The Day In Israel: Sunday July 25th, 2010

Israel does not intend to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Council’s investigation into our flotilla raid since  this would only confer legitimacy upon the UNHRC, which has consistently acted against Israel.

“This is an unnecessary committee,” the official said, “which is the product of an obsession with Israel.”

Meanwhile, Israel does intend to cooperate with a separate flotilla committee acting on behalf UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

No obsession here. Move along.

Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)

10:10PM: Meanwhile, about half an hour from where I live..

Thousands of homes in Jerusalem have been evacuated as a massive blaze tears through a forest near a hospital on the outskirts of the Holy City.

At least 20 fire engines rushed to the scene of the blaze which broke out on Sunday in woodlands near Hadassa hospital, just above the village of Ein Kerem, believed to be the biblical home of John the Baptist.

‘The fire is huge,’ police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told AFP.

‘We have evacuated the whole population of Moshav Ora and Aminadav, as well as Even Sapir,’ he said, referring to three collective villages in the hills of southwest Jerusalem which are home to more than 2000 people.

Police were conducting house-to-house searches to ensure no-one was left behind, he said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Two planes and a firefighting helicopter were flying over the area in a bid to douse the flames with water and fire retardant.

Several vehicles in the hospital car park had gone up in flames, he said, adding that the emergency vehicles had quickly secured the area around the hospital.

Huge clouds of smoke were billowing into the air, obscuring much of the view across the sprawling valley, local witnesses said.

Many roads leading to the area were closed to allow speedier access for emergency vehicles trying to reach the scene, they said.

7:35PM: A Haitian double amputee has received prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation in Israel.

5:56PM: Bachelor party: Not quite the makings of a Tom Hanks movie.

A Bedouin died Saturday of wounds sustained a night before his wedding, when guests and relatives opened celebratory gunfire in the air to mark the occasion.

The 22-year-old groom sustained several gunshot wounds to his upper body at the bachelor party in the southern Negev town of Al-Kseifa and was evacuated to the Soroko Hospital in Beersheba for treatment. He was pronounced dead after several medical procedures.

In the Middle East, it is customary for men to fire gunshots into the air to celebrate wedding parties and other significant events. But the custom has turned several weddings into tragedies across the region.

4:20PM: Navy SEAL vs Israeli commando: preview.

3:32PM: Israel is dispatching a police team to Haiti to assist the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINHUSTAH) in upholding public order and stabilizing the situation following the severe earthquake that struck there this past January.

That, and to plunder the organs of the unsuspecting.

3:10PM: Still on the subject of bouncing balls.

1:00PM: I wonder how many meals can be bought for the cost of 7000+ basketballs.

11:15AM: Yet another example of Gazans’ freedom being restricted.

De facto government detectives in the Gaza Strip seized inventory from several shops and vendors on Saturday, which a police report said displayed “immoral words.”

The clothing, manufactured in Gaza City, was mostly cotton shirts with the words “Porn Man Clothing” written on them in bold letters.

Detectives said the clothing was uncovered during a routine inspection tour, and was traced back to a manufacturer in the Ash-Shuja’iyyah neighborhood of Gaza City, where a report said two merchants and a printer worked to create and supply the goods to vendors.

Police said the supplies and the merchandise were confiscated and the individuals involved in making the clothing brought in for questioning.

Investigators said charges would likely be laid.

Which is more than can be said for the vendors.

11:00AM: And now for some positive news from Sweden.

Sweden often gives the impression that it is blinded by hatred of Israel. However in the last couple of weeks following the Ship to Gaza event, some signs of hope have appeared showing that not everybody refuses to see both sides of the story.

In a public statement, the student union of the ruling Moderate party (Fria Moderaternas Studentforbund) writes “We can unload the ships”.

The statement refers to the boycott that the Swedish Dockworkers Union currently is imposing on Israeli cargo arriving to Sweden as well as Swedish cargo destined for Israel. In response to the Dockworkers Union’s boycott, the young Moderates offered to offload and load those ships which the dockworkers refuse to handle.

Their statement reads:

“Today, the Swedish Dockworkers Union has initiated a blockade of goods to and from Israel. The reason is that Israel did not let through a number of ships which were aiming to break their naval blockade of Hamas. To so clearly take a stance for Hamas and their unlimited naval access to accept all the goods they wish, including weapons, is a manifestation of hate towards Israel, not a support for the suffering population. Those who really want to have peace in the Middle East should instead take a stance against the terror group Hamas and the horrible suffering which it has caused Gaza’s population. It is Hamas’s fault that people are suffering in Gaza, not Israel’s.”

As a sign of their support of Israel the students have consequently decided to act in order to break the Swedish blockade against Israel and load and unload those ships which the dockworkers refuse to handle.

Anyone in Sweden interested in helping the Moderate Student Union can contact chairman Gustav Dymov for further information and contact details:

Email: [email protected]

6:12AM: Caption of the day:

palestinian graduates
AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh

Palestinian students are seen during their graduation ceremony in Al Quds University in the West Bank city of Nablus, Sunday, July 24, 2010

5:58AM: Yesterday, our projectile-friendly neighbors fired a total of four rockets and two mortar shells at Israel, including one manufactured using professional means, most likely outside of Gaza.

19 thoughts on “The Day In Israel: Sunday July 25th, 2010”

  1. In a press conference before he entered the prison, Salah warned that the second half of 2010 would be “a fateful year for the al-Aksa Mosque” and reiterated calls for his supporters to guard the Temple Mount site from alleged Israeli aspirations to turn it into a place of Jewish worship. Jerusalem, he said, and not his detention, should be the major issue of the day.

    We may as well just do it and be done with.

    1. What would happen if an earthquake leveled al-Aksa? Earthquakes have been known to happen in that neighborhood, though not as often as in California.

      1. That would also get the Western Wall though. Unlike tornadoes, earthquakes are not very selective.

        That is true and I have often pointed out who would be first on the scene in Gaza if an earthquake hit it.

        1. Michael Zvi Krumbein

          I always felt that the Arabs would one day shell Jerusalem, and accidentally destroy the two domes. One day I woke up and realized that we would just let them rebuild it.

          1. You know it really is kind of a shame the Crusaders didnt destroy it. You are supposed to level the icon of a city when you conquer it. If they had, they mightve kept ahold of the city.

            And then unfortunately the Mongols did not make it to Jerusalem. Or rather did not stay there long. Im not sure how clear the history is. Although I wonder if they would have sacked it, as they had a large Muslim contingent. Then again, they sacked Baghdad.

            1. Michael Zvi Krumbein

              I thought they turned it into a Church. You know, until relatively recently, the dome was slate grey. The current covering in anodized (with gold?) aluminum.

              1. No I think they thought it was the actual Temple and didnt want to destroy the original Temple.

                I thought it was gold originally, then it was looted or fell apart. Actually, what we do know is that Israel facilitated repairs, right? That backs up the story that the land was a backwater s'hole until the Jews came and drained the swamps and made the desert bloom.

          2. Im kind of unsure about building a Third Temple though. I just dont think it would be done correctly, even with the instructions provided (in the Tanakh I think?). Plus the other concerns about rebuilding it. Im not too concerned about sacrifices, just I feel we would be messing in an area we dont quite belong in yet.

            On the other hand, it would be great to have it there.

            1. Michael Zvi Krumbein

              No, you couldn't figure out the instructions from Ezekial, but the idea is not to build a Third Temple, but another Second Temple. There is a volume of the mishna (basic part of the Talmud) which gives more-or-less a blueprint. And Maimonides has the minimum requirements. The problem is the dyes for the High Priest's garments. I know some claim they figured it out, but I'm a bit skeptical.

              Actually, you don't need a Temple; just figure out where the altar was and bring sacrifices. But the above issue is still a problem.

              1. I knew it was somewhere or maybe Im thinking about the ark or the tabernacle…

                That is the other problem though. Where is the altar? Isnt that what the "rock" is? Or maybe Im confusing things (as is often the case :p)

      2. Michael Zvi Krumbein

        Yes, there was a hobbible earthquake in Tz'fat in the 1800's (?) that basical;ly destroyed the city. I have to tell you that hearing about the D.C. quake from my mother-in-law made me a bit nervous. But just a bit.

        1. Jim from Iowa

          What's a "hobbible earthquake?" Is that an earthquake that only affect Hobbits from "The Lord of the Rings?"

  2. Isreali War Criminal

    I knew it wouldn't last long, IKEA would have gone bankrupt and Volvo would have to lay off to many workers, the Dockworkers realized pretty quick when their illegal strike, was met with no pay checks.

    Meanwhile, back in Sweden, Muhammad wept as once again, his plans for global Shariah were once again dashed by the Zionist powers which he believes lurks everywhere…

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