August 22, 2008 - The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.

IDF says there are increased alerts of plans to abduct soldiers

Security forces are warning of increased alerts on terrorist groups’ plans to kidnap soldiers, Israel’s Channel 2 reported Thursday (21st). IDF military police have established a special team that carries out mock abductions, and in the past week alone, have arrested 25 soldiers who were caught hitching rides, in violation of military orders. The forces are proving how easy it is to kidnap soldiers who are not obeying the rules. Chief of the general Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi has said in internal meetings that he would rather explain to the soldiers’ parents why their children are in jail than explain why they have fallen captive.

(JP, 8/22)

Hamas again denies Red Cross appeal to visit Gilad Shalit

Red Cross officials met with Hamas leaders Wednesday (20th) in another attempt to allow visitors to see kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit as provided by the Geneva Convention. As in previous appeals, Hamas remained silent. Shalit was captured more than two years ago and is believed to be alive, but his condition is not known.

Al Quds Al Arabi reported that Israel is threatening to target Hamas leaders if Hamas does not change its terms for the release of Shalit.

(REKA, 8/22)

Young Bedouin wanted to carry out suicide bombings in Israel

The Beersheba District Court on Friday (22nd) indicted Khaled Abu Krak, a 23-year-old of the Tel Sheva local Bedouin council, for attempting to contact a foreign agent from the Global Jihad and al-Qaeda organizations. According to the indictment, the man tried to start a terror cell which would carry out suicide bombings in Israel.

(Ynet, 8/22)

Terror victims sue Chinese bank for funding Hamas

A group of 100 victims of terror attacks carried out by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, many of whom were wounded or lost family members in rocket attacks in Sderot, have filed a $500 million civil lawsuit against a Chinese bank in a Los Angeles court. The victims claim that the bank provides financial services to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, in violation of American law.

(Ynet, 8/22)

Hamas leader: We’ll retrieve Jerusalem only by way of Jihad

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Wednesday (20th) that the Islamist group will not accept any future agreement that does not include the return of Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley to Palestinians. Speaking at a ceremony marking 39 years since the fire at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, Haniyeh said “no one can cede Jerusalem, the city from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to the heavens.”

“Jerusalem will be retrieved to the Palestinians not through negotiations or by hugging and kissing the enemy, but by way of jihad blood, Shahids and resistance. With Allah’s help, Jerusalem will be returned,” he said.

The Hamas leader added that “the Israeli-Arabs are safeguarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque; it is as if they are inside the belly of the whale. They represent the Islamic nation. We send them our regards, especially to Sheikh Raed Salah (founder of the movement in Israel).” The Hamas chief continued to say that Israel is looking to damage Al-Aqsa and called on all Muslims to “protect Jerusalem.”

(Ynet, 8/22)

Lebanon endorses diplomatic ties with Syria - first time since the 1940s

Lebanon’s unity cabinet has formally approved diplomatic ties with Syria and the opening of a Lebanese embassy in Damascus.

Information Minister Tarek Mitri said following a Cabinet meeting late Thursday (21st) that the Lebanese foreign minister has been entrusted with following up on the mechanism to set up the embassy. He did not set a time frame.

Lebanon and Syria agreed earlier this month to establish full diplomatic ties for the first time since they gained their independence from France in the 1940s. They also agreed to negotiate the demarcation of their border – a longtime demand of the Lebanese as they seek to normalize relations with their long dominant larger neighbor. Syria controlled Lebanon for nearly 30 years until its direct hold was broken in 2005.

(Ha’Aretz, 8/22)

Canadian MP: Mahmoud Abbas purveys anti-Jewish incitement

Canadian Member of Parliament Irwin Cotler, a Liberal party representative, has stated that the Palestinian Authority, including its Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, is guilty of purveying hatred of Jews. He also lamented that the official PA incitement is being ignored by Western governments and media outlets.

MP Cotler said that Hamas, with its charter’s “genocidal objective, anti-Semitic ideology, and terrorist instrumentality,” is not alone in its incitement in the PA public sphere. “I’m talking about the Palestinian Authority,” said the Mount-Royal MP at a press conference this week. He added that the “culture of incitement” harms not only Israel but the Arabs themselves.

Cotler recently returned from a fact-finding mission to Israel, where he also met with PA officials and told them that “hate breeds hate.” “If you have a culture of incitement and hate, you are going to create a culture of hate that is pervasive in the Palestinian society itself.”

(Arutz-7, 8/22)

With Ahmadiejad’s visit – Turkey bows to the dark side – Soner Cagaptay

Last Friday (15th) I felt uncomfortable in the prayer hall of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, where I found myself next to Ahmadinejad, who turned the ritual into a political show. With permission from Turkish authorities, he allowed Iranian television to videotape him during the entire prayer, in violation of Islamic tradition. Then, as he left the mosque, Ahmadinejad got out of his car to encourage a crowd of about 300 to chant, “Death to Israel, death to America!” The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also accommodated Ahmadinejad’s refusal to pay respects at the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey – a major violation of protocol for an official visit.

By extending an invitation to Ahmadinejad, the first such move by any NATO or EU member country, Turkey has broken ranks with the West. The West can no longer take Turkey for granted as a staunch ally against Tehran. According to a recent opinion poll in Turkey, when asked what the country should do in the event of a U.S. attack against Iran, only 4% said Turkey should support the U.S., while 33% wanted to back Iran and 63% chose neutrality. The writer is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a visiting professor at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul.

(Los Angeles Times, 8/22)

Atlanta Day School vandalized

A Jewish day school in Atlanta was defaced with swastikas this week.

The graffiti was discovered Wednesday (20th) at the Epstein School the day before a planned meeting to discuss the Conservative school’s expansion WAGA television reported. The school’s request for an expansion permit has been a divisive issue and signs supporting and opposing the plan dot the Sandy Springs area, some 17 miles north of Atlanta. “Somebody is upset,” said Stan Beiner, the school head. Somebody is allowing this issue to get the better of him or her.”

(JTA, 8/22)

US Airways plans Philadelphia-Tel Aviv service

US Airways announced Tuesday (19th) plans to operate nonstop service between its Philadelphia hub and Tel Aviv, as the carrier moves to expand its international service.

The service, which is set to begin in July 2009, with the first tickets sold early next month, is in response to strong demand said Michelle Mohr, a spokeswoman for US Airways.

“What’s being cut is unprofitable flying in light of ultra high fuel costs,” she said. “With Philadelphia-to-Tel Aviv we’ve known the demand is here. We’ve talked about adding this for quite some time.”

The service is subject to approval by the US Department of Transportation and Israeli government.

(Ynet, 8/22)