| It Is God's Land, and It Will Not Be Divided Whose land? Everywhere in the news today we read about the coming 'two-state' solution for peace in the Middle East. It is something that the Obama administration is pushing as hard as they possibly can, and even some Jews are for the idea. In case you have been vacationing on Mars and don't know what the two-state solution is, it goes a litte something like this.  The Muslim Dome of thr Rock mosque sits atop the holiest place in Israel, the Temple Mount. The Two-State Solution Here is the theory - The Arabs who occupy Gaza, and call themselves the 'palestinians', would be nice to the Jews if they had their own state - Palestine. So, again in theory, all the Jews would have to do to make peace is to create a state called Palestine, and let the Muslims in Gaza be free. Right? Wrong. There are a number of things wrong with this idea, not the least of which is that fact that written into the charter of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization, a terrorist group), is this gem from article 22 of the offical PLO charter: "Article 22: Zionism is a political movement organically associated with international imperialism and antagonistic to all action for liberation and to progressive movements in the world. It is racist and fanatic in its nature, aggressive, expansionist, and colonial in its aims, and fascist in its methods. Israel is the instrument of the Zionist movement, and geographical base for world imperialism placed strategically in the midst of the Arab homeland to combat the hopes of the Arab nation for liberation, unity, and progress. Israel is a constant source of threat vis-a-vis peace in the Middle East and the whole world. Since the liberation of Palestine will destroy the Zionist and imperialist presence and will contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East, the Palestinian people look for the support of all the progressive and peaceful forces and urge them all, irrespective of their affiliations and beliefs, to offer the Palestinian people all aid and support in their just struggle for the liberation their homeland." source - MFA.gov This is just one of many articles in the PLO charter which call for an "end to Zionsim" in the Middle East. Translation - Israel must be destroyed. The PLO in no way, shape or form recognizes the right of Israel to exist as a nation, and actively works toward it's destruction. And yet, amazingly, people like President Obama continue to push hard for the notion that all this hatred and animosity will miraculously disappear if Israel agrees to create a Muslim state from Israeli land. I wish I knew of some high-brow, intellectual way to say it, but in plain english, you would have to be a moron to think that would work. An absolute imbecile. Yet, that's where the push remains. So maybe there are other forces at work, like the fulfillment of bible prophecy. Let's look and see if there are any verses which talk about the land of Israel being "divided" and given to outsiders. |
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The apple of God's eye In the book of Zechariah, we read an incredible passage where the LORD declares that Israel is the 'apple of His eye', and that disaster is waiting for all those who would 'plunder' her. "I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what [is] the breadth thereof, and what [is] the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited [as] towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. ¶ Ho, ho, [come forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon. ¶ For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. " Zechariah 2:1-8  Jimmy Carter, a nortorious Jew-hater, took his best shot at dividing Israel. Obama is giving it his best shot now. The bible says that when you mess with Israel, you mess with God Himself! God continues this theme in the book of Joel where He talks about those who would dare to "part my land"...evidentally, God foresaw this mad rush by political leaders living in the end times to divide up the land of Israel and take it for themselves and their own purposes - "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land." Joel 3: 1,2 But the what I want you to see here is exactly Who claims ultimate ownership of the land of Israel. I will give you a clue - it's not the Jews, and it is certainly not the Muslims. It is Almighty God who says that it is His land, and He alone will make the final decision on who gets it. True, He has given it to Israel for an 'everlasting possesion' but even Israel cannot give it away. (see sidebar for quote from David Ben-Gurion). But the fact that the two-state solution is on the verge of becoming a reality is a sign that end times bible prophecy is being fulfilled! Of course, the result of this will be terrible Judgment from God, but fulfilled it will be nonetheless. | ||||||
| A wake-up call is coming for Obama and Company President Obama is making it a centerpiece of his administration to give Israeli land to the palestinians for a creation of their soon-to-be-announced state of Palestine. Towards that end he, last week, upgraded the status of the PLO embassy to 'delegate general'.  This means that the PLO, a terrorist organization, now has rights normally given to actual nations representatives like diplomatic immunity and the right to fly thier flag over their embassy in Washington. White House spokesman Thomas Vietor said this about the move - "When asked to comment on the move, White House spokesman Thomas Vietor said, "This decision reflects our confidence that through direct negotiations, we can help achieve a two-state solution with an independent and viable Palestine living side by side with Israel. We should begin preparing for that outcome now, as we continue to work with the Palestinian people on behalf of a better future." source - JPost.com Rabin and Sharon found this Truth out the hard way Let me speak prophetically here now, and tell you that when Obama succeeds in "dividing the land" to give it to the palestinians, that a world of hurt is going to fall from the sky. The bible clearly says that God does not want a two-state solution where His holy land Israel is concerned. The dividing of Israel will trigger end times events on a scale heretofore not witnessed. Consider these events when people attempted to divide up Israel for "peace':
The common link between Rabin's assasination and Sharon's coma is that in both cases these men, who were serving as Israel's Prime Minister, each attempted to divide the land for peace and God simply would not allow that to happen. I believe with all my heart that the current PM of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, is God's man in the right place at the right time. If he continues to do the right thing for Israel, God will continue to bless him. But should he be tempted to cave into what must be unbelievable pressure from Obama to create a palestinian state, he need only to look to the fate that befell his compatriots Rabin and Sharon. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, as Obama is about to find out when he divides Israel to give to the palestinians. I pray for the peace of Jersusalem, for the Jews, and I pray the wisdom of Solomon for Mr. Netanyahu. He's going to need it. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, [and] prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace [be] within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good." Psalm 122: 6-9 |
Israel Omen - Those who touch Israel will be cursed... [Zec 12:3] "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." [Psa 83:1-18] Events listed here as a result of wrong choices...
Friday, 20 May 2011
How A Two State Solution Fulfills End Times Bible Prophecy
19/5/11 - Obama's speech stuns Israelis. Netanyahu rejects 1967 lines
DEBKAfile Special Report May 19, 2011, 11:00 PM (GMT+02:00)
US President Barack Obama's declaration in his policy speech Thursday, May 19, that Israel should withdraw to the 1967 lines with mutually agreed territorial swaps caused consternation in Jerusalem. Before flying to Washington, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated: The 1967 lines are indefensible. Israeli security demands an IDF presence on the Jordan River. Israel appreciates the US president's commitment to peace but a Palestinian state cannot rise at the expense of Israel's existence.
In his statement, the Prime Minister pointed out that not only the US but the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the national home of the Jewish people and a peace accord must guarantee an end to all claims against the Jewish State of Israel.
In effect, Israel has rejected Obama's new Middle East policy as it relates to resolving its dispute with the Palestinians before he meets the US president at the White House Friday.
As presented Thursday night, Obama call for mutual swaps of land amounted to calling on Israel hand over to the Palestinians large chunks of sovereign territory in return for leaving the settlement blocks in the West Bank. This demand was not agreed in the exchanges between the White House and the Prime Minster's Office ahead of the speech. It also contradicts the guarantee the Bush presidency gave Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2004 not to force Israel to return to the indefensible borders of 1967.
Obama was also the first US president to demand that Israeli Defense Forces withdraw from the Palestinian state without the security measures Israel required after numerous Arab and Palestinian attacks and still threatened. The US President's plan would also entail the IDF's evacuation of its the vital defense lines in the Jordan Valley against invasion from the east, which would pass to the Palestinian state.
The US president stated repeatedly that the Palestinian state was entitled to "a sovereign, contiguous state" bordering on Egypt, Jordan and Israel. This would give the Palestinian state sole control of its borders without regard to Israeli's security requirements. Israel was advised to be satisfied with America's "unshakeable commitment" to its security.
Obama introduced a new concept for potential Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations, from which he admitted "the Palestinians have walked away." The Palestinians state would be "non-militarized," he said - not demilitarized as Israel has demanded but possessed of an army of a size to be negotiated by the parties.
Washington sources informed reporters later that Obama's speech was delayed by more than an hour over a behind-the-scenes argument the White House had with Jerusalem and Ramallah in pursuit of approval from both for the fundamentals contained in his speech.
debkafile's Washington sources report that although both Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas voiced strong reservations on some points, those sources concluded that they need not stop them entering into negations on the basis of the Obama principles.
According to other sources, nothing of the kind was agreed and major differences lie ahead of Netanyahu's White House talks in Washington and his speeches to Congress and the conference of AIPAC the Israel lobby.
Barack Obama lays down controversial Middle East policy
In his statement, the Prime Minister pointed out that not only the US but the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the national home of the Jewish people and a peace accord must guarantee an end to all claims against the Jewish State of Israel.
In effect, Israel has rejected Obama's new Middle East policy as it relates to resolving its dispute with the Palestinians before he meets the US president at the White House Friday.
As presented Thursday night, Obama call for mutual swaps of land amounted to calling on Israel hand over to the Palestinians large chunks of sovereign territory in return for leaving the settlement blocks in the West Bank. This demand was not agreed in the exchanges between the White House and the Prime Minster's Office ahead of the speech. It also contradicts the guarantee the Bush presidency gave Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2004 not to force Israel to return to the indefensible borders of 1967.
Obama was also the first US president to demand that Israeli Defense Forces withdraw from the Palestinian state without the security measures Israel required after numerous Arab and Palestinian attacks and still threatened. The US President's plan would also entail the IDF's evacuation of its the vital defense lines in the Jordan Valley against invasion from the east, which would pass to the Palestinian state.
The US president stated repeatedly that the Palestinian state was entitled to "a sovereign, contiguous state" bordering on Egypt, Jordan and Israel. This would give the Palestinian state sole control of its borders without regard to Israeli's security requirements. Israel was advised to be satisfied with America's "unshakeable commitment" to its security.
Obama introduced a new concept for potential Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations, from which he admitted "the Palestinians have walked away." The Palestinians state would be "non-militarized," he said - not demilitarized as Israel has demanded but possessed of an army of a size to be negotiated by the parties.
Washington sources informed reporters later that Obama's speech was delayed by more than an hour over a behind-the-scenes argument the White House had with Jerusalem and Ramallah in pursuit of approval from both for the fundamentals contained in his speech.
debkafile's Washington sources report that although both Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas voiced strong reservations on some points, those sources concluded that they need not stop them entering into negations on the basis of the Obama principles.
According to other sources, nothing of the kind was agreed and major differences lie ahead of Netanyahu's White House talks in Washington and his speeches to Congress and the conference of AIPAC the Israel lobby.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
17/5/11 - Abbas urges UN: Recognize Palestinian state, pave way for legal action against Israel
In a New York Times op-ed, Palestinian President says a UN move to authorize an independent Palestinian state come September would rectify what he calls the 'unfulfilled' 1947 UN partition plan.
United Nations member states should support the move to declare Palestinian independence in September of this year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrote in a New York Times op-ed on Tuesday, adding that such a move would also allow the Palestinians to pursue their claims against Israel.
By recognizing a Palestinian state, Abbas wrote, "the United Nations would pave the way for the internationalization of the conflict as a legal matter, not only a political one."
Mahmoud Abbas - AP - 16.03.2011
Mahmoud Abbas addressing the PLO’s central council on March 16, 2011.
Photo by: AP
"It would also pave the way for us to pursue claims against Israel at the United Nations, human rights treaty bodies and the International Court of Justice," he added, saying that the Palestinians were going to the UN "to secure the right to live free in the remaining 22 percent of our historic homeland because we have been negotiating with the State of Israel for 20 years without coming any closer to realizing a state of our own."
"We cannot wait indefinitely while Israel continues to send more settlers to the occupied West Bank and denies Palestinians access to most of our land and holy places, particularly in Jerusalem," he wrote in the New York times, adding that "neither political pressure nor promises of rewards by the United States have stopped Israel’s settlement program."
In his article, the Palestinian president, and future head of the joint Fatah-Hamas cabinet, also described his view that the Palestinians had been devoid of national independence as a result of a historical mistake, what he characterizes as a neglected leftover of the 1947 partition agreement.
"It is important to note," Abbas wrote of the Palestinian move for statehood in the UNGA this coming September, "that the last time the question of Palestinian statehood took center stage at the General Assembly, the question posed to the international community was whether our homeland should be partitioned into two states."
"In November 1947, the General Assembly made its recommendation and answered in the affirmative. Shortly thereafter, Zionist forces expelled Palestinian Arabs to ensure a decisive Jewish majority in the future state of Israel, and Arab armies intervened. War and further expulsions ensued," Abbas added.
Linking those events with violent Nakba Day protests earlier this week, the Palestinian president indicated that "the descendants of these expelled Palestinians who were shot and wounded by Israeli forces on Sunday as they tried to symbolically exercise their right to return to their families’ homes."
"Minutes after the State of Israel was established on May 14, 1948, the United States granted it recognition," Abbas wrote in the New York Times, adding: "Our Palestinian state, however, remains a promise unfulfilled."
Returning to the issue of stalled peace talks, the Palestinian president wrote that negotiations remained "our first option, but due to their failure we are now compelled to turn to the international community to assist us in preserving the opportunity for a peaceful and just end to the conflict."
"Palestinian national unity is a key step in this regard. Contrary to what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel asserts, and can be expected to repeat this week during his visit to Washington, the choice is not between Palestinian unity or peace with Israel; it is between a two-state solution or settlement-colonies," he added.
Concluding his article, the Palestinian president called on "all friendly, peace-loving nations to join us in realizing our national aspirations by recognizing the State of Palestine on the 1967 border and by supporting its admission to the United Nations."
"Only if the international community keeps the promise it made to us six decades ago, and ensures that a just resolution for Palestinian refugees is put into effect, can there be a future of hope and dignity for our people," he wrote.
 | Mahmoud Abbas addressing the PLO’s central council on March 16, 2011. |
| Photo by: AP |
United Nations member states should support the move to declare Palestinian independence in September of this year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrote in a New York Times op-ed on Tuesday, adding that such a move would also allow the Palestinians to pursue their claims against Israel.
By recognizing a Palestinian state, Abbas wrote, "the United Nations would pave the way for the internationalization of the conflict as a legal matter, not only a political one."
Mahmoud Abbas - AP - 16.03.2011
Mahmoud Abbas addressing the PLO’s central council on March 16, 2011.
Photo by: AP
"It would also pave the way for us to pursue claims against Israel at the United Nations, human rights treaty bodies and the International Court of Justice," he added, saying that the Palestinians were going to the UN "to secure the right to live free in the remaining 22 percent of our historic homeland because we have been negotiating with the State of Israel for 20 years without coming any closer to realizing a state of our own."
"We cannot wait indefinitely while Israel continues to send more settlers to the occupied West Bank and denies Palestinians access to most of our land and holy places, particularly in Jerusalem," he wrote in the New York times, adding that "neither political pressure nor promises of rewards by the United States have stopped Israel’s settlement program."
In his article, the Palestinian president, and future head of the joint Fatah-Hamas cabinet, also described his view that the Palestinians had been devoid of national independence as a result of a historical mistake, what he characterizes as a neglected leftover of the 1947 partition agreement.
"It is important to note," Abbas wrote of the Palestinian move for statehood in the UNGA this coming September, "that the last time the question of Palestinian statehood took center stage at the General Assembly, the question posed to the international community was whether our homeland should be partitioned into two states."
"In November 1947, the General Assembly made its recommendation and answered in the affirmative. Shortly thereafter, Zionist forces expelled Palestinian Arabs to ensure a decisive Jewish majority in the future state of Israel, and Arab armies intervened. War and further expulsions ensued," Abbas added.
Linking those events with violent Nakba Day protests earlier this week, the Palestinian president indicated that "the descendants of these expelled Palestinians who were shot and wounded by Israeli forces on Sunday as they tried to symbolically exercise their right to return to their families’ homes."
"Minutes after the State of Israel was established on May 14, 1948, the United States granted it recognition," Abbas wrote in the New York Times, adding: "Our Palestinian state, however, remains a promise unfulfilled."
Returning to the issue of stalled peace talks, the Palestinian president wrote that negotiations remained "our first option, but due to their failure we are now compelled to turn to the international community to assist us in preserving the opportunity for a peaceful and just end to the conflict."
"Palestinian national unity is a key step in this regard. Contrary to what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel asserts, and can be expected to repeat this week during his visit to Washington, the choice is not between Palestinian unity or peace with Israel; it is between a two-state solution or settlement-colonies," he added.
Concluding his article, the Palestinian president called on "all friendly, peace-loving nations to join us in realizing our national aspirations by recognizing the State of Palestine on the 1967 border and by supporting its admission to the United Nations."
"Only if the international community keeps the promise it made to us six decades ago, and ensures that a just resolution for Palestinian refugees is put into effect, can there be a future of hope and dignity for our people," he wrote.
18/5/11 - US to push Israel for shared capital
Prime location retail space for sale. Paddington Sydney
Benjamin Netanyahu...under fire at home and abroad. Photo: Sebastian ScheinerBenjamin Netanyahu...under fire at home and abroad. Photo: Sebastian Scheiner
JERUSALEM: In an address on the Middle East tomorrow, the US President, Barack Obama, is expected to ask Israel to accept a Palestinian state that matches, as closely as possible, the armistice lines before the Six-Day War of 1967.
After urging Israel and the Palestinians to return to direct negotiations, Mr Obama is also expected to announce US opposition to a Palestinian plan to seek the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state through the United Nations in September.
He will also demand that Israel accept Jerusalem as the shared capital of Israel and a Palestinian state - a core issue for Palestinians, and a position the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says he will not consider.
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In details of the speech leaked to the Israeli media, Mr Obama will endorse former US president Bill Clinton's plan for a divided Jerusalem in which all Palestinian neighbourhoods become part of a Palestinian state, while neighbourhoods with a majority of Jews would become part of Israel.
A senior Israeli source quoted in the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that ''texts emanating from Obama's surroundings are extremely unpleasant to Israeli ears, and will be primarily disturbing to Netanyahu''.
On Monday Mr Netanyahu spelt out to the Israel parliament his own vision for peace that appeared to agree, in principle, with the establishment of a Palestinian state structured within the 1967 borders.
By declaring that Israel would hold onto the five large settlement blocks that are built beyond Israel's borders of June 4, 1967, he implied that Israel was prepared to evacuate the more than 100 smaller Israeli settlements built across the Jordan Valley on land that would form the heart of a future Palestinian state.
''The root of the conflict is not the absence of a Palestinian state but the Palestinian opposition to the establishment of the state of Israel,'' he said.
Mr Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet Mr Obama at the White House on Friday, repeated his opposition to any division of Jerusalem. He said a Palestinian state would have to accommodate the Israeli military along the Jordan River, and that there would be no mass return of Palestinian refugees. He denied Israel would evacuate any settlements.
An Israeli commentator, Ben Caspit, said: ''Benjamin Netanyahu's breathtaking circus act yesterday recorded yet another chapter in the Knesset.
''The Prime Minister succeeded in a single impressive pirouette to wink left and fly to the right at the same time.''
The leader of the Israeli opposition, the former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, criticised Mr Netanyahu for his failure to prevent the scheduled UN vote to recognise a Palestinian state in September. ''Netanyahu has failed to rally international support for Israel's basic principles; he even failed to convince the US to support us,'' Ms Livni said.
A Palestinian Authority spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said Mr Netanyahu's speech proved that Israel was not interested in peace ''since the preconditions that Netanyahu set are unacceptable to the Palestinians and do not conform to the decisions of the international community''.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
10/5/11 - Mashaal: Israel has 1 year to recognize Palestinian state
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said that he gives the Israeli government a one-year deadline to recognize an independent Palestinian state founded on lands occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem as its capital, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.
Mashaal added that the challenge does not necessarily imply an armed conflict should Israel fail to recognize an independent Palestinian state, but that "[Hamas] would add new cards to the resistance," Ma'an reported. The Hamas leader gave his statement during a meeting with youth activists who demonstrated in the recent Egyptian revolution against former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
RELATED:
Mashaal: Schalit negotiations stalled; Netanyahu to blame
Abbas ‘absolutely’ still our partner, Peres tells ‘Post’
According to Ma'an, Mashaal told Cairo-based newspaper The Wall Street General that Hamas and Fatah had discussed at length the appropriate manner to conduct resistance against Israel, which included discussions of armed conflict. The two Palestinian groups signed a reconciliation agreement last week, which ended a years-long conflict between the factions and began discussions on the formation of a Palestinian unity government.
Mashaal said that any future armed conflict with Israel would have to be coordinated between Fatah and Hamas.
In related news, Hamas said it would not renew peace-negotiations with Israel, Al-Jazeera reported. The Palestinian group's comments came after President Shimon Peres said he was not ruling out the possibility of future negotiations.
Al-Jazeera quoted a senior Hamas official as saying it was not a part of Hamas's strategy to conduct talks with "either Peres or the Zionist entity." He added that negotiations "are a means to stall and allot time to [to Israel] to dedicate its attention to facts on the ground."
Mashaal added that the challenge does not necessarily imply an armed conflict should Israel fail to recognize an independent Palestinian state, but that "[Hamas] would add new cards to the resistance," Ma'an reported. The Hamas leader gave his statement during a meeting with youth activists who demonstrated in the recent Egyptian revolution against former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
RELATED:
Mashaal: Schalit negotiations stalled; Netanyahu to blame
Abbas ‘absolutely’ still our partner, Peres tells ‘Post’
According to Ma'an, Mashaal told Cairo-based newspaper The Wall Street General that Hamas and Fatah had discussed at length the appropriate manner to conduct resistance against Israel, which included discussions of armed conflict. The two Palestinian groups signed a reconciliation agreement last week, which ended a years-long conflict between the factions and began discussions on the formation of a Palestinian unity government.
Mashaal said that any future armed conflict with Israel would have to be coordinated between Fatah and Hamas.
In related news, Hamas said it would not renew peace-negotiations with Israel, Al-Jazeera reported. The Palestinian group's comments came after President Shimon Peres said he was not ruling out the possibility of future negotiations.
Al-Jazeera quoted a senior Hamas official as saying it was not a part of Hamas's strategy to conduct talks with "either Peres or the Zionist entity." He added that negotiations "are a means to stall and allot time to [to Israel] to dedicate its attention to facts on the ground."
Monday, 9 May 2011
9/5/11 - On its 63rd birthday, Israel is a shining beacon in the Middle East'
Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin kicks off 63rd Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem; the theme of this year's ceremony is 'Looking after one another – the year of mutual care.'
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Independence Day celebrations kicked off Monday night in Israel with the lighting of beacons at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, which also marks the conclusion of Memorial Day.
The theme of this year's ceremony, for Israel's 63rd Independence Day, is "Looking after one another – the year of mutual care."
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin opened the ceremony with a political speech, calling on Israelis to forget the dream of a melting pot, and come to terms with the fact that Israelis will never be united as a people in their opinions, but they all share a joint destiny.
Rivlin also spoke about the uprising in the Arab world, in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, saying "although the destabilization has raised the fear of a new, extremist Middle East, we must recognize the courage of those fighting for their freedom."
"Brother and sisters, our heart is filled with pride today for what we have managed to build here with sweat and hard work," Rivlin said, adding "we must not belittle what we have achieved. Israel of 2011 is a Jewish democratic state, a shining beacon in the heart of the oppressing and cruel Middle East."
He added that the last year of continuing boycotts against Israel and Israelis must end, and no Israeli, from the right or the left, should be boycotted for being Israeli.
Among the torch lighters this are Orit Dror, a member of Kibbutz Lavi who, together with her husband, donated her son's organs after he died of a terminal illness, and saved the life of a 13-year-old girl; Zehava Dankner (mother of businessman Nochi Dankner), a philanthropist who supported, among others, residents surrounding Gaza, and who is involved in matters of education, security and health; Barbra Goldstein, a representative of Hadassah, the women's Zionist organization of America, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year; Yovi Tsuma, a social activist who participates in a group of young Ethipian volunteers who help members of the immigrant community who have encountered difficulties in absorption; and Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, a member of the Chabad movement, who lost his daughter and son in law in the November 2008 terrorist attack at the Chabad house in Mumbai.
The Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs pointed out that each of the chosen beacon lighters represent the central theme of this year's ceremony.
Israel declared statehood on May 14, 1948, a day before the expiry of Britain's United Nations-mandate over historic Palestine. It traditionally celebrates Independence Day according to the Jewish calendar, which this year falls almost a week before May 14.
Earlier in the day, at 11 A.M., a two-minute siren sounded throughout the country to mark Memorial Day, followed by ceremonies at Israel's 44 military cemeteries.
On Tuesday, Independence Day, Defense Ministry museums and military bases will be open from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. The Israeli air force will conduct flyovers over cities and other sites across the country. A naval demonstration will be held off the coast.
On Tuesday evening, the Israel Prize ceremony will be held in the capital.
During the day Tuesday, Israelis are expected to throng to the country's national parks.
The theme of last year's ceremony, for Israel's 62nd Independence Day, was Herzl's adage "If you will it, it is not a dream."
The theme of this year's ceremony, for Israel's 63rd Independence Day, is "Looking after one another – the year of mutual care."
Independence Day celebrations at the Beer Sheva military ordnance corps base. Eliyahu Hershkowitz
1/12
Rivlin also spoke about the uprising in the Arab world, in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, saying "although the destabilization has raised the fear of a new, extremist Middle East, we must recognize the courage of those fighting for their freedom."
"Brother and sisters, our heart is filled with pride today for what we have managed to build here with sweat and hard work," Rivlin said, adding "we must not belittle what we have achieved. Israel of 2011 is a Jewish democratic state, a shining beacon in the heart of the oppressing and cruel Middle East."
He added that the last year of continuing boycotts against Israel and Israelis must end, and no Israeli, from the right or the left, should be boycotted for being Israeli.
 | Israeli flag | |||
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
The Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs pointed out that each of the chosen beacon lighters represent the central theme of this year's ceremony.
Israel declared statehood on May 14, 1948, a day before the expiry of Britain's United Nations-mandate over historic Palestine. It traditionally celebrates Independence Day according to the Jewish calendar, which this year falls almost a week before May 14.
Earlier in the day, at 11 A.M., a two-minute siren sounded throughout the country to mark Memorial Day, followed by ceremonies at Israel's 44 military cemeteries.
On Tuesday, Independence Day, Defense Ministry museums and military bases will be open from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. The Israeli air force will conduct flyovers over cities and other sites across the country. A naval demonstration will be held off the coast.
On Tuesday evening, the Israel Prize ceremony will be held in the capital.
During the day Tuesday, Israelis are expected to throng to the country's national parks.
The theme of last year's ceremony, for Israel's 62nd Independence Day, was Herzl's adage "If you will it, it is not a dream."
Friday, 6 May 2011
6/5/11 - Abbas at signing of Hamas unity deal: 'State of Palestine must be born this year'
Abbas at signing of Hamas unity deal: 'State of Palestine must be born this year'
CAIRO — Rival Palestinian factions have signed an agreement to form a national unity government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in an effort to declare a state this year.
Under the accord, the implementation of which would be monitored by Egypt, the Palestinian Authority would hold presidential and parliamentary elections over the next year in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the interim, Fatah and Hamas would share power and each would remain over their regions. Hamas captured the Gaza Strip in 2007.
"Four black years have affected the interests of Palestinians," Abbas said. "Now we meet to assert a unified will."
Fatah delegation chief Azzam Al Ahmad, who signed the accord, said the Palestine Liberation Organization, rather than the PA, would be responsible for any negotiations with Israel. Al Ahmad said Hamas would not be involved in talks with the Jewish state, rather Fatah's partner in the formation of a security council. He said the council would be authorized to organize what he termed a "professional" security force.
"The government's role is limited to administrative affairs dealing with the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," Al Ahmad said.
Officials said Abbas and Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Masha'al would meet in mid-May to launch negotiations. During the ceremony in Cairo, Masha'al refused to sit on the podium with Abbas.
"We will have a meeting with President Abu Mazen [Abbas] next week, possibly in Cairo to kick-start the procedures for the reconciliation," Hamas deputy political bureau chief Mussa Abu Marzouk said.
Since the reconciliation agreement, Israel has frozen $105 million in tax revenues meant for the PA and transported to the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to cancel the accord with Hamas.
"The agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas is a hard blow to the peace process," Netanyahu said in a meeting with Quartet coordinator Tony Blair. "How is it possible to achieve peace with a government, half of which calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and even praises the arch-murderer Osama bin Laden?"
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