Israel Freezes PA Tax Transfers. That's Bad. But It Does Make Sense.

Okay, now this is really getting complicated. Apparently there were some earlier agreements that obligated Israel to release tax transfer monies to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. The current amount in question is $100 Million. Israel stopped sending it over since UNESCO voted earlier in favor of admitting the Palestinians into the organization.

The tax are due to various trade and tariff taxes. Israel is on thin ice here morally. The issue is this: Israel technically owes the PA these funds and she and the world know it.

But the PA is trying to woo and reconcile with Hamas (the Palestinian group out of Lebanon that refuses to recognize Israel and wants to eliminate it off the face of the earth not unlike the wishes and desires of Iran that backs Hamas financially and otherwise).

So Israel must be thinking that inasmuch as your friends are my enemies, you (PA and Fatah) need to decide between them (Hamas) and me (Israel). And if you decide for them, that makes you my enemy and we're at war. War is war. I keep the money.

Meanwhile Israel claims to be just holding on to it until it sees what happens this Thursday once Hamas and Fatah finish some key talks on reconciliation.

Clearly if there's no deal and there is evidence that there won't be one any time soon, Israel should give the PA the money they had agreed to. But if there is a deal or one is still being pursued, it will be a moot point as sooner or later all hell will break out and since no one is really going to go to bat for Israel, it won't matter whether they held on to the money or not.  They could like use it to buy some more arms which they'll need.

When you add the world's pressure on Israel to hand over the money, the plot thickens. But of course there's also the pressure that Israel is trying to impose on America and the other so-called friendlier countries to go after Iran, and this may just be it's best leverage card.

All this to say this will be a very interesting spot to watch in the next few weeks leading up to Christmas.

World pushes Israel to release fu... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics

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Stakes Get Higher vs. the U.S. re. upcoming vote and veto on Palestinian state. PLO threatens U.S. big time.

Well, isn't this just wonderful.  The PA -- the supposedly nicer, more reasonable faction of the two (or is it three) entities that represent Palestinians has taken the following action:

It has said it will go for full membership at the UN next week, forcing the US to veto the proposal at the Security Council, and suffer the ire of the majority of the world.  Okay, that's fair politics.  But today the PLO took the next step.

The PLO is now threatening the US that if they veto, they can kiss the possibility of a "two-state" solution good-bye.  The PLO says it may even consider dismantling the PA and allowing its more radical counter-part, Hamas, to take over.  Hamas wants to eliminate Israel and have the Palestinians take over all the land the Israelis now occupy.   The stakes keep getting higher.

And by the way, in case you missed the intricacies of the difficulty the U.S. and Obama in particular are in, the PLO now says the very reason they are going to the U.N. is because "Obama, in his last speech to the UN in 2010, talked about the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within one year."

The PA's Abbas efforts to reach an agreement through negotiations have hit a dead end, blaming Israel of course for stubbornness.  Abbas insists the long-term plan is to have a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.   He agrees that the PLO will continue to be the official representative of all the Palestinians in the meantime.


Palestinians are being called to the streets for a major protest on September 21 (Wednesday), but also to avoid violence in order to not give the Israelis "any excuses to ignite the region" -- nice shifting of blame, isn't it?  Obama has done more than inspire them, he seems to have taught them some great propaganda tactics.  Or, wait, maybe he learned them from them.

Finally, the PLO intends to insure all Palestinian refugees have the "right of return" to their original homes inside Israel.  (Of course, no mention of the Jews that have been moved from their original homes as Israel ceded more and more land over the decades of negotiations.)


Now you know my perspective, but please do read the write-up directly.  Then let us know your views.  Clearly hundreds have commented on the link itself after the article.  What we need to watch for is exactly how the U.S. and the POTUS will handle this situation.  The minute hand depicting the timing of the "end of the world" clock is possibly considering a slight move, depending on what happens next week.


PA to US: Statehood veto would 'd... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics

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Flotilla. What Flotilla? The latest on how this Flotilla didn't Float.

David Frum in the National Post does a wonderful job of taking us behind the scenes at the little things that took place in Greece, in the courts, at the port, etc., that caused the Flotilla to go Flat.

David Frum: How Israeli lawyers stopped the second flotilla | Full Comment | National Post

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What's Next for Israel and Hamas?

A great report from STRATFOR.

The Arab Risings, Israel and Hamas | STRATFOR

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Will It Be An Eye for An Eye In Israel When It Comes To Prisoners?

There's nothing fair about love and nothing really fair about war. So the saying goes. And this story shows the latter.

First, it's an interesting story to see how prisoners of party A are treated by party B and vice-versa. Secondly, it will be an interesting story to follow as to whether party B will start treating party A prisoners the way party B's prisoners are treated by party A. If you follow all that, you're good. The article should help you clear it all up in your mind.

Should Israel adopt these pieces of legislation? If they do, they certainly won't be leading by example. If they do, they'll have a lot to answer for to many in Israel who may not be so "turn the other cheek" oriented.

Take a look and you tell us.

Schalit Bill to come one step closer to legislation

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There are lies, but who's telling them w.r.t. Egypt?

Let me paint the background for you. Here's an article from an Israeli newspaper saying that a British newspaper has proof that the Egyptian army has been involved in torture since the protests began in Egypt and they also accused those they tortured of acting for Israel and for Hamas. That's strange in itself. Now add this: further down in the linked article, you will see other links to a report that says the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) has full faith in the Egyptian military (the same military that supposedly tortures people they accuse of working for Israel). Am I missing something here?

All these stories cannot be true, can they? Surely, someone is either lying or just ignorant. But no matter the case, this is proof positive that the world, and especially the Middle East has lost its compass on reality and truth. Without that instrument, anything goes and we can expect all hell to break loose at any moment.

Take a look and please share this with others who may find it of interest using the share buttons on the blog.

Report: 'Egyptian army involved in torture'

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Modern-day, "God Take Care of Our Enemies"

Still don't think Hamas literally hate the Jews so badly? Take a look at this video footage from a recent funeral. There is no way that these people will ever stop hating the Jews. And if that's true, then there is no way there will ever be real peace in Israel. And as the sentiment grows throughout all of Islam, there will be less and less peace in the whole world. Peace can only come from the Prince of Peace. You may eventually want to think about that. Alternatively, we'll keep bringing you all the news of how it keeps eluding us. Take a look.

Elder of Ziyon: Hamas imam: "Please, Allah, kill all the Jews"

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Did Fatah Really Say That About Hamas?

Here is what I promised earlier. This should prove real interesting with respect to how Palestinians deal with their current neotiators.

Erekat: "I can't stand Hamas" - The Palestine Papers - Al Jazeera English

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More Developments in the Middle East -- No Good News

NewsAmerica's Middle East Channel had some most interesting links today to further developments in the region.

For starters, it reports that the new Prime Minister of Lebanon is Najib Mikati, the candidate backed by Hezbollah.  The implications for the relationship with neighboring Israel is obvious -- not a bright future there unless you like the lighting up of the skies when rockets are being fired back and forth.

It also reports that the U.S. says that Al-Jazeera's leaks make Mideast situation 'more difficult'.  Perhaps, but it really makes it more embarrassing as well for the United States that clearly was not able to broker a deal.  It's a diplomatic nightmare as things stand right now with the release of the Palestine Papers.

And finally Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement, a Palestinian political and military organization, recognized as terrorists by many nations) calls for protest against 'PA concessions' revealed in leaked documents.  Now Palestinians are fighting with Palestinians.  But such is the way of the Middle East.

Is there any good news on the peace talks?  I can't find any.  Of course, I haven't been looking in the Bible.

 

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