WEEKLY BRIEFING: Katif and Katrina -- Coincidence or God's Finger?

	September 7, 2005

Jump to today's weblog  |  support us SPONSORED BY: Israel's Story in Maps There is no better online collection of historical maps about Israel than the one we produced: Israel's Foreign Ministry uses Israel's Story in Maps as its primary cartographic resource. Within a Macromedia Flash framework, we have created a visual narrative that starts with Solomon and continues to 2004, telling the story about the Jewish People's connection to their land, with an emphasis on their return in the 20th century. Each map and graph can be printed out in high resolution. Consider it as a treat for yourself, or a gift to a friend or family member, or a pastor/rabbi who cares about Israel. By buying this CD-ROM ($9.95 +S&H) or ordering an online subscription ($4.95), you'll be helping Israel Insider keep on keeping on! Please consider ordering one today. OPENING LINES: Katrina and Katif Hurricane Katrina started just as the destruction of Jewish communities in Katif and Samaria was beginning. After the government of Israel, backed by the US, made some 10,000 of its own people homeless, and wrecked all of their homes, perhaps a million Americans found themselves homeless, their dwelling ruined. Thousands of innocents lost their lives. Was this just an unfortunate coincidence? Or was America reaping the whirlwind? As the world's attention turn to America's southern coast, not Israel's, our writers speculate on the intersection of theology and meteorology. And while Israel was quick to offer technical and medical help in disaster recovery, it is not so quick in backing down from its longstanding request for $2.2 billion in U.S. promised to help soften the economic blow of pulling out of Gaza. Should Israel give it up, sit back and wait, or go full speed ahead in these troubled waters? We provide the facts, and opinions, in several stories. Meanwhile, with the assassination -- or more properly, the lynch -- of Yasser Arafat's nephew Musa, is Gaza coming apart at the seams? Yesterday a mob overran an IDF post near Neve Dekalim. The unafraid Palestinians threw stones and climbed on a tank. Should the IDF turn tail and run? Or should it continue to defend the area of its 21 now-emptied communities? Fight or flight? Surprise, surprise: the Defense Ministry decided to move up its departure from the Strip. Israel's high court has ruled that Ariel Sharon should turn to the Palestinian Authority and international community to protect the shells of its synagogues? Is it realistic to expect the Palestinians to respect the sanctity of its religious buildings? Or should Israel resign itself to their desecration and destruction? The PA announced that it wants nothing to do with the synagogues, and demands that Israel either destroy them or remove them. Just a sample of the issues we're looking into and following up on at Israel Insider. Enjoy! Reuven Koret Publisher COMIC RELIEF: Suicide Bombings Down Due to Shortage of Virgins By Martin Bodek Little did Israel know that peace would not come about by treaties or land returns but by a sexually active Palestinian population. Articles Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Katrina punishment for pullout and lack of Torah study Shas spiritual leader and former Chief Sephardic Rabbi Ovadia Yosef said that President Bush, along with New Orleans residents, are to blame for Katrina. Gaza attacks inspire Israel to speed complete retreat After a second Israeli was wounded by terrorists near the Gaza-Egypt border, and after Palestinians stormed Neve Dekalim last night, Israel makes its move. Gunmen kill former Palestinian security chief Moussa Arafat in his home Assailants stormed the heavily guarded home of Gaza's former security chief Moussa Arafat before dawn Wednesday, killing him in a burst of gunfire. Palestinian killed after youths storm ex-settlement in Gaza, stone tank In the first clash between IDF troops and Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza since Israel emptied its settlements there, one was killed and three wounded. Sharon, Bibi reject February compromise; Shalom to compete if PM bows out PM Ariel Sharon and Binyamin Netanyahu reject February primaries date; Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom says run for the top spot if Sharon quits. Palestinian lawmaker pleads guilty to funding attacks on Israel An Israeli military court convicted a Palestinian lawmaker of belong to a terrorist group and helping fund attacks on Israel, including a suicide bombing. "Today we are all Americans": Israel to send aid delegation to Dixie Sharon: "The U.S. has stood beside us in difficult days and I think it is our duty to help it with whatever we are able to help." Assessment team to go first. Hoping to help Sharon, Bush tells allies to ease off on "peace pressure" The Bush administration, hoping to strengthen PM Ariel Sharon domestically, is urging U.S. allies not to press Israel to make more concessions. Palestinians prepare to take over former Jewish communities in Gaza Palestinians say that without an agreement on the opening of a harbor and airport, Israel's 38-year-old occupation of Gaza is not really ending. Minister Livnat denounces conductor Barenboim as 'real anti-Semite' Israel's education minister denounced the prize-winning musician who refused to grant an interview to an Army Radio reporter because she wore a uniform. Olmert admits Sharon has frozen growth of Jerusalem suburb to please Bush Sharon's deputy said that Israel has frozen plans to expand its largest "settlement," Maaleh Adumim, and would only revive the project with U.S. consent. Attorney appeals cabinet decision: "Jews don't destroy synagogues" When the Roman general Titus stood on the threshold of destroying Jerusalem's temple, the Jews never dreamed of preempting that desecration. RECENT VIEWS Last Chance for Abbas By Mitchell G. Bard The danger is that the Palestinians will delude themselves to believe the rhetoric of Hamas that Israel was driven out of Gaza by terror. A loss of more than just possessions By Rabbi Shea Hecht An expelled Gush Katif settler and a Hurricane Katrina victim discover that it makes little difference what the cause: losing a home hurts. Struggling for Balance By Moshe Kempinski Our greatest desire was to see the expulsion plan disrupted. We did not merit seeing that happen. America the Betrayer By Cale Hahn When one's enemies are placated and referred to as friends, the time of destruction is near. Coming Soon: Giving the Galilee Finger By Elyakim Ha'etzni The test will come when the PM decides to give away a small parcel of land in the north, between Jordan and Palestine -- that's become a security burden. When silence is a sin By Aliza Karp Gush Katif was a land of revealed miracles. There was no need for faith there, where the people were witness to multiple miracles every day. What God wants us to learn from Katrina By Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz Rather than blame Katrina on other people's sins, religious leaders should learn how to join hands in rebuilding the world rather than point fingers. How to Honor an Obstacle to Peace By Alex Margolin Instead of trying to justify the need to build an anti-terror wall, Israeli leaders should hold a ceremony honoring the man who made it happen. The New Orleans Diaspora By David Potter The refugees may turn out to be like the Jews of another time and place, scattered to the four winds, yet retaining a memory of their homes. The extermination of Israel By Irwin N. Graulich While Palestinian leaders and religious figures continue to spin victory from utter defeat, Israel has divorced itself from a shotgun marriage to Gaza. To save a synagogue By Paula R. Stern With heavy hearts, we left early one morning last week on a mission to see if somehow we could save a small portion of a Gaza community. Katrina and Katif: some connections to consider By Tamar Yonah Seeing what has happened in Israel these last weeks, and what is happening now in the U.S., the striking similarities are hard to dismiss as coincidence. For the Sake of the United States By Stan Goodenough Seldom has something I have written provoked so furious a response as the piece that went up hours before Katrina began to devour the Gulf Coast. So, What Do We Do Now? By Shmuel Sackett We can replace Sharon's leadership and reprogram the army and police, transforming crying young people into proud Jews defending Jewish rights. Disasters, natural and man-made By Reuven Koret Will our levees withstand the pressure of this natural disaster or, horribly, have we already allowed them to be breached? Briefs Aluf Benn: Even after Israeli retreat, Palestinians dispute Gaza Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has adopted the argument that Israel is continuing to occupy Palestinian lands in the northern and eastern Gaza Strip. Croatia's Jewish community to expel only rabbi Egyptian election tainted by fraud charges, protests Will Hamas be disarmed? New Orleans-bound Israeli supplies to leave Thursday Egyptians cast votes for first time since 1952 Minor Earthquake hits Tel Aviv, eastern Israel Parts of northern Samaria to be transferred to PA High Court Judges request Sharon appeal to PA to protect Gaza synagogues USEFUL LINKS Israel News in English Wiresearch/Newsportals about Israel Israel Insider Yahoo Jerusalem Post Google Israel news (by relevance) Haaretz (English) Google Israel news (by recency) Israel National News   Israel News in Hebrew Other Maariv Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ynet Israel Defense Forces Haaretz CoP/JCPA Daily Alert Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio) WebLog of Mideast Politics Voice of Israel (Second Network) OpinionJournal Best of the Web The Israel Insider daily briefing is a limited circulation newsletter intended for supporters and subscribers only. 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