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17th
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22:45
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The Muqata
The Lebanese al Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday that US presidential favourite Barack Obama told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he supports the Palestinians' right to East Jerusalem, as well as their right to a sovereign Palestinian state. The report added Obama asked Abbas to keep the remarks secret. However, Obama aides dismissed the report later in the day.
Nevertheless, the Lebanese daily added that the Palestinian Authority is hoping Obama will win, saying that Palestinian leaders believe his support for Israel during the campaign was mainly aimed at gaining the American-Jewish vote and the support of the Jewish lobby in the United States. (Albawaba)
Meanwhile, Lurker reports hearing on Reshet Bet (Israel Radio) that Ramallah Palestinians have already knighted Barack Obama with the nom de guerre, "Abu Hussein". Many Ramallah restaurants are reportedly offering a 50% sale tomorrow in case "Abu Hussein" wins the US Presidential elections.
Muqata Waffles will NOT be on sale tomorrow, regardless of who wins.
Update:
WND: JERUSALEM – In a rapid response to potentially damaging Election Day news, the Obama campaign today urged Palestinian officials to deny a report that the Democratic nominee confided to Palestinian leadership that he supports their right to a capital in eastern Jerusalem, according to a senior Palestinian official.
The official, a longtime reliable source, told WND that Obama advisers have engaged in a series of intense conversations in the last few hours asking that the office of President Mahmoud Abbas issue a denial.
Abbas political adviser Namer Hamad subsequently issued a denial to reporters, but the senior official confirmed to WND that Obama said in a July trip to the region he favored a "negotiated settlement" that may grant the PA control over sections of Jerusalem.
Obama asked the Palestinians to keep the remarks secret, an official told WND in a July interview.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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4:18
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The Muqata
Guest post by Lurker:Thanks to JoeSettler for bringing to our attention the
Jerusalem Post's recent
outrageous act of censorship. I sent the following letter tonight to the
Post's editor-in-chief, David Horovitz:
To David Horovitz:
Why has the Jerusalem Post censored this blog article by Edwin Bennatan? (The link is a snapshot from Google's cache.)
The entire article has disappeared, and has been replaced with this apology.
I understand from the apology that there were some user comments to the article that were deemed “defamatory, threatening, and inappropriate”, and I can certainly understand why the Post would delete such a comment.
But why was the article itself taken down? Did it contain something that you find to be “defamatory, threatening, and inappropriate”? If so, then what was it, exactly? And if it did not contain anything “defamatory, threatening, and inappropriate”, then why has it been deleted and replaced with an apology?
I would point out that the Post's censorship of this article has already become a subject of discussion in the blogosphere. (See here for an example.) This action calls into question the Post's journalistic standards, and its commitment to freedom of speech.
Mr. Horowitz: In the past, I have admired you for your defense of Israel against egregious media bias against Israel. The article by Bennatan was very similar to many such defenses that you yourself have presented in the past. His article was well-written, reasoned, and free of any ad hominem attacks or anything even remotely inappropriate. I am shocked that the newspaper under your editorship has chosen to censor it. I would not have expected this from you.
I (along with many others) am interested in an explanation of why the Post has done this.
P.S.: I am also quite curious to know which charity Mr. Freedman has selected for the Jerusalem Post to make a contribution to.
If you are also disturbed by the
Post's censorship of this article, why not tell them? Here is
David Horovitz's e-mail address.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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16:12
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The Muqata
One of the more distressing aspects of Jewish Disunity around the globe is that of "Eruv Wars". While Orthodox or Chareidi shuls and
mikvaot are high on the list of "annoyances" to anti-religious Israelies, secular or non-Orthodox Jews (see "
Battle of the Mikva"), the most bizarre
hostility is towards the "
eruv."
The eruv is a framework of wires and poles (though they could be actual walls, or even natural borders) that allows religious Jews to carry on Shabbat. Without it, one cannot carry outside one's home, building or enclosed courtyard -- and it greatly inconveniences the Jewish community (difficult to carry keys, push baby carriages, water bottles, etc.)
In Jerusalem, the eruv wars have been heating up and for the past few weeks, unknown people have been maliciously cutting the eruv on Shabbat -- thereby invalidating it and wrecking havoc for those who want to carry on Shabbat.
YNET reports:
These altercations [Eruv wars] came after the eruv committee installed more than 200 posts withing a 32 kilometer (20 mile) range on the road leading to the city’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
In one of these instances, the Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood’s local administration decided to saw off a number of posts placed on the neighborhood streets.
When ultra-Orthodox inhabitants noticed what occurred, a riot ensued and in light of the confrontation which broke out between the sides, the police were called to the scene in an attempt to restore the calm.
As of late, the eruv issue has taken a worrisome turn for the worse. Every Shabbat for the past three weeks, a group of unknowns arrive at the site and cut the eruv’s wires.
This sabotage is caused to the eruv erected by the religious council, the haredi sector and the eruv committee alike.
In certain instances, the unknowns even ignited some of the posts. This eruv vandalization has occurred in numerous Jerusalem neighborhoods including Kiryat Menachem, Armon Hanatziv, Bayit VeGan, Givat Mordechai and Givat Shaul.
Excuses provided on behalf of the eruv vandals in the Kiryat Hayovel:
The source of the battles is the Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood which is situated above the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
According to one of the area’s residents, the whole story began two years ago when haredim began placing eruv posts inside the neighborhoods in addition to those already placed by the religious council.
This phenomenon, in his opinion, is very characteristic in haredi neighborhoods but bothersome to Kiryat Hayovel’s secular inhabitants.
“They began placing an eruv which cut the Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood,” said Danny who prefers remaining anonymous in light of threats he has already received.
“In many cases they used an existing fence or house entrances and started welding posts on them. Posts were definitely placed and ruined the view or were sidewalks; causing a real safety hazard.
“We did not know who was installing these posts. They would come at odd hours and when the police were called, they would leave,” said Danny.
According to Danny, the basis for their opposition to placement of eruv posts is first and foremost the illegality of it all especially since the posts are not placed in accordance with neighborhood authorities or backed by necessary legal permits.
“I can’t insert a post anywhere I want. You have to undergo an organized process and not every private body can do whatever they feel like doing,” he said.
In addition the ultra-Orthodox character the neighborhood is getting with the placement of eruv posts is undesired by many inhabitants.
In Danny’s estimation, “an eruv is definitely a haredi symbol and we don’t want an influx of haredim in southwest Jerusalem.
“It is not healthy for them or for us. The eruv equips the neighborhoods for haredim to a certain degree and this immixture with the ultra-Orthodox public only causes unnecessary friction.”
Eruv polls and wires are rather innocuous, unless of course, you're looking for a fight. I remember a chat with
Rabbi Brovender a few years ago, when he told me how wonderful it was that one of the first things done when an IDF unit sets up camp, is that they build an eruv.
I'll be the first to say it's a challenge for religious and secular Jews to live in harmony, but cutting down an eruv on Shabbat is about as low as you can get.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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17:13
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The Muqata
Video: Killing the terrorist
(photos by
REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)3:02 PM Update: The heroic civilian who stopped the terrorist is Yakki Asa'el, aged 53, father of 8, grandfather of 6. A teacher and farmer by profession. IDF Company Commander (מפקד פלוגה) in the reserves. Settler from Susya (Har Hevron Hills area).
Haaretz Reports:
The copycat attack occurred on the corner of Keren Hayesdod and King David streets in dowtown Jerusalem, down the road from the hotel where U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was to be staying later in the day.
"The bulldozer driver left a construction site, and hit two cars," a police spokesman said.
"A civilian who saw what was happening, shot him. The bulldozer continued on its way. A Border Police patrol... continued to shoot and the terrorist was killed," the spokesman said. "Another person was wounded."
An eyewitness said that the whole incident took place in less than a few minutes.
"[The driver] tried to lower the blade of the bulldozer onto the head of a pedestrian, but missed her by an inch. At first I thought it was an accident, but then he kept going in a zig zag down the slope of King David, overturned a car and hit a few cars. The whole thing happened very quickly.
"One car flipped over and others were crushed. I started running in the direction of the tractor. People regained their composure within seconds. A guy from Susya, near southern Mount Hebron, shot him in the head and a few minutes later a Border Police officer shot him as well," the witness added.
Update: Once again, civilians keep the streets of Jerusalem safer. The responsible person for shooting and killing the terrorist was a civilian. A Border policeman apparently also took part. There are 5 wounded, 2 of them in serious condition and one of the wounded is an infant. 2 cars and a bus were damaged by the tractor. The attack took place near the King David hotel.
I didn't go out for the call because it wasn't declared as an MCE (Mass Casualty Event -- אר"ן אירוע רב נפגעים) though the exact same circumstances led the event. (Friend called, said he heard increased chatter on the MDA/Hatzala radio system, and then I found a colleague in the next room who is a first responder for MDA in Jerusalem...)
A refuah shelaima to the wounded.
Breaking News: 2:13 PM Jerusalem.
Attempting to repeat their success in the last tractor attack, a terrorist has driven a tractor in a rampage in Jerusalem. As of this time, the terrorist has been killed and there are a few wounded on the scene being treated by MDA and Hatazala medical EMT volunteers.
More info soon.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
