Livni says won't join Netanyahu-led government

Kadima chairwoman ends meeting with prime minister-designate after Likud leader refuses to commit to two-state solution. 'This is a matter of principle,' Livni says, vowing to act as 'a responsible opposition'  

Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni ended her meeting with Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, after the latter refused to include the "two states for two people solution" in his government's basic guidelines.   "Two states (one for the Israelis and one of the Palestinians) is not an empty slogan," Livni said as she left the meeting. "Unity is not just sitting in a government together. It also means sharing a way."   The two officials met at a Tel Aviv hotel for about two hours.   "I came to meet with the Likud chairman for a second time in order to hear about his vision and the way he wishes to implement. Israel is facing challenges. I told him Kadima would support any right moves by the government.   "In order to deal with the challenges I wanted three fundamental things which you are aware of," she said. "Two states is not an empty slogan. It's the only way Israel can remain Jewish and fight terror. It's a matter of principle.   "We discussed the issues. I didn't see any commitment on Bibi's part to these issues. The meeting ended without any understandings, and we cannot be part of Netanyahu's government," Livni stated, vowing to act as "a responsible opposition".   The Likud leader's associates made it clear before the meeting that he would not accept the "two states for two people" formula. Senior Kadima officials clarified that Netanyahu's commitment to a peace process was insufficient, stressing that the world now views the Annapolis process as the foundation of any negotiations.  "There is no other process apart from this one, and the saying that Netanyahu supports a diplomatic process is insufficient and will not serve as a basis for Kadima's inclusion in the government instead of an explicit statement addressing the process' nature," one of the Kadima officials said.  Knesset Member Tzachi Hangebi, one of Kadima's senior members, told Ynet before the meeting, "We are heading to the opposition, for certain. Something really dramatic will have to take place for this to change."  Various sources who have spoken to Netanyahu this week found it difficult to determine whether he was optimistic ahead of his meeting with Livni. One of them stated, however, that "it appears that he plans to make more compromises. He really wants Kadima to join the government and to establish a wide government."

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Lieberman supports Palestinian state

  Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman advocates the establishment of a Palestinian state, he wrote in an article published in the New York Jewish Week.

Israel Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman. Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

Slideshow: Pictures of the week

Lieberman wrote on Wednesday that while he wants "the state of Israel to remain a Zionist, Jewish and democratic state," he supported the "creation of a viable Palestinian state." Lieberman said he was trying to shake off labels such as "far-right" and "ultra-nationalist" thrown in his direction. The party leader said he welcomed the "contribution of minorities to Israel's flourishing" and did not expect Israeli-Arabs "to share in the Zionist dream," but asked them to accept Israel as a Jewish state. Lieberman insisted that his party "has no objection to the nonviolent expression of opinion," but condemned what he called "violent speech that forms a clear and present danger," quoting Sakhnin's mayor, who during Operation Cast Lead called on Gazans to "block with your blood in order to build the state of Palestine, whose capital is Jerusalem." Lieberman expressed desire to work with US President Barack Obama in the next government. "I look forward to working with President Obama. I know that US-Israel relations are as strong as ever, and that our shared values and interests make our friendship unshakable," he wrote.

IATA issues ranking warning to Israel

International Air Transport Association warns it may follow US Federal Aviation Administration, downgrade Israel’s aviation safety ranking. Should decision materialize, EU airport may refuse Israeli planes' landing  

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has informed Israeli airlines that they must upgrade their safety and security measure, or risk being turned away from European Union airports. . The Transportation Ministry said that the announcement was not an official one, but rather a memorandum sent to El-Al, Arkia and Israir, as well as to the Israel Airport Authority.   The IATA, added the ministry, did not threaten to bar  Israeli airlines in any way, but rather simply asked them to put a new emphasis on safety, following Israel's recent FAA aviation downgrade.   The US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Israel’s aviation safety ranking in late November, following an inspection which revealed what the FAA defined as “severe security shortcomings in Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority.”   The FAA report found several security defects at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, prompting it to categorize Israel’s aviation security in the same bracket as Third World countries.   IATA is an international trade body, which represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of the world's scheduled international air traffic. Should it decide to downgrades Israel’s aviation safety as well, the move will immediately translate into stricter inspections of any Israeli plane landing in Europe and larger insurance fees, which will inevitably mean a spike in flight rates.   Another potential problem is that the safety ranking may affect Israel's code share agreement with various European airlines the likes of Austrian Airlines, Swissair and Brussels Airlines.   Amos Lapidot, former Israeli Air Force Commander who heads the public committee appointed to investigate aviation safety in Israel, and had previously alerted both the Civil Aviation Authority and the Transportation Ministry to the many deficiencies he found, told Ynet that since the FAA's decision, "Israel has been investing in infrastructure, landing strips and improving air space safety, but it's going to take a few more years."   International aviation safety codes are similar, he added, "and the FAA and the IATA usually synchronize their decisions to an extent. If the IATA follows through on its warning, it would have significant ramifications."

 

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Jewish Center attacked in Venezuela Assailants threw an explosive at a Jewish community center on Thursday, but nobody was hurt in the blast - the second assault against Venezuela's Jewish community this year. Abraham Garzon, president of the Jewish Community Center, told the local Globovision television news channel that a small explosive resembling a pipe-bomb was lobbed at the building in Caracas before dawn on Thursday. The explosion damaged the doors to the center. "It seems there are people in the country dedicated to sowing terrorism," Garzon said. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, which immediately reignited fears of rising anti-Semitism in Venezuela.

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Clinton Scolds Israel on Gaza Aid

CBNNews.com February 25, 2009

CBNNews.com—JERUSALEM—In advance of her first visit to Israel as US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has sent a series of messages to Israeli leaders, criticizing what she considers to be a slow pace for the transport of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.  Clinton's focus on humanitarian aid for Palestinians, rather than on Israel's security needs, is the latest sign that of what many Israelis perceive as the Obama Administration distancing itself from Israel. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the border crossings between Israel and Gaza will remain closed until Hamas, which rules Gaza, releases captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.  Shalit has been held in Gaza since June, 2006, when he was kidnapped in a Palestinian cross-border raid.  Still, Israel is allowing essential humanitarian aid to come into Gaza. U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrives on Thursday, ahead of Clinton, who is scheduled to arrive Monday night.  Mitchell is also expected to admonish Israeli leaders for the clampdown on the border crossings. Currently, fewer than 200 trucks per day are entering the Gaza strip.  The US, in keeping with the demands of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations, wants the Gaza crossings open to allow 500 trucks per day. On Tuesday, Israel's chief of the diplomatic-security bureau at the Defense Ministry, Major General (res) Amos Gilad, denied EU reports of severe restrictions in humanitarian aid.  "Contrary to EU reports, 116,400 tons of humanitarian aid was allowed into the Gaza Strip according to requests made by international organizations and private groups since the cease fire went into effect on January 18," Gilad stated.  "Any claim of food shortage is false." The US committed Tuesday to $900 million to rebuild parts of the Gaza Strip destroyed in Israel's Operation Cast Lead in December and January.

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Barack [yes, Hussein] Obama

Roi Mandel

Published:

02.26.09, 23:18 / Israel News

Attila Somfalvi

Latest Update:

02.27.09, 13:11 / Israel News

Netanyahu holds 'friendly meeting' with Mitchell

Prime minister-designate meets with President Obama's special Mideast envoy. Sources close to Netanyahu say after meeting it appears US does not intend to press Israel on illegal West Bank construction at this point  

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with US President Barack Obama's special Middle East envoy George Mitchell. Following the meeting Netanyahu said that it was held "in a very friendly and practical atmosphere."   Sources close to the Likud leader said that Netanyahu was under the impression that Mitchell does not intend to pressure Israel on the issue of illegal outposts. According to the sources, at this point the US did not present any demands to Israel and mainly sought to learn more of Israel's stance on the relevant issues.   In 2001, Mitchell published a report on the Israeli settlement project in the West Bank and stressed the need to halt further construction in the area.   Netanyahu and Mitchell. No pressure (Photo: AFP)   "The subject of the settlements was not brought up," Netanyahu's associates said. "The issues that the government will need to tackle after its establishment are extremely complex and problematic, including the Iranian problem, which concerns both Israel and the US."   After his meeting with Mitchell, Netanyahu met with the EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana.   The Western envoys met with the right-wing leader in an attempt to find out whether Israel, with Netanyahu at the helm, will remain committed to the Annapolis peace process and the two-state solution, or change course.   Although no official statements to this effect have been made so far, both Europe and the US are concerned of the prospects of a narrow right-wing government being formed in Israel.   Mitchell's visit was also meant to prepare the groundwork for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to the region next week.   Earlier Thursday Mitchell met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The two agreed on the need to strengthen the common interests of Israel, the US and the international community, and boost the moderate Arab countries, as well as what Livni defined as "the legitimate Palestinian Authority."

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Qassam explodes in Sderot; no injuries

Rocket fired from Gaza causes minor damage to two homes; woman and her son treated for shock; another rocket lands in open area  

A Qassam rocket fired by Palestinians in north Gaza Thursday morning exploded in the yard of a home in the western Negev town of Sderot. No injuries were reported, but a woman and her son were treated for shock, and two adjoining homes sustained minor damage.   The Color Red siren, which warns residents of incoming projectiles, sounded in Sderot and surrounding communities at around 8:30 am; the rocket fired at Sderot landed shortly thereafter, and another Qassam fired by Palestinian gunmen landed near Sderot's industrial zone, causing no injuries or damage. Damaged house in Sderot (Photo: Zeev Trachtman)   The owner of one of the damaged homes said "the rocket hit a tree situated between our two houses, but the other house sustained most of the damage.   "I thought that after Operation Cast Lead (in Gaza) we would have some peace, but it's not happening and I don't believe it will," he said.     Wednesday morning also saw two rockets fired towards the Negev region. No injuries were reported. The Israeli Air Force retaliated a few hours later by striking seven weapons smuggling tunnels in the southern Strip. No casualties were reported in the attack.   Despite the ceasefire declared following Israel's recent military offensive in Gaza, the Palestinians have been firing Qassams and mortar shells towards Israel on an almost daily basis. The IDF usually responds with attacks on Hamas targets in the Strip.   On the northern front, Lebanese security officials said Wednesday that the military found four rockets near the border with Israel.  They said the rockets were discovered in Ein al-Jawz in the southeast - a region facing the Golan Heights.

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IAF strikes Rafah smuggling tunnels

Hours after Palestinian gunmen fire rockets at Sderot Thursday morning, Israel aircraft bomb tunnels in Rafah area  

The Israel Air Force struck several smuggling tunnels located near the Gaza Strip town of Rafah just hours after Qassam rockets were fired at Sderot, the IDF reported on Thursday. Gazans use the tunnels under the border with Egypt to smuggle weapons, food and other goods into the blockaded territory. Thursday saw three rockets fired at Israel: Two Qassam rockets hit Sderot, causing two people to suffer shock; and a third landed in Eshkol Regional Council limits, causing no harm. The Color Red alert, which warns residents of incoming projectiles, sounded in Sderot and surrounding communities at around 8:30 am; the rocket fired at Sderot landed shortly thereafter, and another Qassam fired by Palestinian gunmen landed near Sderot's industrial zone, causing no injuries or damage. The owner of one of the damaged homes said "the rocket hit a tree situated between our two houses, but the other house sustained most of the damage. "I thought that after Operation Cast Lead (in Gaza) we would have some peace, but it's not happening and I don't believe it will," he said. Wednesday morning also saw two rockets fired towards the Negev region. No injuries were reported. The Israeli Air Force retaliated a few hours later by striking seven weapons smuggling tunnels in the southern Strip. No casualties were reported in the attack.

 

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France, Germany and the UK have compiled a list of increased diplomatic and economic sanctions against Iran, and hope to get US President Barack Obama to join them in what they termed a strong common front against the Islamic Republic, reported London's Financial Times. However, the list of new sanctions is not expected to be a major improvement over the current lackluster sanctions that have done little to dissuade Iran. One European official told the newspaper that at this point they just hope stop Obama from significantly weakening global opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday warned that there is not unlimited time to deal with the Iran nuclear crisis. Speaking at a conference at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Barak said: "Time is slipping through our fingers, and what is needed is a two-pronged course of action which includes ironclad, strenuous sanctions against the Iranian regime and a readiness to consider options in the event that these sanctions do not succeed." The remark was seen as a swipe at Obama's previously stated intention to take the military option off the table, effectively allowing Iran to string the international community along for as long as it needs to build a nuclear bomb. Barak's speech came a day after Iran announced that it had begun preliminary tests leading up to the activation of its first nuclear reactor in Bushehr. Israel views Bushehr going online as a major step toward Iran achieving its nuclear aims.

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The results of a poll conducted by World Public Opinion and published this week show that among Arab and Muslim countries, the Palestinians hate the United States more than any other. That hatred is born of farfetched assumptions of the US and its foreign policies that are fed by local Middle East media. For examples, nearly 90 percent of Palestinian Arabs believe spreading Christianity in the Middle East is an official US foreign policy goal, and that Washington's ultimate aim is to seize control of all Middle East oil resources. Forty-nine percent said they believe the US purposely tries to humiliate the Muslim world. And despite being the recipients of massive amounts of US foreign aid, the Palestinians more than any other group said they support terrorist groups that target Americans. Sixty-seven percent of Palestinian respondents said they support either all or some of the anti-America Islamic terrorist organizations active today. The number of Palestinians thirsty for American blood jumped to 90 percent when asked if they approved of attacks on US troops in Iraq.

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Holocaust Denier Convicted

CBNNews.com February 26, 2009

CBNNews.com—BERLIN—A former leftist turned neo-Nazi was convicted of Holocaust denial in a German court and sentenced to six years in prison.  Horst Mahler, who was a founding member of the Red Army Faction in 1970, was convicted for posting videos denying the Holocaust on the Internet and distributing CD's filled with hate messages about Jews.  Holocaust denial is a criminal offense in Germany. Presiding Judge Martin Reider said Mahler was using the court room as a podium to promote his "nationalist croaking."  Mahler had filed a complaint against himself in the Munich court case.  During his closing argument, he spent hours elaborating on his theories of Holocaust denial and expressing sympathy for Richard Williamson, the Roman Catholic bishop who claims that no Jews went to the gas chambers during the Holocaust. Mahler was sentenced to one year above the maximum five year recommendation.  The judge called him "completely unrepentant and totally unteachable."

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President Shimon Peres meets with the head of the European Parliament in Jerusalem. Peres criticized the EU for sympathizing with Hamas. (Jair Angel)

 

Hanan Greenberg

Published:

02.26.09, 16:50 / Israel News

Shmulik Hadad

Published:

02.26.09, 09:14 / Israel News

Roni Sofer

Published:

02.26.09, 17:43 / Israel News

Officials fear US may cut military aid to Israel The Defense Ministry is concerned that US President Barack Obama will cut military aid to Israel in an effort to pressure the new government to take action against illegal outposts and settlement construction, defense officials said. The officials spoke with The Jerusalem Post ahead of both a visit later this week by US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and the Obama administration's anticipated release of the fiscal 2010 budget, which includes funding for foreign aid. "Mitchell is a known opponent of the outposts and the settlements," a senior defense official said. "The Americans may try to use the military aid as a way of pressuring the new government into dismantling outposts and freezing construction in settlements." Already last week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak held consultations on the matter. But the Defense Ministry's jitters regarding US military aid were not shared by the Prime Minister's Office or the Finance Ministry. Officials in the latter two offices said they had not heard of any plans to cut American military aid to Israel, which was set out in a 2007 memorandum of understanding signed by both countries. It promised that Israel would receive $30 billion over a 10-year period. This year, Israel received $2.5b. of that sum, and it is expected to receive $2.7b. in 2010. The amount is scheduled to increase until it levels out at $3.1b. in 2013. It is limited to that sum for the remainder of the agreement. Seventy-five percent are expected to go toward purchasing US-made weapons, with the bulk of the remainder going to domestic defense purchases. At the time of the signing, president George W. Bush assured Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the US would help Israel retain its qualitative edge in the Middle East. According to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, nothing has changed on that score with the Obama administration. The US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding on military assistance reflects the "unshakeable commitment of the United States to Israel's security," said embassy spokesman Stewart Tuttle. Consistent with such a commitment, the US government has no intention of changing the terms of the agreement, he added. Still, the fact that the pledged sum of money is sent to Israel only after approval by the House of Representatives and the Senate has raised some concern in the Defense Ministry, even though both bodies have a strong record of military support for Israel. At issue is a line in the memorandum stating that "both sides acknowledge that these funding levels assume continuation of adequate funding levels for the US foreign assistance overall and are subject to the appropriation and availability of funds for these purposes." Defense officials speculated that if the US decided to cut the funding, it would not say it was doing so due to outposts and settlements, but would cite the global financial crisis as the reason. However, a Finance Ministry official said he had not heard anything to indicate that the aid would be cut as a result of Israel's settlement activity. "Everyone is afraid of cuts, because there is a new administration in Washington," he said. According to the Finance Ministry official, Israel has not heard of any anticipated cuts. According to sources on Capitol Hill, even if a there were a few lone politicians who called for cuts in military aid to protest settlement construction, it wouldn't stop the approval of foreign aid for Israel. But military aid cuts are not the only issue that concerns the Defense Ministry ahead of Mitchell's visit. Concern is also growing in the IDF's Central Command that America will push Israel to begin transferring security over West Bank towns to the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian security forces, trained by Jordan and US Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton, are already deployed in Jenin and Hebron. According to Israeli officials, these forces played a key role in preventing terror attacks in the West Bank during last month's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Additional PA forces are also deployed in Bethlehem, Tulkarm and Nablus. While the IDF is satisfied with the PA forces, it is concerned that Mitchell and Dayton will use the success to push for an expansion of the deployment, including the transfer of security to the PA. The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has been pushing the Americans for further Israeli concessions, sources in the IDF said. In recent talks, OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni told Dayton that in principle he supported the transfer of security to the PA, but that the process needed to be gradual. Two weeks ago, Shamni signed an order permitting the opening of 12 new Palestinian police stations in Area B, which is under Israeli security control. "The PA forces are doing an effective job in enforcing law and order, but they are not yet completely ready to combat terrorism," one military source said. The officials noted that Mitchell was likely to open a permanent office in Jerusalem.

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Lieberman voters 'feel cheated'

The daughter of a Jewish father and Christian mother, Victoria voted for Yisrael Beitenu hoping they would push through legislation allowing her to marry in Israel. But with Lieberman now willing to give up on civil marriage as a concession to Shas – she feels betrayed  

Yisrael Beitenu voters have voiced mixed feelings following the report that party chairman, Avigdor Lieberman, is willing to compromise on civil marriage to join a coalition with Shas.   Victoria, a 25-year-old Israeli who has a Jewish father and Christian mother, says she feels betrayed. "I voted for Lieberman because this was one of his cornerstone promises. Now I really feel cheated," she told Ynet.   Victoria says she can not understand why a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen is barred from marrying in a country that declares itself democratic. "Having a family is the most basic of rights. I am part of a couple and I want to actualize that in my country, to celebrate it with my family. Now it looks like I'll have to go to Cyprus or Prague to get married, and my family won't be there at my side. It's just so sad."   Victoria said her disappointment is so great due to Lieberman's performance in the elections. "When I heard how many mandates he got, I had a lot of expectations. I thought he could use the momentum to realize his positions. A lot of people voted for him because of this issue and he just let us down. If I could take back my vote I would do it," she said.   Another Lieberman voter, 41-year-old Yulia Faziuk, also said she voted Yisrael Beitenu because she is opposed to religious coercion, but she is not disappointed.   "There are a lot of more important problems to deal with right now, like security and the economy. If Lieberman is willing to compromise on this issue, I understand him," she said.   "In politics you have to be flexible. Life isn't black and white, you have to compromise."   Marina Georgiv, 44, said she still trusted Lieberman to champion civil marriage: "I don't believe he changed his agenda in 24 hours and I'm sure he'll uphold his word and change the law. These changes don't happen in a day, and this issue has been debated since the country was founded."   Irit Rosenblum, founder of the 'New Family' organization, called on Lieberman not to compromise. "We're talking about hundreds of thousands of people who live in the State of Israel and who cannot wed, not to mention hundreds of thousands of others who would prefer alternate ways to marry. We know it's hard, we know what the resistance (to civil marriage) is like, but for someone to unload the responsibility so fast – that we haven't seen yet," Rosenblum said.

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Can Bibi betray rightists?

Kadima will only join coalition if Netanyahu shuns some rightist partners  

As anyone who ever visited a Turkish bazaar knows, the worst advisor while bargaining is the sweat gland. Legs are a good thing; they allow one to go away and think about it. Hands are a good thing; they allow one to touch the merchandize. Lungs are a good thing, as they allow one to extend the negotiations if needed. Thick skin also helps, not to mention a spine; just don’t sweat.   However, Kadima is sweating, and this does not bode well for the future of this party. The political reality created in the wake of the president’s decision finds Tzipi Livni on one end, Benjamin Netanyahu on the other end, and senior Kadima officials scrambling in the middle, sweaty, anxious, and babbling on every possible TV channel. They fully support their leader, Tzipi Livni; the problem is that they’re not sure what she supports.  Livni speaks with her colleagues as though she has decided to head to the opposition regardless of anything. Yet she cannot reject the idea of a unity government; after all, she herself called for the establishment of a unity government both before and after the elections. She also cannot condition her entry into the government on agreeing to its Basic Lines; she knows that Netanyahu will agree to any text. A day after the government is formed, the Basic Lines shall be placed in a mass grave, along with the Basic Lines of previous governments.  She has nothing left but to cling to what Dalia Itzik refers to as the “blend” – Kadima will join the Netanyahu government only if he shuns some of the rightist parties that endorsed him. Netanyahu is supposed to shun the National Union – he is willing to do that, according to what senior Likud officials are telling their Kadima counterparts – and mostly, he is supposed to dismiss the religious bloc – Shas, United Torah Judaism, and the Jewish Home - or alternately, shun Lieberman. In such government, Kadima will enjoy a veto power, as it will have the ability to either form or topple the government.  Such demand makes sense: It creates a coalition of 70 or 74 members in the Knesset, rather than a 93-member coalition that cannot be managed and that the public will despise from day one, and rightfully so, because of the monstrous government it will give rise to.  What does Livni really want? Two separate questions are up for discussion here. First, what does Tzipi Livni really want, and whether her decision to head to the opposition is final and her meeting with Netanyahu was only undertaken for appearances’ sake, or rather, whether it marked the opening position for negotiations.  If we assume for a moment that the two have something to talk about, the second question immediately emerges: Is Netanyahu capable of betraying his rightist partners? Shamir and Sharon betrayed their ultra- Orthodox and rightist partners with no difficulty. They claimed that they prefer the national interest over promises made under pressure. Netanyahu, despite the swindler image he has been labeled with over the years, and perhaps because of this image, will find it difficult to betray.  A broad government can only justify its existence if it is as thin as possible. Netanyahu will have to recognize his limits: He cannot bring friends to this bed. Livni will also have to recognize her limits: One does not come to this bed in order to escape it when the first opportunity arises. If she is indeed convinced that Netanyahu is destined to fail, it would be better if she serves the country in the opposition.

 

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Hezekiah Seals Uncovered

CBNNews.com February 24, 2009

CBNNews.com—JERUSALEM—Archaeologists have uncovered several impressions bearing the royal seal of King Hezekiah in an Arab neighborhood southeast of Jerusalem.  The find was announced Monday by the Israeli Antiquities Authority.  The seal impressions are 2700 years old, and bear the names of two important officials—Ahimelech ben Amadyahu and Yehohail ben Shahar--who served in the Judean government of the biblical king. The seals were discovered in January when archaeologists conducted a routine excavation before a construction project in the neighborhood of Umm Tuba.  They also discovered a shard of pottery from the Hasmonean period, about 600 years after Hezekiah, and a large building dating from the First Temple Period (1006-586 B.C.).  The building was destroyed when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem at the end of the First Temple Period.

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The government of US President Barack Obama is preparing to donate more than $900 million dollars to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, according to a senior US official cited by the Associated Press. The revelation comes less than a week before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to attend a Gaza donors conference in Cairo. The Gaza Strip sustained heavy damage during a three-week war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization that ran from late-December till mid-January. Since Hamas is the ruling authority in Gaza, Israel attacked symbols of power such as the local parliament building, and was also forced to fight in densely populated neighborhoods used as cover by Hamas rocket crews. The Obama Administration's approach to Gaza is opposite that of the Bush Administration, which refused to give money to a Gaza Strip that elected and is ruled by Hamas.

Published:

02.24.09, 18:01 / Israel Opinion

Daniel Adelson

Published:

02.24.09, 20:14 / Israel News