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Former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich has attacked the Obama administration for endangering Israel.
“They are systematically setting up the most decisive confrontation that we’ve ever seen,” the leading Republican politician told The Jerusalem Post, referring to news reports about the administration’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“There’s almost an eagerness to take on the Israeli government to make a point with the Arab world,” he said, speaking to the Post ahead of his speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual conference.
He called US President Barack Obama’s program of engagement on Iran a “fantasy,” and his Middle East policies “very dangerous for Israel.” He summed up Obama’s approach as “the clearest adoption of weakness since Jimmy Carter.”
Meanwhile, according to a survey jointly commissioned by Bar-Ilan University’s BESA center and the ADL, most Israelis (60%) have a “positive” or “very positive’ attitude toward President Obama, although ony 38% said they thought his attitude to Israel was friendly (in contrast to 73% who said the same about former President George Bush in a 2007 poll).
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
7:57PM: The man who yesterday had great difficulty controlling his urge to stab a Jew in the neck has reportedly been arrested.
Not surprisingly, the suspect is palestinian.
7:50PM: Someone let Shimon Peres off his leash.
7:32PM: Mazal tov to anti-Israel cretin and Israellycool “favorite” Richard Silverstein who has been published by noted anti-Semite David Duke (via).
6:12PM: The Free Gazans lost their dignity a long time ago. Now they’ve lost their DIGNITY.
From the Free Gaza mailing list:
Dear Friends,
We desperately need your help. It’s with heavy hearts that we have to inform you that the Free Gaza ship, the DIGNITY, has been lost outside Larnaca port in Cyprus. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.
On 30 December 2008 the DIGNITY was rammed by the Israeli navy while on a mission of mercy to deliver critically needed medical supplies and doctors to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. Thanks to the heroic efforts of its captain and crew, the DIGNITY was able to find safe harbor in Lebanon, later making its way to Cyprus for repairs. Early this morning we received a call from the Harbor Master in Larnaca, informing us that the ship was taking on water. While attempting to tow her to safety, the ship went down. An inquiry has begun into the circumstances surrounding her demise, possibly due to storm damage suffered during the night.
All of us in Free Gaza are deeply saddened by the loss of the DIGNITY. Since the Free Gaza Movement was founded in 2006 we have worked hard to overcome the siege of Gaza. Israeli policies of racism, ethnic cleansing and the brutal military occupation of Palestine demand our determined & direct resistance. When our governments fail to act, we – the citizens of the world – must stand up and make our voices heard.
To date, the Free Gaza Movement has organized seven voyages to Palestine, successfully arriving in Gaza Port five times. We have brought dozens of human rights workers, journalists, parliamentarians, and others to Gaza, as well as tons of desperately needed medical and humanitarian supplies. Free Gaza boats are the first international ships to sail to the Gaza Strip since 1967.
None of this would have been possible without you, our friends. Your emotional, political, and financial support is the foundation of all our successes.
We’re turning to you today, because we need your help now more than ever. Please visit our website, at http://www.freegaza.org/en/donate, for more information on how you can help ensure our continuing missions to Palestine. Please give generously.
Please don’t.
5:17PM: Israeli President Shimon Peres wants Israel to accede to a longstanding Vatican demand that Israel transfer sovereignty of 6 key Christian sites to the control of the Holy See.
I tell you what. The Vatican hands over the numerous Jewish Temple artifacts they have stored away, and we’ll talk.
3:55PM: The Spanish have decided to go ahead with their Inquisition.
A Spanish judge said Monday he will continue to investigate seven current and former Israeli officials over an Air Force bombing in Gaza in 2002 that killed a Hamas militant and 14 civilians.
Prosecutors last month urged Judge Fernando Andreu of Spain’s National Court to suspend the inquiry on the grounds Israel was still investigating the attack. But Andreu rejected the request on Monday, saying he has found no evidence of such an investigation in Israel.
My blood’s boiling right now, which means I need some therapy.
Here’s my therapy.
12:45PM: Separated at Birth? The flag of the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat
and the flag of Iran.
Back story:
The southern city of Kiryat Gat is considering replacing its flag due to its resemblance to the Iranian flag. Council Member Benny Hasson on Sunday suggested that the municipality adopt a new flag which will not look like the one placed behind Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Kiryat Gat flag was designed 56 years ago, and features a scythe used for harvesting wheat and a cotton flower. Its colors are red, white and green.
The current Iranian flag, which was adopted after the Islamic revolution, is also red, white and greed. The emblem in the center of the flag features four moons and a sword. Hasson presented the Iranian flag to the council members.
