Natural Gas and Israel’s Future � Commentary Magazine

Natural Gas and Israel’s Future � Commentary Magazine
The opening up of the Tamar field alone will supply 50 to 80 percent of Israel’s natural gas fields in the next decade. But another field, called Leviathan off the country’s northern coast, is far larger. When it is exploited, it will not just lessen Israel’s dependence on energy imports but will turn the country into an exporter. That will dramatically increase its leverage in dealing with a Europe that is in thrall to Russian, Arab and Iranian oil and gas exporters. An economically strong Israel is one that is not so easily isolated. The rise in the value of the shekel in relation to the dollar this week is not due entirely to Tamar and must be credited to low interest rates and the wise fiscal policies of the Netanyahu government. But it is yet another sign that the country that was once a basket case dependent on foreign aid from America and world Jewry in order keep its finances afloat irrespective of defense needs is on its way to becoming a major economic power.

Arresiviendo Pesah 5773-2013

Arresiviendo Pesah 5773-2013: Ma nishtana a layla a ze, mi kol a leilot?” Kuanto fue demudada (estranya) la noche la esta, mas ke todas las noches?...La repuesta la meldamos en kada SEDER, en la Hagada de Pesah, fyesta de los prodigos de D.en favor del Puevlo Djudio. Pensi transmeter propozitos de otoridades relijyozas, sovre Pesah i el mez de Nissan. Ampesaremos kon estas linyas tomadas de la revista “Los Muestros” antes unos, kuantos anyos:

Ladinokomunita : A correspondence circle in Ladino.

Ladinokomunita : A correspondence circle in Ladino.: Ladinokomunita is a correspondence circle written in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), established in December of 1999. Topics of discussion center around Sephardic culture, history, and language, including: reminiscences of Sephardic life in Turkey, the United States, Rhodes, Salonica, or anywhere else in the world; Jewish holidays, customs, superstitions, foods, quaint sayings and proverbs, differences in vocabulary and pronunciation, origins of certain words, etc.; reports on aspects of Ladino history and literature by researchers and knowlegeable members.

Girls of the Israeli Defense Forces (37 Photos)

Girls of the Israeli Defense Forces (37 Photos)

The Secret to Olive Oil’s Anti-Alzheimer’s Powers | Smart News

The Secret to Olive Oil’s Anti-Alzheimer’s Powers | Smart News: As if deliciousness and protection against Alzheimer’s were not enough to recommend it, other researchers have found that extra virgin olive oil helps to clarify thinking and improve memory.

Netanyahu Apologizes to Erdogan for Flotilla Incident - By Eliana Johnson - The Corner - National Review Online

Netanyahu Apologizes to Erdogan for Flotilla Incident - By Eliana Johnson - The Corner - National Review Online: Netanyahu apologized for the Mavi Mara flotilla incident and acknowledged “operational mistakes,” said one official. Erdogan accepted the apology, according to this official. The other SAE called this a “first step” toward normalization between the two countries. They said this had been the subject of talks between Obama and Netanyahu in Jerusalem this week.

Video: I’m an Israeli Soldier

Video: I’m an Israeli Soldier: An Israeli soldier’s song to the world for Passover:

Violence mounts in West Bank, Gaza in lead up to Obama visit | Washington Free Beacon

Violence mounts in West Bank, Gaza in lead up to Obama visit | Washington Free Beacon: Riots and protests have erupted throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip in recent days, prompting some Israeli officials and Middle East observers to warn that Obama’s visit could spark a third intifada.

Spanish town to hold first Seder since 1492 | JPost | Israel News

Spanish town to hold first Seder since 1492 | JPost | Israel News: A town in northern Spain is preparing to hold its first Passover Seder since 1492.

Rocket Preparedness Drill to be Held in Schools - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News

Rocket Preparedness Drill to be Held in Schools - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News: Israeli children will have the opportunity to learn a new lesson on Thursday as they practice moving briskly to their bomb shelters and hiding from rockets in as many other safe spaces as possible.

The Ministry of Education is holding the nationwide exercise in kindergartens and schools to test the preparedness of every educational institution in Israel in the event of a rocket or missile attack while children are playing outside during recess.

Israel appears to be readying for conflict with Lebanon | Washington Free Beacon

Israel appears to be readying for conflict with Lebanon | Washington Free Beacon: Senior Israeli officials have indicated that the Jewish state is gearing up for a major “war with Lebanon,” according to sources close to the Israeli government.

The Israeli military has reportedly deployed missile defense systems to the northern part of the country, which sits near Lebanon, and has ordered all civilian aircraft to evacuate Haifa airport, the Jewish state’s northernmost air hub.

Senior Israeli officials have warned of an impending conflict in closed-door meetings in Washington, D.C., sources said.

What Planet Does John Kerry Live On? :: Daniel Pipes

What Planet Does John Kerry Live On? :: Daniel Pipes: The two-day old tenure of Secretary of State John Kerry got off to a flying start today with an astonishing statement from his ambassador to Egypt, Anne W. Patterson, at a joint ceremony in Cairo to mark the delivery of four American-made F-16 aircraft:

Today's ceremony demonstrates the firm belief of the United States that a strong Egypt is in the interest of the U.S., the region, and the world. We look to Egypt to continue to serve as a force for peace, security, and leadership as the Middle East proceeds with its challenging yet essential journey toward democracy. … Our thirty-four year security partnership is based upon shared interests and mutual respect. The United States has long recognized Egypt as an indispensible [sic] partner.

Netanyahu Considering Buffer Between Israel and Syria

Netanyahu Considering Buffer Between Israel and Syria: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is considering establishing a buffer between Israel and Syria. The buffer zone would reach "up to 10 miles inside Syria" and remain in place for a number of years.

Although a security fence is being "erected from Mount Avital south to the point where the Israeli, Syrian, and Jordanian borders meet," military analysts are convinced this is not sufficient to prevent incoming mortar strikes and rocket attacks from a completely destabilized Syria.

Report: Israeli strikes in Syria hit multiple ... JPost - Defense

Report: Israeli strikes in Syria hit multiple ... JPost - Defense: Time quoted a Western intelligence official as saying that the IAF had targeted at least one or two more targets overnight Tuesday and that the US has given Israel a green light to carry out additional strikes.

Time quoted one Western intelligence official as saying the US was prepared to carry out similar airstrikes in the Aleppo area if opposition forces threaten to take hold of sites believed to contain weapons of mass destruction in the region.

For Israel, droughts go down the drain | The Times of Israel

For Israel, droughts go down the drain | The Times of Israel: After years of constantly being urged to conserve water, the National Water Authority announced Tuesday that Israelis no longer need to fear droughts and that the country’s water worries are essentially over.

The solution for the longstanding problem comes not from the clouds, which have provided generous amounts of rainfall this winter, but primarily from the sea — and the desalination technology that enables transforming its waters into something you can drink.

Study: New E15 gas can ruin auto engines | WashingtonExaminer.com

Study: New E15 gas can ruin auto engines | WashingtonExaminer.com: The fuel industry's American Petroleum Institute tested the 15 percent ethanol gas approved in 2010 and found it gums up fuel systems, prompts "check engine" lights to come on, and messes with fuel gauge readings.

"Failure of these components could result in breakdowns that leave consumers stranded on busy roads and highways," said the industry report. Worse: API said the fuel problems--not found in E5 or E10 blends--aren't always covered by auto warranties.

Navy cuts up $277M minesweeper | Washington Free Beacon

Navy cuts up $277M minesweeper | Washington Free Beacon: The $277 million USS Guardian, a Naval warship that clears waterways of mines, crashed into a coral reef near the Philippines earlier this month.

The Navy will disassemble it piece by piece in order to avoid damaging the reef rather than tow the multi-million dollar ship off of the reef and perform necessary repairs.

Syria fears send gas mask demand north | The Times of Israel

Syria fears send gas mask demand north | The Times of Israel: Postal officials reported a significant increase in demand for gas masks and other protective gear Wednesday, as fears of Syrian chemical weapons being turned against Israel ramped up.

Statistics showed that on Tuesday, almost three times the average number of citizens came to distribution centers across the country to receive gas masks.

Report: Israel Attacks Arms Convoy on Lebanon-Syria Border

Report: Israel Attacks Arms Convoy on Lebanon-Syria Border: According to Reuters, a "Western diplomat and security sources" said Israel attacked a convoy which may have contained chemical or conventional weapons.

New details surface on Iran nuclear explosion

New details surface on Iran nuclear explosion: Approximately two hours after the explosions, counterintelligence agents arrived and, after interviewing personnel and reviewing tapes, initially concluded that explosives may have been placed in ceiling lamps with some kind of trigger mechanism controlled by a power voltage frequency.
The last images show eight personnel in anti-radiation clothing trying desperately to secure one of the rooms.

The regime believes the technology used with the explosives is unknown to their forces, the source said.

Sunday Times Posts Cartoon of Netanyahu Using Blood Libel

Sunday Times Posts Cartoon of Netanyahu Using Blood Libel: The Sunday Times, a British paper, posted a vile and demented cartoon that accuses Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, of building a wall “cementing peace” using the blood of Palestinians, thus perpetuating the centuries-old “blood libel” that has been cast against Jews.

San Diego top cop boasts 'we broke the NRA' as some chiefs aim for gun control | WashingtonGuardian

San Diego top cop boasts 'we broke the NRA' as some chiefs aim for gun control | WashingtonGuardian: Lawmakers and mayors aren’t the only ones ratcheting up the debate on gun control. Some big city police chiefs are also stepping into the political arena, lobbying for tighter controls that they and their officers would then enforce.

Take for instance San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne, who in an interview last week called for tougher gun laws and clearly chafed at the influence the National Rifle Association has held for years over the national debate.

Boy Scouts close to ending ban on gay members, leaders - U.S. News

Boy Scouts close to ending ban on gay members, leaders - U.S. News: The Boy Scouts of America, one of the nation’s largest private youth organizations, is actively considering an end to its decades-long policy of banning gay scouts or scout leaders, according to scouting officials and outsiders familiar with internal discussions.

Israel warns of possible pre-emptive chemical weapons strike in Syria - CBS News

Israel warns of possible pre-emptive chemical weapons strike in Syria - CBS News
Israel could launch a pre-emptive strike to stop Syria's chemical weapons from reaching Lebanon's Hezbollah or al Qaeda inspired groups, officials said Sunday.

The warning came as the military moved a rocket defense system to a main northern city, and Israel's premier warned of dangers from both Syria and Iran.

Why Is Obama Bragging About Egypt? � Commentary Magazine

Why Is Obama Bragging About Egypt? � Commentary Magazine
Let me get this straight. President Obama is not merely bragging about a conflict in Libya that led to chaos not only in that country that produced the murders of four Americans including our ambassador. He is also saying that he thinks he positively impacted the outcome of the power struggle in Egypt over the last two years and actually thinks his “leadership” helped create a situation about which we are happy. So what he’s telling us is that he’s not merely pleased with what he did or didn’t do, but that he thinks the current situation in Cairo in which the most populous Arab country is now run by a Muslim Brotherhood government led by a raving anti-Semite is a good thing about which he can brag on national TV.

Ariel Sharon undergoes brain scan | The Times of Israel

Ariel Sharon undergoes brain scan | The Times of Israel: Israeli media report the scan seeks to determine if Sharon’s condition can be improved. Hospital officials would not comment on that claim.

Sabotage! Key Iranian nuclear facility hit?

Sabotage! Key Iranian nuclear facility hit?: According to a source in the security forces protecting Fordow, an explosion on Monday at 11:30 a.m. Tehran time rocked the site, which is buried deep under a mountain and immune not only to airstrikes but to most bunker-buster bombs. The report of the blast came via Hamidreza Zakeri, formerly with the Islamic regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and National Security,

Obama Administration Abandons Israel to UN Witch Hunt

Obama Administration Abandons Israel to UN Witch Hunt: Although Israel is required as a member of the UN to undergo Universal Periodic Reviews of its human rights record, it cut all ties with the 47-member HRC in March of 2012 over condemnation of Israeli community development beyond the Green Line.

The Obama Administration wants Israel to submit to the inevitable public censure it will receive from the HRC. Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, the U.S. representative to the UN's Human Rights Council in Geneva, said, "We have encouraged the Israelis to come to the council and to tell their story and to present their own narrative of their own human rights situation."

Bye-Bye London

Bye-Bye London: I live in a mildly anti-Semitic country, and Europe is mildly anti-Semitic, and they hold Israel to a higher moral standard than its neighbors. If you bring up Israel in a public meeting in England, the whole atmosphere changes. The standard left-wing person never feels more comfortable than when attacking Israel. Because they are the only foreigners you can attack. Everyone else is protected by having dark skin, or colonial history, or something. But you can attack Israel. And the atmosphere becomes very unpleasant. It is traditional, snobbish, British anti-Semitism combined with present-day circumstances.

A couple of impressions I took away from the experience: First, I can say without hesitation that I hope never to return to Britain. I actually don’t see any point. Jews are targeted by massive anti-Semitism of both the social and physical varieties. Why would anyone Jewish want to live there?

I want to note that the audience was made up of upper crust, wealthy British people, not unwashed rabble rousers. And yet they behaved in many respects like a mob when presented with pro-Israel positions.

State Department refuses to delay F-16 Delivery to Egypt | Washington Free Beacon

State Department refuses to delay F-16 Delivery to Egypt | Washington Free Beacon: “Sixteen F-16s and 200 Abrams tanks are to be given to the Egyptian government before the end of the year under a foreign aid deal signed in 2010 with then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,” Fox News reported Tuesday.

Israel's 'Recount': Dead Heat Awaits Absentee, Military Votes

Israel's 'Recount': Dead Heat Awaits Absentee, Military Votes  
Netanyahu has already invited Lapid to join his government, which would bring him to 50 seats. With either the conservative "Jewish Home" party, or the religious Shas party, Netanyahu could add another 11 seats. However, Lapid would prefer to sit in government with another center-left party, and may refuse to make the compromises necessary to form a coalition with Shas. The Labor party, which came in third with 15 seats, would likely refuse to join Netanyahu and is in fact trying to build a coalition that can unseat him.

Israeli parliament set for record influx of Orthodox lawmakers | Reuters

Israeli parliament set for record influx of Orthodox lawmakers | Reuters: Opinion polls predict that religious politicians will end up with a record 40 of parliament's 120 seats after Tuesday's vote, compared with 25 in the outgoing assembly elected in 2009. Two decades ago only a score of lawmakers were religiously Orthodox.

While some Israelis rejoice, some in the secular majority fear the trend may alter the identity of a nation which has never marked out the troublesome boundaries between religion and state - and which also has a substantial Arab Muslim minority.

PM hits back at Obama: I know wha... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics

PM hits back at Obama: I know wha... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics: A day after American Jewish columnist Jeffrey Goldberg quoted President Barack Obama as saying that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not understand what is in Israel’s best interest, Netanyahu visited the Gaza border on Wednesday and essentially shot back, “Yes I do.”

During the visit to the headquarters of the IDF’s Gaza Division, Netanyahu was shown figures indicating that December was the quietest month in the South – in terms of rocket and terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip – in the past 12 years, since January 2001.

Barack Obama slaps Israel in the face – yet again – Telegraph Blogs

Barack Obama slaps Israel in the face – yet again – Telegraph Blogs: Barack Obama’s sneering reference to Israel as “a small state” that is already “a pariah,” and one that may not even survive unless it changes its “behavior,” smacks of staggering condescension, and will be music to the ears of every enemy of Israel on the face of the earth.

Positive News for Israel in the New Year

Positive News for Israel in the New Year: • The population of Israel is booming, in contrast to most Western nations, and even many countries in the Arab world. • Israel’s economy is also booming.  Israel’s 2009-2012 economic growth of 14.7% leads the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, ahead of Australia – 10.7%, Canada – 4.8%, US – 3.2%, Germany – 2.7%, France – 0.3%, Euro Bloc – 1.5% decline.

EXPOS�: No-go Areas for Jews in Europe - Op-Eds - Israel National News

EXPOS�: No-go Areas for Jews in Europe - Op-Eds - Israel National News
In the enlightened Europe of today, there is witch hunt against any authentic Jew with a beard and a skullcap.

Jewish students have been advised not to wear a kippa in the streets in Germany either. The Jewish Abraham Geiger Theological College in Potsdam advises its rabbis against wearing a kippah in public, while the orthodox Or Avner school in Berlin has issued similar guidelines.

Whenever its pupils go on trips to the zoo or the museum, Jewish pupils are warned: "Speak German, not Hebrew, put a baseball cap over your kippah so you don't give stupid people something to get annoyed about." Camouflaged in this way, young Jews travel on Berlin's metro trains. The rector of the school has explained that "it is safer to not appear to be a Jewish person".

Israel to build 43-mile security fence in Golan Heights - Telegraph

Israel to build 43-mile security fence in Golan Heights - Telegraph: "We know that on the other side of our border with Syria today, the Syrian army has backed off, and global jihad operatives have taken its place," Mr Netanyahu said.

"We must therefore protect this border from infiltrations and terror, as we have successfully been doing along the Sinai border."

Congressmen: Obama 'Reckless' to Arm Egypt with F-16 Fighter Jets

Congressmen: Obama 'Reckless' to Arm Egypt with F-16 Fighter Jets: On Thursday Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) criticized the Obama administration for sending twenty F-16 fighter jets to the new Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Egyptian government.

HRW Confirms Gaza Jihadists Killed Gaza Boy Shown in Iconic Photo of Egypt’s PM and Hamas’s Haniyeh - Atlas Shrugs

HRW Confirms Gaza Jihadists Killed Gaza Boy Shown in Iconic Photo of Egypt’s PM and Hamas’s Haniyeh - Atlas Shrugs: HRW Confirms Gaza Jihadists Killed Gaza Boy Shown in Iconic Photo of Egypt’s PM and Hamas’s Haniyeh

Israel reportedly fears Hamas making move for control of West Bank | The Times of Israel

Israel reportedly fears Hamas making move for control of West Bank | The Times of Israel: Senior officials in Jerusalem reportedly believe a Gaza-style takeover of the West Bank by Hamas may be in the offing, citing intelligence estimates that show the Iran-backed terror group making a move for control of the Palestinian-ruled territory.

Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet security service both have information that Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal has ordered his supporters to prepare for a battle for control of the West Bank, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.

Bailed-out GM owns stake in French car company profiting in Iran | Washington Free Beacon

Bailed-out GM owns stake in French car company profiting in Iran | Washington Free Beacon: GM owns a seven percent stake in PSA Peugeot Citro�n, which has faced intense scrutiny for its business relationship with Iran.

Peugeot has long been one of Iran’s central auto partners, providing parts and technology to Iran’s leading car manufacturer, Khodro Company. Khodro is believed to have economic ties to the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Hermit Kingdom and the Brotherhood | Washington Free Beacon

The Hermit Kingdom and the Brotherhood | Washington Free Beacon: United States intelligence agencies recently uncovered a covert deal between North Korea and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood government to ship Scud missile parts from North Korea through China to Egypt.

IDF says 'shalom' to the M-16 | The Times of Israel

IDF says 'shalom' to the M-16 | The Times of Israel: The Tavor — featuring a very different design than the M-16, developed for the IDF’s needs by Israel Military Industries during the 1990s — was introduced into service with regular infantry troops in the early 2000s, and slowly integrated to increasingly larger numbers of units throughout the decade. During that period, some M-16s, designed in the Vietnam era, were altered to better meet the IDF’s needs, while others were removed from service; the M-16 increasingly became a weapon for reservists.

Don’t Criticize the Taliban! | Power Line

Don’t Criticize the Taliban! | Power Line: Some of the manual’s recommendations are ludicrous:

The draft handbook offers a list of “taboo conversation topics” that soldiers should avoid, including “making derogatory comments about the Taliban,” “advocating women’s rights,” “any criticism of pedophilia,” “directing any criticism towards Afghans,” “mentioning homosexuality and homosexual conduct” or “anything related to Islam.”

Weekend Photo Essay | Power Line

Weekend Photo Essay | Power Line

Outrageous! Swedish artist causes uproar by using ashes of Holocaust victims to make painting� - NY Daily News

Outrageous! Swedish artist causes uproar by using ashes of Holocaust victims to make painting� - NY Daily News: A Swedish artist caused an uproar when he unveiled a painting filled with barbarous brushstrokes made from the ashes of incinerated Nazi death camp victims.

Carl Michael von Hausswolff claimed he stole the ashes while touring the Majdanek camp in 1989, mixed them with water, and used the concoction to paint a series of gray streaks on the painting.

Eight men out: Why did the Czechs, Palau and half-a-dozen others stand with Israel in the vote on 'Palestine'? | The Times of Israel

Eight men out: Why did the Czechs, Palau and half-a-dozen others stand with Israel in the vote on 'Palestine'? | The Times of Israel: The Czech Republic’s vote delighted and surprised Israeli officials: It was the only European country to vote against the Palestinian statehood bid. “They have been consistently one of our best friends in the EU,” the official told The Times of Israel.

Berlin actually tried to pressure Prague to at least abstain in Thursday’s vote, to present a more-or-less unified European position. “But they don’t care what anyone else says; they’re ballsy,” the official said.

Israeli Mother Fights Off Terrorist, Saves Two Young Children

Israeli Mother Fights Off Terrorist, Saves Two Young Children: Remember the brutal slaughter of the Fogel family in Itamar, Israel in 2011 when Palestinian terrorists murdered the family of five, including one infant, while they were sleeping in their beds, stabbing them to death, and Gazans celebrated by passing out sweets?

Round two came on Monday, but this time there was a different outcome. In the community of Sdei Avraham, close to the Gaza border, a young Israeli mother, Yael Matzpun, was sleeping with her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son but awoke when she heard heavy footsteps in the hall. Her husband, an IDF officer, was not at home.

After UN Vote, Israel Plans J’lem Housing � Commentary Magazine

After UN Vote, Israel Plans J’lem Housing � Commentary Magazine: As the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to upgrade the Palestinians’ status Thursday night, Israel took steps toward building housing in a controversial area of East Jerusalem known as E1, where Jewish settlements have long been seen as the death knell for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Friday that the decision was made late Thursday night to move forward on “preliminary zoning and planning preparations” for housing units in E1, which would connect the large settlement of Maale Adumim to Jerusalem and therefore make it impossible to connect the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem to Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Israel also authorized the construction of 3,000 housing units in other parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the official said.

Germany backtracks on Palestinian bid; Israeli official: 'We lost Europe' - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Germany backtracks on Palestinian bid; Israeli official: 'We lost Europe' - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper: This, in effect, leaves Israel without any European country supporting it at the international forum. Officials in Israel said that Germany's decision was influenced by Britain. "Britain's dramatic reversal prompted the Germans to change their mind," a Foreign Ministry official said. "We lost Europe. More than half of its countries will vote with the Palestinians, and the rest will abstain.