Who kidnapped the Israel we once knew?

	June 25, 2006

Jump to today's weblog | support us SPONSORED BY: Shmooze: The Jewish Social Network Shmooze is a gathering place for the Jewish People in all its diversity, enabling Jews the world over to define themselves, create friends and business connections, upload and share photos, create and join groups, each with built-in forums, multi-user blogs and file collections. And now Shmooze has just assembled a collection of more than 7000 Israeli and Jewish music albums for sale and over 50,000 song samples. We call it Shmoozic It's more than a dating site, and it's not just for singles... though singles will LOVE it. There's nothing quite like it and, best of all, it's free for individual members. Check it out! OPENING LINES: The Israeli government is an embarrassment Dear Readers, When I fiercely opposed the Israeli retreat from Gaza, I and people who shared my view presented the nightmare scenarios that are now coming true. The Hamas election, the rocket attacks, the infiltrations. This is just the beginning. Then it was theoretical. Now it's real. And getting worse. Today Fatah Al-Aksa Martyrs Group, a terrorist faction under the command of PA Chairman Mahmound Abbas, has announced that it has developed 20 varieties of chemical and biological poison for use against Israel. And that too is just a foretaste of things to come. The killing of an Israeli officer and soldier this morning, and the kidnapping of another, by a Palestinian cell emerging from a 300 meter long tunnel -- what does that say about us? What does that say about the viability of the so-called security barrier? Will it stop rockets flying over it? Will it stop gunmen burrowing under it? Will it stop ostensible "Palestinian workers" from importing weapons of mass destruction? And who do we have confronting this ever-increasing threat? We have Ehud Olmert as Prime Minister and Amir Peretz as Defense Minister. This combination I lacked the imagination to foresee. I don't think I fully grasp that this is Israel's leadership. Oh, I forgot Tzipi Livni and Shimon Peres. Israel, I am sorry to say, has lost its way. Not lost: the Jewish State has been led astray by powerful interests that care nothing about our legacy, and think nothing of stealing our birthright, or bringing us to ruin. They hope to pick up the pieces after a ruinous war, or after our nation is utterly demoralized and discredited by a war of attrition. Who kidnapped the Israel we once knew? The Israel that made us proud to be Jews. The Israel that wouldn't take crap. The Israel that inspired fear among its enemies and respect among the nations. The Israel that was competent. That Israel still exists. But the present government is holding it hostage. The desperation of our current condition cannot be underestimated. We are being led by short-sighted fools who lack a clue about what to do. Speaking the truth is an extreme sport here is Israel. Nadia Matar is on trial for "insulting a public official" for comparing Yonatan Bassi to and his Expulsion Authority to the Nazi-area Judenrat collaborators. But are we not now in a situation where key members of the current government are now collaborating with foreign powers at the expense and risk of the citizens of Israel? There's a word for people like that. Thomas Paine once wrote: "These are the times that's try men's souls. The summer soldier soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country. But he who stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. And yet we have this consolation with us: that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." I may have mangled this a bit, but the point is this: Courageous voices of reason will gain a hearing, and the naked absurdity of the Emperor plans, and the unsuitability of his "Defense Minister," is being shown for all to see. We are becoming a laughingstock for incompetence. Will it save us? I don't know. But Israel Insider, now celebrating more than five years of daily publication, will be part of the struggle. We're not going away. So, dear readers, please forgive me my repeated absences, and join me in this "good fight"! And let's rescue the hostage! Reuven Koret Publisher TOP OF THE NEWS: Israeli soldier kidnapped, 2 dead after Palestinian attack on military outpost Hamas militants infiltrated southern Israel through a tunnel Sunday, lobbing grenades and bombs inside a tank at a border military post. Articles Israel stages first arrest raid in Gaza since pullout Israeli commandos carried out the first arrest raid in the Gaza Strip since Israel's withdrawal from the coastal area last year. "Extremist" Jewish settlers ordered away from outposts The Israeli army has authorized restraining orders against 12 Jewish settlers to keep them away from West Bank settler outposts. Olmert blames PA for deadly attack; chief of staff admits army surprised Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said he holds the PA and the Hamas-ruled government responsible for the militant attack on an IDF outpost via a 300m tunnel. Pink Floyd founder tells Israelis to tear down "The Wall" Roger Waters, performed before tens of thousands of Israeli fans on Thursday, called on Israel to tear down concrete blocks stopping bombers from entering. Red Cross movement admits Israeli society, ending long exclusion The Red Cross humanitarian movement Thursday admitted the Israeli society that had been left waiting for nearly 60 years. Olmert, Abbas say they'll meet again in coming weeks, with conditions Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shook hands, embraced and kissed each other at a breakfast meeting in Jordan. Explosion in car in Gaza City wounds Palestinian security official An explosion in a car near Palestinian Preventive Security Service headquarters in Gaza City injured a security official and two other people. In additional failure, Israeli airstrike misses terrorists, kills civilians Israeli aircraft missed their target in Gaza for the second time in two days, crashing into a house and killing two Palestinian civilians. Residents of southern Israeli town protest rocket attacks from Gaza Residents of Sderot brought the community to a standstill for several hours on Tuesday, blocking roads and cutting municipal services, in protest. Palestinian militants vow revenge; killing of children was unintentional Palestinian militant groups vowed Wednesday to carry out revenge attacks against Israel after an Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian children. Israel targets car in Gaza airstrike, wounding militants, killing 3 bystanders Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a car in the crowded Jebaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza on Tuesday, missing targeted Palestinian militants. Romeo in Jericho The Palestinian man whose Web romance with a 16-year-old Michigan girl said he genuinely loves the young woman who fled her mother's home to be with him. Islamic Jihad rejects "prisoners' document" The Islamic Jihad on Monday announced that it is rejecting a document that was to serve as a basis for Palestinian national consensus. RECENT VIEWS The Proper Response to the Kidnapping of Israeli Soldiers By Ze'ev Orenstein Israel must make it perfectly clear that terror just doesn't pay, and the way to do so its cutting off supplies to Gaza and targeting PA officials. Restraint is Not Heroism By Nadia Matar The response of Sderot residents is normal. It is inconceivable that daily life will go on in the country when the enemy attacks civilians in an Israeli city. Shake the Earth By Paula R. Stern Israel has, for the most part over the last year, appeared weak and inefficient in its dealings with the Palestinians. The "peace process" is a bigger danger than Hamas By Ted Belman The biggest threat Israel faces today is the ?peace process? with its insistence on the Saudi Peace Plan. Who Cares About Jonathan Pollard? By Professor Kenneth Lasson Who wants to hear anything more about Jonathan Pollard? Not the government of the United States, or its criminal justice system. Cowardly Options By Moshe Kempinski Kassam rockets are falling in Sderot and the western Negev and the Israeli Defense Minister speaks about the virtue of restraint. Olmert keeps ignoring reality, but public opinion shift may clip his wings By Dr. Aaron Lerner With Olmert incapable or unwilling to protect Sderot from the results of the Gaza retreat, will the most populous areas of Israel become one big Sderot? Time to Try Something Else By M.J. Rosenberg Palestinians, Israelis and Americans are all sticking to a script that experience shows is bound to fail. What will it take to get them to turn the page? Pink Flawed or Pink Fraud? By David Bedein Few who went to Roger Waters' show thought that they were coming to a political demonstration. But Waters came to demonstrate. At the Nadia Matar Trial By Shalom Pollack In a stuffy court room in Jerusalem, I had the honor of sharing limited space and air with some of Israel's resolute soldiers in the war for the Jewish People. Stop Apologizing for Defending Ourselves By Isi Leibler It is bizarre to continue providing water and electricity to neighbors who proclaim that their aim is to destroy us and rain rockets on our civilians. Israel's Right to Invade By Bruce S. Ticker Now Israel has far more of a right to conduct a full-scale war against the Palestinians than it ever did. Is it moral to die for human shields? By Dr. Aaron Lerner Kofi Annan may think it's not nice for Palestinians to manufacture, store and launch rockets from among Palestinian civilians, but he rewards such behavior. My "Reward" for Serving My Country By Yehezkel Bin-Nun The consequences of my conscientious objection were not immediate, but come they did. Three times I have received "visitors" in the middle of the night. The Invisible Man and the Squeaky Wheel By David Potter Israel isn't squeaking enough. Until it does, Jonathan Pollard won't be on the radar at State. Not even close. He will be invisible, lost in the system. Briefs Attack on Israeli military post leads to closing of Gaza-Egypt border The Gaza-Egypt border was closed to passage on Sunday after Palestinian militants attacked an Israeli military post. Palestinian president urges Rice to get Israel to stop escalating tensions Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to press Israel to stop escalating tensions. Israeli air force chief says despite miss, air strikes will continue The Israeli army will not halt its policy of firing airborne missiles at Palestinian militants despite recent error that killed five civilians in two days. U.S. Presbyterian Church shifts investment plan away from targeting just Israel The Presbyterian Church national assembly has revised a 2-year-old policy on Mideast investments to avoid singling out Israel. Palestinian militant killed during army arrest operation in West Bank Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian militant early Wednesday during an army arrest operation in the West Bank city of Nablus. Egypt-Gaza crossing closed due to security alert The Gaza Strip's main gateway to the outside world was closed Wednesday following an Israeli security alert in the area. Israeli air force hits metal workshop in Gaza Strip Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a metal workshop in Gaza City early Tuesday, residents and the Israeli military said. Ghana apologizes for player waving Israeli flag Ghana's Football Association apologized after Israel-based defender John Pantsil pulled out an Israeli flag during celebrations for Saturday's victory. Israeli DM says Gaza beach killings could have been from Israeli ordnance Israeli DM Amir Peretz has not ruled out the possibility that Israeli ordnance caused a blast on a Gaza beach that killed eight Palestinian civilians. Klimt painting recovered after it was looted by Nazis is sold to New York museum A portrait by Gustav Klimt that was the focus of a battle between the Austrian government and the subject's niece was purchased by a New York museum. Holocaust Museum to help trace Jews held in German-occupied France during World War II 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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