist groups. They could hand-off nuclear material to such groups, or to sympathetic individuals, for use as dirty bombs directed against its enemies.
When he ran for President, Barak Obama pledged not to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. He claimed to understand that a nuclear Iran would be a game changer and a direct threat to the United States and its allies. He now seems to be softening his position and that of the United States government.
If in fact the United States is prepared to accept a nuclear Iran, then it has no right to require Israel to accept the risks posed by a nuclear armed country that has overtly threatened its destruction. Every country in the world has the inherent right to protect its citizens from a nuclear attack. Israel, a nation that Obama has himself acknowledged was built on the ashes of one Holocaust, certainly has the right to take military action to prevent a second Holocaust, especially at the hands of a country that has explicitly threatened to wipe it off the map.
The world ignored the explicit threats of one tyrant who threatened to destroy the Jewish people in the 1930s, and he nearly succeeded in the 1940s. Israel cannot be expected to ignore Hitler's successor, who while denying the first Holocaust, threatens a second one.
The United States has promised to regard a nuclear attack on Israel as a nuclear attack on its own country, but Iran does not credit such threats, since it appears that the Obama Administration has already broken its promise not to accept a nuclear Iran. Elie Wiesel put it well when he said that the Holocaust has taught the Jewish people to "believe the threats of our enemies more than the promises of our friends." Iran's promise to destroy Israel must be taken seriously, not only by Israel but by the United States. If the United States is not prepared to stop Iran from acquiring the nuclear weapons necessary to wipe Israel off the map, then Israel must be prepared to protect itself.
I am not suggesting that Israel should attack Iran's nuclear weapons facilities. I don't know enough about the military considerations that should go into any such an existential decision. But I am asserting, in unqualified terms, that Israel has an absolute right--legally, morally, politically--to take such an action if it deems it necessary to protect its citizens from a threatened nuclear attack. This is especially the case, if Secretary Gates was correct when he wrote in his memorandum that the United States "lacks a policy to thwart Iran," as The New York Times headline announced. Someone must thwart Iran. An Iran with nuclear weapons simply poses too great a threat to the world to be accepted-- or "contained."
Jerusalem ---- April 20, 2010 …. Millions of Israelis celebrated their 62nd birthday today with family trips to the beach, picnics in every park from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Sderot to Kiryat Shomona, Haifa and Ashkelon, and raising their smiling eyes to watch the IDF proudly showing its colors from a clear, blue sky.
Against all odds, having fought in over 6 defensive wars since 1948 and sustaining thousands of terror attacks - the Israeli remains proud, confident and stoic.
But perhaps transcending bullets and bombs, the daily threats of annihilation from Iran, Hamas and Syria, being able to pay one's electric and gas bills remains the greatest challenge for the majority. According to Israel newspaper daily Haaretz, the average wage in Israel is NIS 7,922 - about 2,000 USD per month. For those living and working in Israel, for an overshadowing middle class, it is a challenging hand to mouth experience with the average bank overdraft hanging at 16, 000 NIS and unemployment at 10 percent.
One in four children in Israel live below the poverty level.
For this reason over 650,000 Israelis live abroad, with 450,000 of them in North America, says the Israel Absorption Ministry. This represents a severe brain drain, with over 90 percent of Olim heading back to the States within 5 years.
But for those who remain in Israel. For those of us who awake to a blistering hamsin (desert winds), traffic jams (if you are lucky enough to afford a car) and reports of a pending earthquake, we eat our falafel and derive joy from our children's smile.
Nothing is more powerful than seeing our children happy and healthy. As they represent the future Israel, an insurance policy against another Holocaust as we build upon our ancient biblical homeland.
Even taking verbal assaults from Barack Obama, as he attempts to seduce the Islamic world while telling the Jews in Jerusalem to stop building in their own ancient capital. It's a sad topic for us. There is no greater love and bond in democratic values in Israel than as expressed for the United States. But for Obama to request that Hamas and Hezbollah, who have sworn Israel's complete destruction, to take positions in or near Jerusalem - to destroy defensible borders and place all of Israel at risk of Gaza type terror rockets, goes beyond any rational logic.
So we retreat into eating hot dogs, hamburgers, Chinese food and falafel. We sing old and new songs with very little alcohol or grass. We maintain eye contact, smile and carry on. As we have no other choice. We know what happened when the Nazis ruled Europe and we have collectively vowed: "never again."
Standing on a grassy hill overlooking thousands of Israelis enjoying fireworks on Independence eve, I could not help but think what brave, stubborn and dedicated group of people we have here in Israel. It is just one aircraft away from making 3-4 times more money, avoiding daily banks threats, orders preventing one from leaving the country and even debtors prison for those who just can't pay the full amount for child support.
I overheard a social worker telling one dad who works 7 days a week: "it's your problem and responsibility to pay child support." The dad, who works at a hospital as an orderly, wants to pay but can't, responded with two questions: "how much do you earn?" and "tell me how you can buy food, gas, clothes and pay rent as you pay child support for three children on your salary?"
The social worker had no response. Just a smile to say: "I hear you, this is what we have here."
So believe me, the average citizen in Israel is not fearful of Iran, Syria or Hamas. We have our submarines, satellites and weapons. Barack Obama lied to Israel but we will get over it. The UK and Sweden can boycott Israel until hell freezes over. The Palestinians and anti-semites can churn out more PR on the selling of human organs. When the big one comes - an earthquake no less powerful than what shook Haiti - Israelis will pick up the pieces, put on a smile and carry on.
What the Israel government must now concentrate on after security and defense is a massive campaign to create the outsourcing of professional services to Israel. If India and China can do it, so can the much respected, creative hi tech Jews of Israel.
For those us in Israel are keeping the fort strong. We know what would happen if we traded our small Daihatsu's and Fiat cars for Volvos and BMW's in New York or California.
With leaders such Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoganand and US President Barack Obama, Israel remains our collective Masada and Gamla. The only difference, the Israelis of 2010 will not commit suicide, we will wear our rubber gas masks and fight and perhaps even implement the Samson Option if forced to.
As in 1948, 1958, 2009 and today, we repeat the words "Never Again" as we drop off our children at school, sip our morning coffee, check our online bank balance and click through Facebook.
We were here 3,500 years ago, we will be here 3,500 years from now.
Pass it on.
The Israel News Agency, which is accredited by Israel Government Press Office, was the first on line news organization in Israel. The INA reaches up to 60 million readers through Google News and Internet social networking channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube from New York, London, Moscow and Paris to Toronto, Los Angeles, China and India. Leyden is presently launching the United States News Agency using the INA as a successful working model.
IDF Bases Open for Visitors, Israel Navy and Air Force Hold Special Demonstrations for Israel's Independence Day
In honor of the State of Israel's 62nd Independence Day, as in every year, several IDF bases will be open to the general public. On Monday and Tuesday, 19-20 April 2010, chosen bases of the Israel Navy, Air Force and Ground Forces will be open for visitors, and the Israel Navy and Air Force will hold special demonstrations.
The venues are as follows:
The Israel Navy base in Eilat will open on the eve of Independence Day (Monday), in cooperation with the civilian port of Eilat, between 8:00 pm and midnight.
The Israel Navy base in Haifa will open on Independence Day (Tuesday) between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
The Israel Navy base in Ashdod will not be open to the public this year.
The Israel Air Force bases in Ramat David, Tel Nof and Ovda, as well as the IAF Technological College in Haifa, will open on Independence Day (Tuesday), from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The IAF Museum in Hatzerim will open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, entertaining the following events:
An air force demonstration of historical IAF piston engine aircraft from the 1950's.
A performance of the IAF entertainment group, as well as the IAF Technological College Dance Company with 'Ayalot HaNegev' Dance Company.
An aircraft exhibition containing approximately 150 different aircraft.
Activities for children, including coloring airplane models and origami.
Guided tours on the aerial history of the State of Israel.
Entrance to the museum entails a fee.
In addition, IDF camping grounds will be open throughout the country on Independence Day. In the North, parking lots will be open between the hours of 9:00-14:00 in Hatzor Ha'Glilit, Kiryat Shmona, Shlomi, Nahariya, Ma'alot, Nazareth Illit, Yarka, and the Golani Junction. In the South, grounds will be open in Machane Natan, Metzudat Yoav, Sderot, Segev Shalom, Netivot, Ofakim, Meitar, Lehavim, and Omer between the hours of 9:00-14:00. In addition, grounds will also be open in Efrat, Oranit, Kiryat Arba, Ariel, the Jordan Valley, Ma'ale Adumim. A weapons display will be presented in Givat Ha'Tachmoshet between 9:00-16:00.
As part of the IDF's celebrations for Israel's Independence Day, a navy showcase will take place along the country's shores. The sea demonstration will include 12 different naval vessels. Among them, the INS will display missile ships, commanding naval boats, Dabur patrol boats, and security vessels. The navy showcase will begin at the Carmel beach in Haifa between the hours of 9:45-10:05 and from there will sail southwards past the Herzliya shore between 11:45-12:10. It will continue on to Tel Aviv and reach Jaffa between 12:40-13:00. Between 13:55-14:15, it will pass Kshatot beach in Ashdod, and will conclude its journey along the city of Ashkelon between 15:00-15:20.
In addition to the navy showcase taking place in the Mediterranean Sea, a navy display will take place in the bay of Eilat between the hours of 10:00-13:00.
The navy showcase along the main shore of Israel will include a naval patrol helicopter, the Panther Helicopter, which will land on a ship.
Over the course of the day's events, Israel Air Force airplanes and helicopters will hold five demonstrations in the nation's skies. One helicopter demonstration will be composed of three CH53 Sicorsky helicopters, another demonstration will include three Hercules airplanes and a combat airplane demonstration will be composed of a Boeing 707 plane ("Re'em"), three F-15 fighter jets, five F-16 fighter-jets, and five F16I fighter jets. In addition, a helicopter display will take place above the Residence of the President of Israel and an aerobatic display will fly over the country. The precise times and locations of the displays are attached to the Appendix.
It should be noted that entrance to IDF bases with weapons or pets is restricted.
Identification cards must be presented when entering the bases.
Appendix
Helicopter Demonstrations: Composed of three Yas'ur Helicopters
Location
Time
South Jerusalem
11:13
North Jerusalem
11:15
Rehovot
11:26
Central Tel-Aviv
11:32
Hadera
11:44
Ramat David Base
11:55
IAF College of Technology in Haifa
12:01
Natanya Beach
12:17
Hertzeliya Beach
12:21
Tel-Aviv
12:25
Tel-Yona
12:27
2. Hercules Flight Demonstartion: Composed of three Hercules Planes
Location
Time
Exact Location
Be'er-Sheva
11:13
City Center
Yerucham
11:17
Yerucham Lake
Dimona
11:20
Soccer Stadium
Arad
11:23
City Center
Kiryat Gat
11:31
City Center
Tel-Nof Base
11:35
Showcase
Beit Shemesh
11:38
City Center
Jerusalem
11:41
Western Wall
Patza'el
11:46
Beit Shaan
11:53
Soccer Stadium
Afula
11:56
Municipal Park
Ramat David Base
11:58
Showcase
Nazareth
12:01
Mount Yona
Tiberius
12:04
Southern Beach
Safed
12:07
City Center
Carmiel
12:09
City Center
Nahariya
12:12
Beach
IAF College of Technology in Haifa
12:16
Showcase
Caesarea
12:21
Beach
Natanya
12:24
Beach
Tel-Aviv
12:28
On the pier line
Tel-Yona
12:29
Beach
Ashkelon
12:40
Beach
Sderot
12:42
City Center
Netivot
12:44
City Center
Ofakim
12:46
Municipal Park
IAF Museum in Hazterim
12:47
Showcase
3. Fighter Jets Display: Composed of Boeing 707 Plane, 3 F-15s, 5 F-16s and F16-i.
Location
Boeing 707 + F-15
F-16
F-16i
Exact Location
Ber-Sheva
11:25
11:26
11:27
City Center
Yerucham
11:28
11:29
11:30
Yerucham Lake
Dimona
11:31
11:32
11:33
Soccer Stadium
Arad
11:33
11:34
11:35
City Center
Kiryat Gat
11:40
11:41
11:42
City Center
Tel-Nof Base
11:43
11:44
11:45
Showcase
Beit Shemesh
11:45
11:46
11:47
City Center
Jerusalem
11:48
11:49
11:50
Western Wall
Patza'el
11:52
11:53
11:54
Beit Shaan
11:57
11:58
11:59
Soccer Stadium
Afula
12:00
12:01
12:02
Municipal Park
Ramat David Base
12:01
12:02
12:03
Showcase
Nazareth
12:04
12:05
12:06
Mount Yona
Tiberius
12:07
12:08
12:09
Southern Beach
Ktzerim
12:09
12:10
12:11
City Center
Zfat
12:13
12:14
12:15
City Center
Carmiel
12:15
12:16
12:17
City Center
Naharia
12:17
12:18
12:19
Beach
IAF College of Technology in Haifa
12:20
12:21
12:22
Showcase
Caesarea
12:24
12:25
12:26
Beach
Natanya
12:26
12:27
12:28
Beach
Tel-Aviv
12:30
12:31
12:32
Ashdod
12:33
12:34
12:35
Marina
Ashkelon
12:35
12:36
12:37
Beach
Sderot
12:37
12:38
12:39
City Center
Netivot
12:38
12:39
12:40
City Center
Ofakim
12:39
12:40
12:41
Municipal Park
IAF Museum in Hatzrim
12:40
12:41
12:42
Showcase
4. Aerial Display above the Residence of the President of Israel: Composed of three Blackhawk helicopters and two Cobra helicopters at 09:15
== Israel Sends Anti-Terror Units into Sinai To Ambush Terrorists Seeking To Kidnap Israelis ==
#israel #idf #jewish #egypt #palestine #gaza
Citing concrete intelligence, the National Security Council's Counter Terrorism Bureau (CBT) issued a critical travel advisory on Tuesday night urging all Israelis in the to immediately return home.
Intelligence obtained by shows that a terror cell is on its way to the to kidnap an Israeli citizen and transfer him or her to the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence agencies have updated their Egyptian counterparts. While officials refused to reveal the cell’s affiliation, they said that it was working on behalf of Hamas and wanted to use the Israeli as a bargaining chip.
According to a statement put out by the bureau, concrete intelligence information was obtained regarding an immediate terrorist plot to kidnap Israelis in Sinai.
The statement also calls on the families of Israelis presently in Sinai to phone them and inform them of the travel advisory.
During the Pessah holiday an estimated 5,000 people from Israel vacationed on Sinai beaches despite warnings not to do so, according to CBT estimations. The urgent language of the current advisory is extremely rare.
On Tuesday afternoon, rumors circulated regarding the possibility that an Israeli citizen, maybe a soldier, had been kidnapped by a Palestinian terror group in the Sinai. The IDF immediately ordered its units to count all of its soldiers and determine their whereabouts. By the evening, however, the reports were dismissed after it was verified that no one was missing.
According to a top defense official, the advisory was issued on Tuesday after concrete intelligence was obtained recently indicating that terrorist groups were planning to kidnap Israelis who are still vacationing along the Sinai beaches.
“This is a real threat based on intelligence that we just received,” the senior official told The Jerusalem Post Tuesday evening. “The plot is to kidnap any Israeli and it does not make a difference who they are.”
The last major terrorist attack in Sinai was in 2004, when suicide bombers attacked 's Taba Hilton Hotel, just across the Israeli border, and several campsites where Israelis were vacationing. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds others were wounded.
In addition to Hamas, Hizbullah is also believed to be interested in kidnapping an Israeli citizen as part of its plans to avenge the 2008 assassination of Imad Mughniyeh. Hizbullah has been unsuccessful so far in its efforts to strike back at , but has in the past made efforts to kidnap Israeli businessmen.
Israel Terror Warning Israel Terror WarningIsrael Terror Warning Israel Terror Warning
I weep as I witness outrageous verbal attacks on Israel. What makes these verbal assaults and distortions all the more painful is that they are being orchestrated by President Obama.
For me, the situation today recalls what occurred in 70 AD when the Roman emperor Vespasian launched a military campaign against the Jewish nation and its ancient capital of Jerusalem. Ultimately, Masada, a rock plateau in the Judean desert became the last refuge of the Jewish people against the Roman onslaught. I have been to Jerusalem and Masada. From the top of Masada, you can still see the remains of the Roman fortifications and garrisons, and the stones and earth of the Roman siege ramp that was used to reach Masada. The Jews of Masada committed suicide rather than let themselves be taken captive by the Romans.
In Rome itself, I have seen the Arch of Titus with the sculpture showing enslaved Jews and the treasures of the Jewish Temple of Solomon with the Menorah, the symbol of the Jewish state, being carted away as booty during the sacking of Jerusalem.
Oh, you may say, that is a far fetched analogy. Please hear me out.
The most recent sacking of the old city of Jerusalem - its Jewish quarter - took place under the Jordanians in 1948 in the first war between the Jews and the Arabs, with at least five Muslim states - Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq - seeking to destroy the Jewish state. At that time, Jordan conquered East Jerusalem and the West Bank and expelled every Jew living in the Jewish quarter of the old city, destroying every building, including the synagogues in the old quarter and expelling from every part of Judea and Samaria every Jew living there so that for the first time in thousands of years, the old walled city of Jerusalem and the adjacent West Bank were "Judenrein" -- a term used by the Nazis to indicate the forced removal or murder of all Jews..
Jews had lived for centuries in Hebron, the city where Abraham, the first Jew, pitched his tent and where he now lies buried, it is believed, in a tomb with his wife, Sarah, as well as other ancient Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs. I have visited that tomb and at the time asked an Israeli soldier guarding it - so that it was open to all pilgrims, Christians, Muslims and Jews -- "where is the seventh step leading to the tomb of Abraham and Sarah," which was the furthest entry for Jews when the Muslims were the authority controlling the holy place? He replied, "When we retook and reunited the whole city of Jerusalem and conquered the West Bank in 1967, we removed the steps, so now everyone can enter," whereas when Muslims were in charge of the tomb, no Jew could enter it. And I did.
I am not a religious person. I am comfortable in a synagogue, but generally attend only twice a year, on the high holidays. When I entered the tomb of Abraham and Sarah, as I recall, I felt connected with my past and the traditions of my people. One is a Jew first by birth and then by religion. Those who leave their religion, remain Jews forever by virtue of their birth. If they don't think so, let them ask their neighbors, who will remind them. I recall the words of the columnist Robert Novak, who was for most of his life hostile to the Jewish state of Israel in an interview with a reporter stating that while he had converted to Catholicism, he was still a cultural Jew. I remain with pride a Jew both by religion and culture.
My support for the Jewish state has been long and steadfast. Never have I thought that I would leave the U.S. to go and live in Israel. My loyalty and love is first to the U.S. which has given me, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants, so much. But, I have also long been cognizant of the fact that every night when I went to sleep in peace and safety, there were Jewish communities around the world in danger. And there was one country, Israel, that would give them sanctuary and would send its soldiers to fight for them and deliver them from evil, as Israel did at Entebbe in 1976.
I weep today because my president, Barack Obama, in a few weeks has changed the relationship between the U.S. and Israel from that of closest of allies to one in which there is an absence of trust on both sides. The contrast between how the president and his administration deals with Israel and how it has decided to deal with the Karzai administration in Afghanistan is striking.
The Karzai administration, which operates a corrupt and opium-producing state, refuses to change its corrupt ways - the president's own brother is believed by many to run the drug traffic taking place in Afghanistan - and shows the utmost contempt for the U.S. is being hailed by the Obama administration as an ally and publicly treated with dignity. Karzai recently even threatened to join the Taliban if we don't stop making demands on him. Nevertheless, Karzai is receiving a gracious thank-you letter from President Obama. The New York Times of April 10th reported, "...that Mr. Obama had sent Mr. Karzai a thank-you note expressing gratitude to the Afghan leader for dinner in Kabul. ‘It was a respectful letter,' General Jones said."
On the other hand, our closest ally - the one with the special relationship with the U.S., has been demeaned and slandered, held responsible by the administration for our problems in Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. The plan I suspect is to so weaken the resolve of the Jewish state and its leaders that it will be much easier to impose on Israel an American plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leaving Israel's needs for security and defensible borders in the lurch.
I believe President Obama's policy is to create a whole new relationship with the Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, and Iraq as a counter to Iran - The Tyrannosaurus Rex of the Muslim world which we are now prepared to see in possession of a nuclear weapon. If throwing Israel under the bus is needed to accomplish this alliance, so be it.
I am shocked by the lack of outrage on the part of Israel's most ardent supporters. The members of AIPAC, the chief pro-Israel lobbying organization in Washington, gave Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a standing ovation after she had carried out the instructions of President Obama and, in a 43-minute telephone call, angrily hectored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Members of Congress in both the House and Senate have made pitifully weak statements against Obama's mistreatment of Israel, if they made any at all. The Democratic members, in particular, are weak. They are simply afraid to criticize President Obama.
What bothers me most of all is the shameful silence and lack of action by community leaders - Jew and Christian. Where are they? If this were a civil rights matter, the Jews would be in the mall in Washington protesting with and on behalf of our fellow American citizens. I asked one prominent Jewish leader why no one is preparing a march on Washington similar to the one in 1963 at which I was present and Martin Luther King's memorable speech was given? His reply was "Fifty people might come." Remember the 1930s? Few stood up. They were silent. Remember the most insightful statement of one of our greatest teachers, Rabbi Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
We have indeed stood up for everyone else. When will we stand up for our brothers and sisters living in the Jewish state of Israel?
If Obama is seeking to build a siege ramp around Israel, the Jews of modern Israel will not commit suicide. They are willing to negotiate a settlement with the Palestinians, but they will not allow themselves to be bullied into following self-destructive policies.
To those who call me an alarmist, I reply that I'll be happy to apologize if I am proven wrong. But those who stand silently by and watch the Obama administration abandon Israel, to whom will they apologize?
Jerusalem ---- April 10, 2010 …. It's really kind of difficult to know where to begin here. Perhaps it is with a profound feeling of nausea toward the current President of the United States.
Barack Obama has acted to create instability and conflict in the Middle-East more than any other US President.
But first allow me to preface that I will tread gently here as many do not really know the history nor the politics of the Middle East. For academics, journalists and INTEL, you would eat any news coming out of Israel for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
But for John Doe in Cleveland or Michael Rubin on Facebook, little is known about Israel, her democracy and the terrorism, the real threats that Israel faces on a minute by minute basis.
So here is a little Israel 101.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. The Jewish state has its ancient roots going back in Israel well over 5,000 years. Jewish history can be physically traced back over 3,000 years to 1400 BCE while the invention of Islam was AD 610 and Islamic Palestine was 1967.
Lastly, there was never a Palestinian state. Never a Palestinian capital, nor currency or stamps. The word Palestine is the cognate of an ancient word meaning "Philistines" or "Land of the Philistines". The Philistines were neither Jewish nor Muslim though they did fight the Israelis as illustrated in the biblical stories of Samson, Samuel, Saul and David. As a matter of pure fact, the Dead Sea Scrolls - authentic copies of the Jewish bible dating back to before the destruction of Judea - illustrate the history of the ancient land of Israel.
As modern Israel was created by the UN in 1948, the UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947 offered a partition plan in British Palestine, calling for the creation of two states, one Arab and one Jewish. The Jews legally accepted the plan as the Arabs, led by greed, went to war against the Jews hoping to secure all of British Palestine.
The Arabs lost and the Jews won this war of 1948. In doing so, the ancient Jewish capital of Jerusalem was now clearly back in the hands of the Jews. David the King of Israel first established Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish Nation in 1000 BCE, and his son Solomon commissioned the building of the First Temple in the city. The Western Wall of the Second Jewish Temple in Israel or otherwise known as the HaKotel, still stands today and is revered as Judaism most holiest site. The Babylonians destroyed the First Temple with the Romans destroying the Second Temple on the same site and the new Muslim religion built the Dome of the Rock over the Jewish Temple in 691-692.
As a result of Israel's victory over Jordan in the Six-Day War of June 5–10, 1967, what was then East Jerusalem became united into one city. The Jewish Western Wall was now open to Jews to pray at after thousands of years.
From the 1960s onward, the term "Palestine" was reinvented by Egyptian born Yasser Arafat and his Palestine Liberation Organization and used in political contexts by Arabs to refer to the land that was once ruled by the Jordanians and the Israelites thousands of years before.
Jerusalem was, is and will always remain the Israel capital. Under Jordanian rule, Jews were forbidden to pray in Jerusalem while under Israeli rule, all three major religions enjoy democratic and the free right to pray where they wish.
Now enter US President Barack Obama.
After making every effort to seduce the Jews of the US to vote for him, including this writer, once in office he declared that Jews no longer should have the right to live in Jerusalem. Obama was referring to what was once East Jerusalem.
Barack Obama has made it perfectly clear that Jewish blood is worth less than an Islamic terror presence placed directly in Jerusalem.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was actually told this again when he was in Washington two weeks ago as he visited the White House. But Obama would not listen to Netanyahu. Rather he walked out of his meeting with the Israel Prime Minister to have dinner with his wife and left Netanyahu with a tapped phone to use. Netanyahu, embarrassed as no Israel leader has ever been before, left the White House for the Israel Embassy where he held consultations.
Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, had been treated like dirt, behavior usually reserved for a third world dictator by the US.
Yes, I voted for Barack Obama. Yes, I was proud of voting for the first Black US President. But I had become color blinded, voting for Obama more as a symbol of my Jewish heritage reflecting tolerance and respect for minorities than voting for Obama out of his political and intellectual abilities.
But that same tolerance and respect has not been shown to the Jews of the US let alone the Jews of Israel. Jews who now face increased terrorism and a new regional war as a result of Obama trying to sell the Jews of Israel out to Arab oil. The appeasement of Islamic Jihad.
Let's keep this simple.
Jerusalem is the ancient capital of Israel. The Jews have every historical and biblical right to live and build in Jerusalem. Second, even if Israel attempted to compromise on some of what was once East Jerusalem - one must look at what happened when Israel left Arab Gaza in a unilateral peace move in August 2005.
Since 2005, the Islamic terror groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have continued to wage an Islamic Holy War against Israel by attacking Israel with over 12,000 lethal rockets. Hamas has openly declared, as its supporter Iran has, that they would only accept the complete and total destruction of Israel.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad have declared war on every Jew and Christian - from the New York World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Washington, the London Underground Bombings to terrorism and murder in the streets of Moscow, Paris, Egypt, India and Turkey.
If Israel was to give the "Palestinians" - whoever they might be - Fatah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Hizbullah - one square mile of Jerusalem - would they not use it again to launch attacks against Jewish and Christian Jerusalem?
Barack Obama does not care. It is not as if Hamas and Islamic Jihad were slamming missiles into Los Angeles or Detroit from the Mexico or Canada border. Barack Obama has made it perfectly clear that Jewish blood is worth less than an Islamic terror presence placed directly in Jerusalem.
And how would Israel respond to Qassam and Katusha rocket attacks from a new Islamic Jihad third front on Israel in East Jerusalem? Would Jordan, a peace partner of Israel, not be sucked into conflict? Would that not lead to a regional war?
How many Jewish, Christian and Muslim lives would be lost?
Does Barack Obama really care? Both his words and actions have already created increased acts of terror and anti-Semitism against every Jew from Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv to Miami, Paris and London.
As Israel enters Holocaust Memorial Day, we silently bow our heads and tearfully remember the lives of over 12 million people murdered by the Nazis, of which 6 million were Jews who had perished by being shot, hung or gassed.
Barack Obama - do you not remember your visit to the Yad Veshem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem?
To the President of the United States of America - Israel has only two words for you. Do not try to spin these words with a Passover Seder at the White House or some PR spin as to how you sympathize with all Jews on the occasion of the Holocaust.
Mr. Obama, hear it loud, hear it clear.
Never again.
The Israel News Agency, which is accredited by Israel Government Press Office, was the first on line news organization in Israel. The INA reaches up to 60 million readers through Google News and Internet social networking channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube from New York, London, Moscow and Paris to Toronto, Los Angeles, China and India. Leyden is presently launching the United States News Agency using the INA as a successful working model.
Joel Leyden, a native of New York, has practiced international public relations, public affairs, crisis communications, reputation management, Web 2.0 and journalism for 25 years.
As an Internet pioneer in Israel, he co-created Israel's first commercial Website - NetKing in 1995.
In addition, Leyden produced the first Website for an Israeli prime minister, established the first condolence website for assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, created the Israel Defense Forces Website, was the first SEO - search engine optimizer in Israel and serves today as both commercial PR / SEO and publisher of the Israel News Agency, Israel's first on-line news organization.
Joel Leyden, the proud father of three children, is a leading father's and children's rights activist in Israel advocating equal access and reforms in Israel's gender bias family court custody laws and public child welfare departments for children of separated and divorced parents in Israel.
Joel Leyden, who has university degrees in journalism, psychology and mass communications, resides in a suburb north of Tel Aviv, Israel and in New York City.
