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.
Israel Government Press Office (GPO) Recommends Restaurants in Gaza
In anticipation of foreign correspondents traveling to Gaza to cover reports of alleged humanitarian difficulties in the Hamas run territory, and as part of efforts to facilitate the work of journalists in the region, the Government Press Office is pleased to bring to your attention the attached menu andinformation for the Roots Club and Restaurant in Gaza.
We have been told the beef stroganoff and cream of spinach soup are highly recommended. You may wish to enquire of a possible discount upon presentation of a valid press card.
There is also the possibility of an enjoyable evening on the Greens Terrace Garden Cafe, which serves "eclectic food and fresh cocktails".
A video of the club's luxurious facilities may be viewed here.
Booking in advance is advisable, and as the website states, the Roots Club is fully equipped for hospitality and corporate events.
Correspondents may also wish to enjoy a swim at the new Olympic size swimming pool as reported in the Palestinian media to have been opened last week.
Jerusalem ---- May 29, 2010 …. The "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", a group of ships carrying up to 800 people and 10,000 tons of supplies destined for the Gaza Strip has the alledged aim of stirring international debate regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza. However, questions have been raised as to their motives especially given evidence of the organizer's direct ties to international terrorist organizations including al Qaida and Hamas.
Israel security sources have told the Israel News Agency that the main organization behind the "freedom" flotilla that is now sailing towards the Gaza Strip is called The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a so-called "relief" organization from Turkey.
This is an organization unabashedly proud of its close ties to Hamas, a terror organization as recognized by the United States, Israel and the European Union (EU).
The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation is openly supportive of Hamas, an organization that is widely seen as the one of the largest perpetrators of human rights violations, having violently seized control of the Gaza Strip, and committed immeasurable human rights violations against its own people, not to mention hundreds of terror attacks initiated targeting the citizens of Israel.
These aren't the only roles the IHH has played to support Islamic terror, as if this wasn't enough. In fact, not only is IHH linked to global Islamic terror organizations, but it is the direct supporter of not only terrorism against Israel, but a primary backer of world-wide terrorism against nations which practice democracy.
At the heart of many terrorist networks are so-called Islamic "relief" organizations have proven invaluable as sources of cash, weapons, and recruitment of terror operatives. So effective is their role in covering up terrorist activity from the international intelligence community under the guise of promoting humanitarian aid, that Osama bin Laden has admitted that these NGO "charities" have been al-Qaida primary source of funding and have enabled the build-up of his organization to fly under the radar.
Examples of Islamic organizations funneling funds to terror organizations masked as NGOs include: the Benevolence International Foundation, Global Relief Foundation, Taibah International Aid Association, all of whom and countless other have been shut down, banned and its leaders arrested by the US government.
The IHH is one of such organizations, a primary example of an NGO that functions as a "charitable" organization in order to divert resources to terror activity.
In a working paper for The Danish Institute for International Studies, an independent international affairs research institution of Denmark, terrorism analyst and expert witness for the prosecution in U.S. terrorism trials, Evan Kohlmann details IHH's extensive affiliation with the Islamic terror network, including: explicit ties to Hamas, al-Qaida, as well other militant Islamic organizations based in Algeria, Libya, Turkey.
Even in Turkey there have been hostile exchanges between the IHH and the Turkish government, who had previously made efforts to combat home-grown terrorism. In December 1997, Turkey authorities began a criminal investigation into IHH when sources revealed to them that the IHH had purchased semi-automatic weapons from Islamic terror groups. Their Istanbul bureau was thoroughly searched and the local leaders arrested. Inside the bureau an array of items were found: "firearms, explosives, bomb-making instructions and a jihadi flag." After analyzing seized IHH documents, the Turkish authorities determined that the arrested leaders had been on their way to fight in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Chechnya.
During the 1999 earthquake in Turkey, the IHH was banned from providing relief aid efforts because the organization was deemed by the government as a fundamentalist organization and would not provide transparency of their bank accounts to Turkish officials.
It is odd that today Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports the IHH in their attempt to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip, and ranks the IHH's efforts as his "top priority" for the country.
The IHH has also provided aid to insurgents seeking to kill American troops in Iraq. In his working paper, Kohlmann notes that the IHH played a large role in providing "charitable donations" to insurgent rich areas in central Iraq such as Fallujah and that the current president of IHH and organizer of the "Freedom Flotilla", Bulent Yildrim, had galvanized anti-America sentiment and incitement in these areas against U.S. troops during the Iraqi War.
Not only have the IHH stirred trouble in Turkey for supporting terror, but their aims to promote terror activity have reached a worldwide level.
In 1996, phone records of the IHH showed calls to an Al Qaida guesthouse in Milan and to Algerian terror cells throughout Europe.
Kohlmann also cited that famed counter-terrorism magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguiere found that in the mid 1990's Bulent Yildrim also conspired to recruit members in anticipation for a coming jihad, and sent IHH members to war zones in Muslim countries in order for them to gain combatant experience. He sought to obtain support by these Muslim countries for the IHH by transferring weapon and explosives caches to these countries.
Jean-Louis Bruguiere has also testified to a U.S. Court in 2003 that the IHH played a "central role" in the attempted al-Qaida Millenium bomb plot targeting Los Angeles International Airport, among other areas of the world. Bruguiere added that the IHH is a "cover-up" NGO which had served to recruit, forge documents and traffic weapons for the terrorists involved in the terror attack attempt.
The same U.S. Court document cites that the IHH has also had contact with Abdurahman Alamoudi, founder of the American Muslim Council, who is serving a 23 year sentence for illegal transactions with the Libyan government and was part of a Libyan plot to assassinate the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.
The IHH organization is banned in Israel as part of a group of organizations ironically titled the "Union of Good." Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed an order citing the IHH as an organization that fund-raises and assists Hamas.
It would be comical to assume that an organization so entrenched in terror activity has good intentions in orchestrating a large PR publicity stunt for an area with a supposed "humanitarian crisis", and it would be naïve to assume that most of the so called peace activists on the ships heading towards Gaza are unaware of their organization's connections with terror.
In fact, one of the 39 principles of Islamic Jihad or Holy War practiced and advocated by Al-Qaeda's Jihad, which was exposed in a private study by Israel researcher Col. Jonathan D. Halevi (res.), explicitly illustrates a how-to chapter on performing electronic Jihad.
These people are not riding donkeys, rather these 21st century Jihadists have their fingers dancing on computer keyboards across the globe. In performing electronic Jihad - Al-Salem attributes paramount importance to the Internet as a component for Jihad. He calls believers to join the Jihad against all Jews and Christians by participating in Internet forums to defend the Islam and Mujahideen, to preach Jihad and to encourage Muslims to learn more about this sacred duty. The Internet provides an opportunity to reach vast, target audiences on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and respond swiftly to opposing allegations. Islamic computer experts are asked to use their skills and experience in destroying American, Jewish and secular Websites as well as morally corrupt web sites. The so called Gaza Peace ships are using this inciteful electronic Jihad as they broadcast live using the Internet from their ships.
Sadly, much of the international media from the BBC, SKY News and CNN to Reuters, AP and AFP are not reporting about recent previous terror activity and present media public relations tactics of the IHH, as well as the long history of bogus NGO's created to divert funds to Islamic terror groups. The IHH and organizations similar to it have always sought to generate PR publicity stunts of providing humanitarian aid in order to mobilize their extremist base and the "Freedom Flotilla" is yet another example of this.
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.
Firstly, accept my sincere apologies for being unable to refer to you as “Elvis,” for the obvious reason that you aren’t really Elvis.
Secondly, allow me to address your decision to cancel the show planned for Israel. I attempted to understand the reasons you referred to in your cancellation notice. You addressed the “humiliation of Palestinians civilians in the name of national security,” and I wonder what you meant.
Controversial Decision
Elvis Costello’s hypocrisy / Ariana Melamed
Pop star shuns Israel, but didn’t call off US, Britain shows after Iraq invasion
Perhaps you’re referring to the roadblocks and fence we built in order to prevent suicide bombers from exploding in our buses and coffee shops. The dramatic decline in Palestinian massacres, from an average of one a day to almost nil may indeed be humiliating for them, as you noted.
Or maybe you referred to Operation Cast Lead. If that’s the case, you are in fact condemning us for deciding to put an end to eight years of rocket attacks targeting our kindergartens. If you think this is demagoguery, please go ahead and check the timers which the “humiliated” terrorists set for the rockets. They were aiming for the hours where our children head to kindergarten and to school.
Immediately after doing so, these terrorists rushed to hide being their own women and children. And why did they do so? So you, Costello, will see our response on your television screen, and proceed to express shock and suddenly call off your show in Israel – a year and a half later.
What exactly did you expect? That we’ll allow Islamic terror to butcher our citizens? We should remind you that we were not the ones to send our army thousands of kilometers away to spill blood at some remote islands near Argentina. We’re fighting for our very homes.
On this issue, Costello, you may wish to ask what British soldiers are doing in Afghanistan and Iraq, and why they’re humiliating the Afghan people every day without the latter ever dispatching suicide bombers or rockets to Britain. Did you also call off your shows in England? And what about the United States? Will you continue to perform there while Guantanamo is still intact?
Will you boycott our medical advances?
You refer to human rights, Costello, while ignoring the fact that Israel is a democracy. You should look into the State of Israel’s attitude to minorities, compared to our neighbors whose side you took. Let’s see how long it will take before you’re decapitated, should you aim to lead a Gay Pride Parade in Gaza or Hebron. Are you aware of the state of Christians in the Gaza Strip, or the state of women’s rights there? Your silence on these matters attests to the honesty of your claims.
You should also ask yourself why all these “humiliated” people would love to get an Israeli ID card. If we’re so bad to them, why are they infiltrating Israel in every possible way?
Also ask how many Fatah members were murdered after being hurled off roofs by Hamas and how many dozens of Muslims are being butchered by other Muslims every day. Look into the number of Sudanese Muslims who sacrifice their lives in order to escape to our “apartheid” state. They do so while fleeing the massacres committed against them by other Muslims.
Yet all of this is apparently of no interest to you. At the same time, you will likely not boycott all the medical, economic, and agricultural technologies produced by Israel. Through them, Israel saves hundreds of millions of people every year from disease and hunger. There is no self-respecting major high-tech or biotech company without some kind of representation in Israel. Meanwhile, our aid delegations are the first to show up in any disaster site worldwide, from Thailand to Haiti.
And what do the merchants of hatred who sold you their goods produce? What is their contribution to humanity? Oppression, terrorism, poverty, and fundamentalism.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that the only state facing the kind of attitude you displayed is the Jewish State. But, as Jews, we’re used to it. We don’t think you’re an anti-Semite, heaven forbid. You’re just a self-righteous hypocrite who wishes to be politically correct and go with the flow of the “sexy leftist camp” when it comes to criticizing Israel.
On a final note, I just want to remind you, Costello, what turns a person from an “artist” to a “phenomenon.” It’s about daring to innovate, rather than going with the flow. This can also be reflected by the art you produce. It’s nice music, but not much more than that. You know what; perhaps this is the difference between you and truly shining stars, such as Ray Charles (who you once referred to as “nigger”) or even Elvis. On this issue, all residents of the Middle East may be in agreement: There is only one Elvis out there.
Jerusalem ---- May 24, 2010 …. Part of the following briefing on the Israel Defense Forces IDF Home Front Command Training Exercise Turning Point 4 was provided to the Israel News Agency by the Israel Defense Forces.
IDF Col. Dr. Yechiel Soffer, Head of Population Control IDF Home Front Command speaks about the present national civil defense drill entitled: Turning Point 4.
IDF Col. Dr. Soffer said that Israel was now starting a national civil defense drill.
"We call it Turning Point 4. One of the conclusions reached after the 2nd Lebanon War was to better prepare the population for missile attacks and other emergent situations. This is the 4th year we are conducting this national drill. We exercise the population on Wednesday at 11 o'clock. Sirens will be heard all over Israel and we have told the civilian population to go to their shelters - public and private - just to practice the different times required to reach the shelter. For example, In Haifa we have one minute to go to the shelter. In Tel Aviv there are two minutes. In Jerusalem there are three minutes. We also practice the municipalities in Israel, all 225 of the. On Monday and Tuesday we practice the ministries such as Interior and Defense. Communications- all the ministries with the local municipalities. About 35 local municipalities' altogether, in many different scenarios, for example: a missile attack, a plane crash, man casualties, etc. As I said, on Wednesday we drill the civilian population and on Thursday we continue the exercise with all the emergency organizations such as EMS, Home Front Command troops, the fire brigade, the Israel police."
Col. Soffer was asked if he was just referring to acts of terrorism and or acts of war taking place in northern Israel, or also about the south of Israel.
"I'm talking about all kinds of attacks on Israel civilians. It doesn't matter what the source of the missile is, every civilian has a predefined time to go into the shelter. If they hear an air raid siren, they must go inside the shelter. We don't have peace with terror organizations in the Gaza Strip, so we must be prepared for a missile attack from the south, just as from the north.
Col. Dr. Soffer was asked how does one find out where their bomb shelter is?
"For everyone in Israel, since 1992, it is a mandatory regulation that when you build a house you have to build it with a private shelter- a protective room inside a room. It is one of the conclusions reached after the Gulf War in 1991. Approximately 30-35% of buildings in Israel have a Mamad- a protective room. Another 30% or so have either a public shelter or a private shelter in the bottom of the building. The rest, 20-25%, don't have a regular protective shelter. We teach the public to choose the best solution they have in their building. For example, if they live on the top floor of their building, they have to go into the stairway one floor down and that is their protective area. If they are outside the building and don’t have enough time to go inside a shelter or building they have to lay down on the ground and that is the best solution that we can provide for them.
Col. Dr. Soffer was asked if one lived in Nachlaot and I didn't have a shelter. What should they do?
"If you're in a building you have to choose the interior room and will protect you. Not the best protection, but good protection.
Col. Dr. Soffer was asked why do you think Lebanon, Syria and Hezbollah are so afraid of this Israel nationwide drill that we're going to have?
"I really can't answer your question. It's an Israel civil defense drill, not an offensive drill. I only heard from the media that Lebanon and Syria are afraid of this exercise. You can understand that it's a civil defense drill, just to protect and prepare our population in Israel. I would like to add something- most countries prepare their population for all the disasters. In America and many other countries in Europe they prepare the public for earthquakes and other natural disasters because they're afraid of those threats. But I'm afraid that other than natural disasters, we have threats from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip." Col. Dr. Soffer was asked if the 2nd Israel Lebanon War had an effect on civilians that caused them to fear entering their safe rooms?
"Most of those killed during the 2nd Israel Lebanon War were killed in open spaces. Ninety percent were killed in open areas, ten percent were killed inside, but none were killed in their protection spaces."
As part of the IDF exercise, IDF OC Home Front Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan informed Vilna’i of his decision to complete the draft of all IDF Home Front Command reservists after close to 200 rockets and missiles, included ones with chemical warheads launched from Syria, landed in the center of the country.
Under the IDF exercise, most of the missiles from Iran and Syria were landing in the Gush Dan region in the center of the country.
Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu used the opening of the cabinet meeting Sunday to send a public message to Syria that the IDF Home Front exercise was a routine security event, and that Syria did not need to feel threatened by it.
“This is the fourth year in which we are holding this IDF homefront exercise,” said Netanyahu.
“I would like to make it clear that it is not the result of any exceptional security development. On the contrary, Israel wants calm, stability and peace.”
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 ---- May 18, 2010 …. A Swiss court has ruled that Israel businessman and respected philanthropist Michael Cherney (Mikhail Chernoy) is to be financially compensated for unfounded suspicions of links to the “Russian Mafia”.
According to a ruling by a court in Switzerland, Israel businessman Michael Cherney will be financially compensated in the amount of 30,000 Swiss francs for moral damages to him and his family caused by an investigation which dragged from 1996 through 2007. The probe was related to Cherney’s suspected links to the “Russian Mafia” and started in November 1996 when Michael Cherney was detained for four days upon his entry to Geneva. This was followed by a decade-long investigation, which resulted in Swiss High Federal Court’s verdict in 2008 exonerating Cherney from all the charges.
After the Swiss court’s 2008 ruling that Cherney was not linked to organized crime, he decided to sue for moral damages.
According to the Canton of Geneva law, this compensation could not exceed the amount of 10,000 francs. Exceptions are made in cases where courts discern “special circumstances”.
According to the court’s latest verdict, this was the case with Michael Cherney, especially since the investigation had unduly dragged out for eleven years. As a result, Cherney was awarded a compensation of 30,000 Swiss francs which is three times the standard amount.
Last January a Tel Aviv, Israel court found that an illegal campaign to discredit Michael Cherney had been managed at the order of Russia citizen Alexei Drobashenko, formerly the public relations director for Basic Element, a financial and industrial group belonging to Oleg Deripaska. Cherney and Deripaska are former partners in aluminum business.
Currently Cherney’s multi-million dollar suit against Deripaska is now being considered by a London court.
Following his repatriation to Israel, Michael Cherney has maintained business interests in Russia and post-Soviet states, while developing new business contacts between Russia, Europe, Israel, and the US.
In Israel, Michael Cherney spends much effort on charity and humanitarian projects that reinforce cooperation between Israel and Russia in fighting Islamic terrorism.
Michael Cherney established a Website for his Foundation on June 1, 2001, the night of the terrorist bombing outside the Dolphinarium Disco in Tel Aviv. When Michael Cherney learned that the number of victims were 21 dead and over 150 wounded, he realized that rendering assistance required a systematic organized effort.
Prior to 2001, Cherney was engaged in charity work in Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Bulgaria, the US - wherever he did business. He made valuable contributions into Jewish philanthropy in Russia. Following the Dolphinarium terrorist tragedy, the Cherney Fund became the helping hand for all its victims. In a misfortune like this, emigres from the former Soviet countries are even worse off than those born in Israel: they don't have a support system or savings.
The Cherney Fund renders help mostly to the new arrivals, victims of catastrophes and terrorist acts that continue to bleed Israel, as well as to the low-income victims of terror in other countries. Another equally important task assumed by the Cherney Foundation is the media effort in war on terror. Shortly after the Dolphinarium attack, the Foundation published a book called Dolphinarium: Terror Targets the Young.
The Michael Cherney Foundation has established grants for students from the former Soviet Union in all major Israel universities with an annual endowment of 1 million shekels.
Mr. Cherney and his family live in a suburb of Tel Aviv.
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.
In a written response to Elvis Costello, Alive Productions appealed to Costello to reconsider his “sudden and extreme” decision to cancel his June 30 and July 1concert in Israel.
“Back in February, when you confirmed the performances in Israel, you were surely aware of the situation in the Middle East, and the existing long conflict between the two nations with different wants and dreams. You are probably familiar with the history and the global reality that we in Israel are confronted with,” the letter stated.
“Perhaps there, it is easier to bury one's head in the sand and again use prejudice as a conduit to cultural discrimination of a large culture-loving public … music should be a voice of peace and brotherhood, a unifying force and should not be turned off merely because the background noises seem too loud.
“It is impossible to understand how your participation in a music concert, that is totally apolitical, can be interpreted as a political act. However, there can be no doubt that canceling a performance for political reasons, and refusing to perform in Israel, can only be interpreted as a very strong political statement. Your decision will only push people further apart and enabling those wrong-doers to win through cultural terror.”
Alive Productions, which is also bringing Costello’s wife, singer/pianist Diana Krall to the Ra’anana, Israel Amphitheater on August 4th, reassured fans that they had received word from her management (which she shares with Costello) that she had no plans to cancel her concert.
News sources report that Costello is very familiar with Islamic Jihad (Holy War against Jews and Christians) and may have canceled his concert in Israel due to death threats.
Unlike Costello, music legends Madonna and Paul McCartney have ignored Islamic death threats and used their music to bring people together.
Jerusalem ---- May 16, 2010 …. As Israel's short spring turns into a hot and fun summer, a record number of tourists are arriving in Tel Aviv to enjoy the long, sandy beaches, exciting night life and a magical mystery trip embracing thousands of years of culture and history.
And to make sure that even more tourists will get an eyeful of the Holy Land, Bodden Partners, a New York advertising agency has just launched a $10 million campaign for the Israel Ministry of Tourism titled: "There's a Little Bit of Israel in All of Us."
"This is by far the busiest season we have ever experienced," said Giora Salama, owner of the Gordon Inn Youth Hostel in Tel Aviv. "We had over 700,000 tourists last year just from the US. Even with the global recession affecting the travel and tourist industries, Israel was only off by nine percent compared to countries including Italy and Spain that were estimated to be down as much as by 35 percent."
Salama, who operates one of the cleanest and cheapest youth hostels in Tel Aviv, said that almost every room of the 27 rooms and dormitories that he rents out is booked through September.
"The Gordon Youth Hostel will always find room for guests as they arrive from the US, London, Paris, Germany and Canada," says Salama. And if we are overbooked we will find another hostel or hotel which is clean, provides cable and WiFi and is only minutes from the beach."
Meanwhile, a ten minute walk away is Giora's brother Avi beach restaurant - La Mer. The two brothers have hardly any time as they manage their respective staff, but they do find a few minutes to stretch their eyes and enjoy a few laughs.
"Jerusalem was recently named as one of the top ten travel destinations for the coming year by travel review Website TripAdvisor," says Avi. "But for every tourist that visits Jerusalem, you will find two more visiting the beaches of Tel Aviv. Without any doubt we have one of the longest, cleanest and sexiest beaches in the Mediterranean. From tourists and businessmen to hi-tech investors and solders on R&R from nearby countries, we offer it all in the only democratic Middle East state where you can enjoy wearing a bikini without getting arrested."
Avi directs one of the many beautiful, young waitresses at his Tel Aviv beach restaurant to couple waiting to find seats on the beach.
"In April Israel welcomed over 317,000 visitors, a 26 percent increase over April 2009," says Avi.
Giora smiles, saying that each year the tourists from Europe and North America get more attractive. Avi responds that this is the result of a dark bronze tan which kisses each tourist playing volleyball, swimming, running, surfing or just sipping on a kosher Pina Coloda on the Tel Aviv beach.
"The Israel Tourism Ministry has increased it marketing for the coming months in order to leverage the positive incoming tourism seen in recent months and to position Israel as an attractive tourist destination," said Israel Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov.
"The Tourism Ministry's target is to exceed over 1.5 million incoming tourists in the summer of 2010 (from May to September) as part of a three-year plan in which is geared to attract an additional million tourists to Israel by 2012."
"The comeback witnessed in Israel's incoming tourism in recent months was among the fastest in the Israel economy and contributed to the country's income and created many new jobs," said Misezhnikov.
Giora walks back to the Tel Aviv Gordon Youth Hostel and climbs the stairs to the roof. He sits down on one of the many soft lounge chairs next to a busy bar, a pool table and several tall, green plants providing an element of privacy for his Tel Aviv youth hostel guests.
"We have it all," says Giora.
"Just look at that bursting orange sunset. You can rent a bicycle and tour Tel Aviv, visit the trendy Tel Aviv port for a cup of Expresso, take in the ancient city of Jaffa. When you come back you are always greeted with a warm smile. Free coffee and tea. We pick up many of the tourists who come to visit Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport and arrange tours for them to see Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hafia, Eilat, Masada, Western Wall, Nazareth, the Negev desert, Sea of Galilee and the Golan Height with excursions to Jordan and Egypt. But almost all of them wind back here after days of sightseeing."
"Is there anything better, more sensual besides sex than eating a fresh steak or St. Peters fish with chips, enjoying red Golan wine as you feel the sun and the wind as it gently blows in from the sea?"
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 ---- May 11, 2010 …. I just finished looking upwards towards the blue sky above Israel. It's not there. If it is - would someone please tell me where it is. What I am talking about is the gigantic, menacing, dark grey volcano cloud. You know, the pollution that God has been spitting out from the Mount Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland which grounded thousands of people in Europe over the last two weeks.
It all started with my kind and elderly neighbor. He was out making his daily feeding of stray cats when he asked me if I had heard the news. Hey, I eat news for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so what could he add as he whistles to the cats to come and eat?
He tells me that a cloud is coming. He points to the sky. Staring upwards while asking me if I was ready.
Ready for what?
I walk fast up the stairs to my home, turn on the computer monitor and yes - I read that there is a volcano cloud full of poisonous gas and debris heading for Israel. That Ben-Gurion Airport may close down.
But it is what I don't read that truly disturbs me. No mention of where the cloud will actually make its beachhead. Must I get a gas mask from the IDF? Must I stay inside? Will I awake the next day to grey debris and dying dinosaurs?
Nothing. Nada. The government is not telling me anything. Is that because they don't know or they don't want to panic the public?
So in the absence of substantial news regarding Israel's first volcanic cloud to hover over the Holy Land since the dormant Mt. Hermon let off some steam thousands of years ago, perhaps the following is what is actually happening.
The majestic volcano cloud has moved over Israel and is hovering somewhere between Jerusalem and Rahmallah. Iran is accusing Israel of having created a volcanic cloud so that satellites cannot observe the Zionist army below and they have sworn to "wipe the volcano cloud off the map."
The Palestinians have demanded at the UN that the Western side of the cloud is theirs, no different than the West Bank. Foreign peace activists are reported to be protesting under the cloud demanding an end to Israel's occupation of it. Obama has stated that he would not tolerate any use of the cloud by Israel. No flying, no building - not even selling postcards of it.
Many ask, if it should rain, who would keep the rich volcanic dust? The TASE is experiencing a sharp climb as speculators read about Israeli drug manufacturers creating large nets to catch the volcanic dust as it falls and to be sold as aphrodisiacs, more powerful than Viagra and Cialis.
Police authorities in Dubai are accusing the Mossad of having created the volcanic cloud while English MP's are demanding that Israel apologize.
Green peace activists have joined J Street and the ISM in blaming Israel's blatant lack of animal rights in allowing the volcanic cloud to interrupt the flight of thousands of innocent, migrating birds.
It has been reported that the SPNI - the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel is now selling tickets to thousands of tourists at Ben-Gurion Airport to come to the Negev and watch the cloud with camels and red Golan wine.
Facebook and Twitter have come alive with reports from Lebanon that the volcanic cloud is being used as cover and as a diversion for the IDF to attack Iran and Syria nuclear facilities.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Haifa are rescheduling their games as cable TV entities Hot and Yes create "Volcano Channels."
Israel supermodels models Shelley Gafni, Bar Refaeli and Galit Gutman are now advertising special clean wipes designed to remove volcanic dust from our faces while removing wrinkles. Buy now at Superpharm, get 2 for 1.
Lastly, hundreds of rabbis in Jerusalem are declaring that the Mashiach is about to arrive, as they believe that the volcanic cloud represents the end - Israel's version of the disaster movie 2012.
Mark Regev and Danny Seaman, spokespersons of Israel Prime Minister's Office and the Government Press Office have simply responded by saying: "The Mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David. He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments. He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions. But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being."
Okay, got it. Benjamin Netanyahu is wasting no time. In a bid to fight off Likud and Kadima rivals, and securing Shas - Bibi is accepting the role of Mashiach. The only question left outstanding now is: will Barack Obama invite the Mashiach again to the White House and if so, is Obama not afraid of Netanyahu's new, mystical powers? Will Obama invite the Mashiach to enter the White House through the servants quarters as he did last time or will Netanyahu be welcomed in the same manner of a Saudi, oil rich king?
Let's keep that radio on and look upward.
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.
