David Wilder
August 31, 2010
It’s been a while since I photographed dead bodies. The last time I remember clearly was the murder of Yossi Shok from Beit Haggai who was shot and killed similarly on a Friday afternoon a few years ago. That attack entailed a few miracles. I recall that there were others in the car, teenage girls, who miraculously weren’t hurt.But tonight, no miracles. This morning, speaking with a friend, talking about the renewed ‘piece talks’, I told him that more than likely today or tomorrow terrorists would strike. It was just a question of where – around here, the Shomron, or Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Tonight we received our answer.
Leaving Ma’arat HaMachpela after evening prayers, the beeper beeped. A car had been shot at. A quick phone call, confirming that Jews had been hit, four critically, and I sped off. I had been at the scene of the shooting only a few hours ago, examining how Arabs were stealing water from Jews in the area.
By the time I arrived, the description had changed. No longer four critically wounded. Four dead. Four killed, shot by terrorists, on their way home. The terrorists’ lives have been made much easier in the past year or so, with various roadblocks being removed in Judea and Samaria. Now it’s fairly simple to access roads used by Jewish civilians, shoot, and then escape.
The scene was reminiscent of others I’ve witnessed in the past. Ambulances, jeeps, police, medics, soldiers, officers, red lights flashing….and bodies.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen four bodies on the street, murdered by Arabs only because they are Jews, living in Israel.
I sit here, half numb, almost not believing, but knowing that, yes, it’s real. And what to do?
The first thing that must be done: Netanyahu has to return immediately, cancelling tomorrow’s ‘festive ceremony’ renewing the so-called negotiations with Obama and Abu Mazen. Israel must make it as clear as possible: we refuse to accept, under any circumstances, and at any price, murder of innocent people on our roads, in our homes, anywhere. No excuses, no looking the other way, no ‘ifs ands or buts.’ More than the Arabs, Obama must understand in no uncertain terms that our people are not cattle-feed.
Two: Netanyahu must unfreeze the freeze now. Not on September 26, not leaving everyone wondering ‘what’s he going to do?’ Tomorrow, as these four pure souls are being buried, building must again begin throughout Judea and Samaria. Here again, the Arabs and the Americans must understand that we will not turn the other cheek; there is a price for murdering Jews in Israel.
....
Search
April 2014
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
Send Money
to BtB
See also
Sponsored Listing
« July 2010 | Main | September 2010 »
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Bibi, go home and bury the dead
"Peace" talks? With whom? About what?
Peace Processors. Ten Years Ago. (July 2000 at Camp David)
 |
August 31, 2010 at 3:05pm
Subject: As the Talks begin....
By now many of you have heard of the horrific attack in the South Hevron Hills, in which four Jews were brutally murdered. The terrorists made sure they were dead as they pulled them out of the car and shot each close range. I am often asked why do I continue to work in bringing various security and medical response equipment to these communities, after all it is "quiet". In my years during the Intifada as the Security Chief of Shilo, I learned a lesson that will stay with me the rest of my life, it may seem too simple to many, not profound to most, but it is simply the way it is, "it is quiet till it is not". It is not quiet, it hasn't been for quite some time, we just have breaks now and then. This time Hamas took the blame, next time it will be the Jihad Islami, and when Fatah needs to gain popularity, they too will announce their part in murder. No, it is not quiet and it probably wont be for a long time, there is much to be done, there are Jewish people living in Israel, and we can not stand idly by our brothers blood, and that is why I continue to work in the security field and will do what ever I can to get these communities and people what they need. May their memories be blessed, and their blood avenged. Marc Prowisor |
-----------------------------
Amen.
Marc, I will never forget being at a parents' meeting in Boulder shortly after 9/11. One mom asserted that we were safe in Boulder -- and then another (more astute) mom said, "Yes, you're safe. Until you're not safe anymore." Same principle.
Yael
------------------------------
And Dan Friedman writes:
Wouldn't you know it? It was the bad cop. Well, what do you expect from those peace-rejecting monsters? What a relief, now the funerals and the White House festivities can go ahead full steam tomorrow. Raise your hand if you ordered the kosher meal.Dan Friedman
NYC
JERUSALEM – Today's deadly terror attack that killed four people took place on a road where the Israeli government removed staffed anti-terror checkpoints in line with requests from the Obama administration, WND has learned.
Everytime some well-meaning fool starts floating the word "peace" around, here in the Middle East, Israelis start getting murdered. Now is no exception. A car with two Israeli couples from Beit Chagai near Hebron was deliberately ambushed and all the passengers were shot at close range, including a pregnant woman."Peace" talks? With whom? About what?
White House Re-decorated while Obamas vacationed
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2010/08/oval_office_gets_a_makeover.html
While President Obama was on vacation, his West Wing office got a bit of a face lift, complete with a new rug, fresh wallpaper and paint, and new furniture -- all done at no taxpayer expense, the White House says.
The changes were paid for by the White House Historical Association, which received a donation from Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee....
(This fund is being used to pay for the design costs of numerous rooms at the White House including the Oval Office, Yellow Oval Room, Center Hall and West Sitting Hall.)
No statement from the White House as yet condemning the murder of four Jews near Hebron in Israel. And no word yet on whether Netanyahu will remain in Washington or turn around and go home (as I very strongly believe that he should).
Four Jews Killed in Arab Terror Attack Near Hevron
Apparently it's not peace yet. There's been a shooting attack at Bani Naim south of Hevron -- killing four Jews, including a pregnant woman.
Terrorists murdered four Jewish civilians in a shooting attack at the Bani Naim junction just south of Hevron Tuesday evening. Emergency service paramedics could do nothing to save the victims whose bodies were riddled with numerous bullets. The terrorists reportedly made sure their victims were dead by shooting them from close range after the initial fusillade.
According to report on Channel 2 television, the victims are two couples, and one of them is a pregnant woman. The IDF is combing the area, searching for the terrorists.
Initial reports said one of the victims had a license for a firearm that was suspended shortly before the attack.
Hamas and Fatah are blaming each other for the terror attack.
At Israel Matzav:
Moriah writes in the comments that one of the couples who was murdered had seven children. Hashem yerachem (may God have mercy upon them).
Bibi should turn around and go home.
Islam for Dhimmis
While the White House and Departments of Agriculture, Education, Homeland Security and Health & Human Services are teaching organizations that front for The Muslim Brotherhood how to access American tax dollars more quickly and easily, BtB continues to wonder if that's really how the U.S. government should be spending its time, bureaucracy, advocacy and our money. (Ditto on the State Department's support for the GZ imam.)
Somewhat dated (December 2009), from the New York Times Toronto Sun:
A seven-year-old Pakistani girl and her family have been given asylum in Canada after reports the child was raped and left to die when her Christian father refused to convert to Islam.
...Rev. Majed El Shafie said the family of seven have been hiding from extremists in Pakistan for about three years.
Baby Neeha, at the age of 2-1/2, was raped by the son of her father's employer and left to die by the roadside, he said. No one was arrested for the crime.
"These horrific events took place because her father, who was Christian, refused to give in to pressure from his Muslim employer to convert to Islam," El Shafie said.
Just 51 more deadly Islamic terrorist attacks, and the ticker over at TROP will hit 16,000.
I think we'll make it before the end of September. Wanna bet?
While we wait, here's a story to pass the time ... by Ben Stein.
.... On the way home, I stopped to get gasoline. The Hispanic attendant, whom I have known for many years, wanted to talk to me about the mosque in New York.
"We have to wake up," he said. "Those people want to hurt us. Then they want to build a mosque. Why? To hurt us more? And how come Obama always takes the side of the people who hate us? Isn't this his country, too? What's wrong with him? Doesn't he know he's an American? Or what is he? This country has to wake up and get rid of Obama."
I nodded. "I agree," I said.
The man shook his head. "This country has to wake up," he said again. "We elected Obama. We made a big mistake. Now we have to fix it. Stop him, then get someone else in there. Someone who is an American. Someone who works for us, not our enemies. "
He shook his head and walked away and I drove home to write about him.
It's embarrassing: They can't see how arrogant they are
Susan Estrich never really interests me, but this title - Ready, Fire, Aim - piqued my curiosity.
House Minority Leader John Boehner has a brilliant idea.
Nearly one in 10 Americans is out of work. The housing market stinks. The stock market is barely holding on. Republicans, much as I hate to say it, have a real opportunity in this midterm election.
And what is the brilliant plan from the man leading the charge in the House of Representatives?Fire Larry Summers.
If you are a normal American, you might ask, "Who?" My guess is, if I were to stand on a street corner anywhere in America other than Harvard Square (where he used to be the local president), not a soul would recognize the man who served as Secretary of the Treasury under Bill Clinton and now serves as a senior economic adviser to President Obama.
I consider myself a "normal American," and I know a great deal about Larry Summers. And not only Larry Summers, but also the economy he's supposedly steering, the way our government works (and the way it was designed to work), who's doing what where, and what is important to "normal Americans."
Susan Estrich should come and stand on my street corner. She could learn alot about the new normal in America. In the meantime, I'm actually embarrassed for her that she's so oblivious to her isolation within the Political Class (Rasmussen) or Ruling Class (Codevilla), that she has no idea how arrogant she sounds.... "anywhere in America."
The President, The Rabbi and The "Phenomenal Next Step"
Meet The Muslim Brotherhood:
“Allah is our objective.
The Prophet is our leader.
Qur’an is our law.
Jihad is our way.
Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”
I have an idea. If the GZ imam ever breaks his deafening silence in the American press, someone should ask him what his highest aspiration is. Good trick question, huh? Somebody tell Jake Tapper (I would, but he's banned birthers from his twitter page).
Now then, boker tov. This morning I understand a little more about the rabbi in my neighborhood of whom I so often complain. He is simply one of the liberal sheeple who follow their leader; he submits to Islam because the President does. Submission to Islam has become national policy.
For the wordsmiths: Is it redundant to say 'submission to Islam'? Since the word Islam is Arabic for "submission," am I not saying that submission to submission has become national policy? And does that make any sense at all?
In today's WSJ, Brett Stephens goes into depth about the "peculiar political conceit" of "moral narcissism" that enables both the President and his disciples -- like my neighbor the rabbi. Fascinating and true, but not urgent. For urgent, keep reading.
Here, Frank Gaffney takes the words right outta my mouth... though he writes them down in much better fashion than I ever could. He is one of those people who can be calm in an emergency. Me, I just scream (bloody murder!).
... more Americans are taking note of the accumulating series of statements and actions by the President that display favoritism, or worse, towards Muslims. That would be troubling enough; after all, no chief executive is supposed to support one subset of us over others.
Growing numbers of our countrymen may be on to something else about the Obama presidency, however, that is even more alarming: In instance after instance, Mr. Obama has seemingly bent over backwards to accommodate not just Muslim-Americans, but a deeply problematic organization - the Muslim Brotherhood (or Ikhwan) - that purports to represent their interests here.
In fact, the Brotherhood seeks to do something most Muslims in this country - and needless to say, the rest of us - do not want: According to the organization's mission statement, it is waging "a kind of grand jihad eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and G0d's religion is made victorious over all other religions."
One need not believe that the President of the United States has actually embraced this radical goal to be concerned. It is enough that he has repeatedly said and done things that conform to, or otherwise advance, the Ikhwan's agenda as articulated by the Brotherhood's myriad front organizations in the United States.
Consider the following, necessarily partial listing of actions - some symbolic, some substantive - that can legitimately be seen by the Muslim Brothers as evidence of our President's submission (the literally meaning of "Islam" and the goal of all those who, like the Ikhwan, seek to impose shariah worldwide):
- Mr. Obama declared in his inaugural address that, "The United States is a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers." The ordering of "Muslims" before "Jews" was clearly deliberate, since the latter have been and are in the United States in far larger numbers than the former and have played a much more important role in the nation's history from its founding. Subsequently, he went even further, describing (inaccurately) America as "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world."
- In his much-ballyhooed address to "the Muslim world" delivered in Cairo in June 2009, Mr. Obama signaled his determination not only to "reach out" to followers of Islam. He also committed himself to an initiative - clearing the way for Muslims to "fulfill their zakat (tithing for charity) obligations" - that would have the practical effect of giving Brotherhood operatives (whose representatives he insisted be in the audience) more latitude to engage in material support for terrorism and, thereby, wage their "civilization jihad" in and from America.
- In September 2009, the Obama administration co-sponsored a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution eagerly sought by the Muslim Brotherhood and its friends. The resolution called on member nations to "prohibit and criminalize" speech that offends Islam and its followers. Such an accommodation would clearly violate the Constitution's First Amendment guarantees of freedom of expression.
- Speaking of the Constitution, the Obama administration is arguing in federal court that the U.S. government's ownership of AIG, which happens to be the largest purveyor of shariah-compliant insurance products in the world, does not violate the Establishment Clause's separation of church and state.
Who knew?
- We recently learned that, according to President Obama, the NASA Administrator's "foremost" priority is to make Muslims feel better about themselves and their history. Job 1 is not assuring U.S. supremacy in space, or even assured access to it; it's Muslim outreach and therapy.
- Then, last month, President Obama endorsed the megamosque near Ground Zero in a White House Iftar dinner attended by prominent Muslim Brotherhood operatives. Subsequent efforts to distance himself from that stance, in the face of intense criticism from the public and politicians of both parties, has only put into even sharper focus his pandering to this community.
- Now, my Center for Security Policy colleague Christine Brim has broken the story of a major new Obama initiative in that vein. In the words of the largest Muslim Brotherhood organization in the country, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), "A phenomenal next step has been made where government Iftars become coupled with workshops to provide resources and benefit the Muslim community. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the [Muslim Brotherhood-associated] Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations (CCMO) have paired the first of such events, scheduled for August 31, 2010."
I can hear you now: "Do we have to?" So stop yer whinin' -- homework is homework. Just do it.
On August 31, this coming Tuesday [that is, TODAY], the Muslim Brotherhood-associated “Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations” (CCMO) will bring 25-30 Muslim leaders of 20 national Muslim groups to attend a special workshop presented by the White House and U.S. Government agencies (Agriculture, Education, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services etc.) to provide the groups “funding, government assistance and resources.”
The workshop will apparently provide special access for these Muslim Brotherhood organizations: the organizers pledge to provide “direct access” and “cut through red tape.” Government and Muslim groups will hold an Iftar dinner (breaking the fast of Ramadan) after the workshop.
The event was announced in an email newsletter sent August 27 by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism finance trial, long associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the global Islamist network (great backgrounder here from Hudson Institute).
From that ISNA e-newsletter:
"This year, a phenomenal next step has been made..."
.... Leaders from Muslim organizations around the nation, particularly social service organizations, are invited to a workshop with representatives from the DOA [Department of Agriculture], Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Health and Human Services, the White House, Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, and more. Twenty five to thirty Muslim leaders representing 20 Muslim organizations are expected to attend the workshop.
The writer, Christine Brim (Gd bless her), later suggests that
the Administration knows these groups are linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. They think that’s a good thing.
This isn’t incompetence; it’s intentional.
I don't need to tell you that all this is being paid for with your tax dollars. You know that, right?
Read it all. No excuses. There will be Extra Credit for those who forward some part of this dangerous insanity to at least ten people.
And if anyone can find mention of this "workshop" event at the White House website or those of the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Homeland Security or Health & Human Services, please leave the link (URL) in the comments section... I'll send you a free BtB t-shirt for your trouble :)
Lastly (if a single reader has made it this far), you might want to note this post from BtB April three years ago:
Steny Hoyer et al Nov '06 ~ photo from democraticleader.house.gov
Democrat met opposition leader in Egypt [link expired]
04-07-2007 4:38 PM
By NADIA ABOU EL-MAGD, Associated Press Writer
CAIRO, Egypt - A top U.S. Democratic congressman met a leader of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's most powerful rival, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, U.S. officials and the Islamist group said Saturday.
Visiting House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer met with the head of the Muslim Brotherhood's parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Saad el-Katatni, twice on Thursday — once at the parliament building and then at the home of the U.S. ambassador to Egypt, said Brotherhood spokesman Hamdi Hassan.
If you don't believe me, maybe you will believe... the democratic underground?
And here's WV Congressman Nick Rahall -my own personal choice for Public Enemy No. 1 status- also meeting with the head of The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (who's not in the picture, just the caption):
Monday, 30 August 2010
Much is still at stake at Ground Zero
Haraam (Arabic: حرام) (often Haram) is an Arabic term meaning "forbidden". In Islam it is used to refer to anything that is prohibited by the faith.
For all those who don't want to offend Muslims, you might want think about getting rid of your ring tones. And musical instruments in general.
Using musical tunes on mobile phones
Taken from islam-qa - Sheikh MunajjidQuestion:
Is there anything wrong with using mobile phones which play tunes, because these tunes are a kind of music, or not? In fact it is possible to avoid this problem by using a mobile telephone whose ringing tone is a verse of Qur’aan.
ANSWER:Praise be to Allaah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stated that musical instruments are haraam when he said: “There will be among my ummah people who will regard as permissible adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments…” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5590.
This hadeeth indicates that musical instruments are haraam in two ways. Firstly, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said “they will regard as permissible,” which clearly indicates that the things mentioned – including musical instruments – are forbidden in sharee’ah but those people will regard them as permissible. Secondly, musical instruments are mentioned alongside things which are definitively forbidden, namely adultery and alcohol. If they were not haraam, they would not be mentioned alongside these things. (al-Silsilah al-Saheehah by al-Albaani, 1/140-141).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This hadeeth indicates that musical instruments are haraam. (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 11/535).
It is possible to do without these haraam tunes by setting the phone to ring with an ordinary tone, or something else that is not regarded as a musical tune.
The Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas was asked about the ruling on musical tunes on mobile phones. They replied:
It is not permissible to use musical tunes for telephones or any other devices, because listening to musical instruments is haraam, as is indicated by the evidence of sharee’ah. It is possible to do without them by using the ordinary ringing tone. And Allaah is the Source of strength. Majallat al-Da’wah, issue no. 1790, p. 42.
The questioner mentioned that it is possible to set the ringing tone as a verse of Qur’aan, but it is better not to do that, because there is the fear that this may be a kind of disrespect towards the Holy Qur’aan. Allaah revealed the Qur’aan to be a Book of guidance showing the right way, to be recited and pondered and acted upon, not to be a means of alerting people. It is sufficient for the questioner to set his phone to an ordinary ringing tone. And Allaah knows best.
And I hope you none of you has a black dog.
LOCAL Earthquake: Manchin 48 - Raese 42 in Senate Race!
Would that West-byGD-Virginia could drain the swamp 'round here, by keeping Gov. Manchin out of the Senate and getting rid of anti-Israel Rep. Nicky Joe Rahall once and for all [I LIKE SPIKE! ] Here's the latest... from the Washington Examiner:
... pollster Scott Rasmussen reports that Manchin holds only a 48%-42% lead over Raese—down from a 51%-35% margin in a poll just after the legislature authorized this special election to fill Byrd’s seat.
This is really, really good news for my state.
"We hear the media speaking always of John Raese as "Wealthy"
Does PJ Crowley even know who Rav Ovadiah Yosef is? Do you?
"The conduct of what once was called the "War on Terror" is now in the hands of people who cheer for the terrorists. No wonder they can't stand to hear the truth"
-- Mannie Sherberg
- Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Abbas and Palestinians Should Perish From This World
- U.S. State Department Condemns 'Offensive' Remarks from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Before PJ Crowley was even born, Rav Ovadiah Yosef was already a rabbi for ten years, having received smicha (ordination) at the early age of 20. Before PJ Crowley was even born, the Rabbi had already taught in yeshiva and served as the head of the beit din (rabbinical court) in Cairo. And by the time Crowley was born, Ovadiah Yosef had already authored Halachic rulings and published an important book on the laws of Pesach.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is Mizrahi Hareidi. Hareidi is what dhimmedia calls "ultra-orthodox," and refers specifically to those Israeli Jews who unfailingly adhere to and strictly observe Jewish law (and are often seen wearing black hats). Mizrahi, on the other hand, means that he comes from The Muslim World -- the very one of which the Omerican president (PJ Crowley's boss) is so enamored. Mizrahi Jews descend from the extinct Jewish communities that once flourished in places like Iraq (Ovadiah Yosef was born in Basra), Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Persia/Iran, Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Ethiopia, India and of course, Pahkistahn.
And Rav Ovadiah Yosef is quite special among Mizrahi Hareidi. He is a highly revered Talmudic scholar and a widely recognized religious authority. In the Mizrahi world, he is regarded as "the most important living authority" on Jewish law. He also just happens to be a former Chief Rabbi of Israel and the current spiritual leader of the Shas political party.
According to the Wikipedia entry on Yosef's "Position on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,"
Rabbi Yosef has long been a distinguished rabbinical authority advocating peace negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and has done so since the late 1980s....
.... However, Shas abstained on Oslo I and voted against the Oslo II agreement. Furthermore, as Oslo stalled and relations between Israelis and Palestinians began to deteriorate, and particularly following the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Rabbi Yosef and the party pulled "rightward", supporting the Likud.
In 2005, Rabbi Yosef repeatedly condemned the Gaza Disengagement. He argued that he was opposed to any unilateral action that occurred outside the framework of a peace agreement. Rabbi Yosef again cited the principle of Pikuach Nefesh, saying that empowering the Palestinians without a commitment to end terror would result in threatening Jewish lives, particularly in areas near Gaza in range of Qassam rocket attacks....
Rabbi Yosef has protested strongly against demands by the United States and other foreign countries that Israel freeze construction in East Jerusalem, saying that "it's as if we are their slaves."
Nevertheless, he has shown some flexibility on the issue and may take a pragmatic approach. In the wake of the diplomatic row between Israel and the US over Jewish housing in east Jerusalem, Rabbi Yosef is reported to have said, in a private meeting with Shimon Peres, that "[i]t is not permissible to challenge the nations of the world or the ruling powers" and that Israel should agree to a partial building freeze in east Jerusalem, at least temporarily.
What Wikipedia does not note is his explanation to Peres:
... [Rabbi Yosef] added that the pause in building could be temporary, and that “nothing would happen” if Israel concentrated on construction in other parts of the country for a few years.
Uh-huh. So now we have the Obama State Department making it a point to condemn this "distinguished rabbinical authority" who for decades advocated peace negotiations and who has supported the temporary construction freeze now in effect. Some folks just never know when to keep their mouths shut (and I don't mean the Rabbi).
The original account in Vos Iz Neias? quotes Rabbi Yosef as follows.
Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef denounced upcoming peace talks with the Palestinians, which are set to start September 2 in Washington, and called for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to “perish from this world,” Army Radio reported overnight Saturday.
“Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this world,” Rabbi Ovadia was quoted as saying during his weekly sermon at a synagogue near his Jerusalem home. “God should strike them with a plague, them and these Palestinians.”
The Shas spiritual leader also called the Palestinians “evil, bitter enemies of Israel” during his speech, which is not the rabbi’s first sermon to spark controversy.
In 2001, the spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox faction gave a speech in which he also called for Arabs’ annihilation.
“It is forbidden to be merciful to them,” he was quoted as saying. “You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable.”
I cannot condemn these statements, as I have entertained these very same thoughts. These terrorists are "evil and damnable," and there is no shortage of evidence for that statement of fact. So let's see what PJ had to say in his press release yesterday.
We regret and condemn the inflammatory statements by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. We note the Israeli statement that the Rabbi's comments do not reflect the views of the Prime Minister. These remarks are not only deeply offensive, but incitement such as this hurts the cause of peace. As we move forward to relaunch peace negotiations, it is important that actions by people on all sides help to advance our effort, not hinder it.
QUESTION: Moving on, P.J., (inaudible) Iran to come to the negotiating table, and Iran has finally now said that it’s ready. What is holding up the determination of a date and place both with regard to the Vienna Group meeting (inaudible)?
MR. CROWLEY: There are discussions ongoing between Iran and Catherine Ashton in the EU, and between Iran and the IAEA. We are hopeful that there can be constructive meetings in the coming weeks on both of those fronts. We stand ready to join other countries in a P-5+1 discussion with Iran, and we hope that such a meeting can be set up very shortly. And likewise, we look forward to discussions within the IAEA about whether there’s any arrangement that can be arrived at regarding the Tehran research reactor. So we’re hopeful that both of those meetings can happen soon, and there are discussions ongoing to try to set up a specific date for both of those meetings.