Prime Minister Natanyahu visited Poland last week, not only to meet Polish government high officials, but also for the opening of Block 27 at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State museum
This Block in the terrible World War II death camp has recently been renovated by the Israeli “Yad Vashem” holocaust museum. The 1,000 square meter exhibition in the two floor block consists of several spaces, each dedicated to a different part of the Holocaust, including one devoted to the 1.5 million children who were killed. The exhibition also includes a 2 meter high “Book of Names” that lists the names compiled by Yad Vashem of 4.2 million Jews murdered by the Nazis. The book includes empty pages at the end for additional names, as Yad Vashem continues collecting the names of victims. (not all are known). Natanyahu said” We will never be helpless again. The State of Israel will do whatever is necessary to prevent another Holocaust. We must not be complacent in the face of threats of annihilation (Iran and many Muslim groups are threatening Israel), and can not wait for others to do the work for us”.
Presidential elections took place in Iran and Hasan Rohani , the most moderate and liberal candidate won by over 50% of the votes. He said he was willing to speak to Western countries, but has not mentioned stopping the development of nuclear power. That evidently is up to the Prime Minister there.
Our neighbouring country Egypt may go to war – this time not with Israel, but with Ethiopia. Evidently Ethiopia is building, or intends to build a giant dam across the river Nile in Addis Ababa, and this will surely reduce the flow of the river when it arrives in Egypt. Egyptian President Morsi said that he understood the need for development in poorer nations but said Egypt would not accept any water reduction in the river Nile. “Egypt does not want war with Ethiopia, but will keep all options open.
I have mentioned before that Israel has been treating some wounded Syrians in our hospitals, but now we even had one sent directly by a Syrian doctor, with a handwritten note attached to the clothing of a Syrian man in critical condition. The note began with the words “Hello distinguished surgeon” and gave details about a gunshot wound in the chest, shrapnel damage, heavy abdominal bleeding and more. He ended with the words,”Please do what is necessary and thanks in advance.” Of course the patient is getting the best medical care. But will Syria ever be willing to make peace with Israel?
Our President Shimon Peres is celebrating his 90th birthday these days, and even ex-president Bill Clinton is here to be with him. In a speech Clinton joked about Peres, calling him a
visionary who looked into the future (a better one ) but had also promised him to come and celebrate his , Clinton’s) 90th birthday with him.
Enough for today. Shalom from Irene
Posted in Observations
Last week Austria announced that they would be evacuating their UN peacekeepers from the Golan Heights on the Syrian side of the border, evidently because of the regional tension there and fighting between Syrian troops and and the so-called “rebels” near the Kuneitra crossing. The 1.000 strong United Nations Disengagement Observer Force has been monitoring this border for the last 40 years and the UN secretary hopes other countries won’t follow Austria in this.
Syria now accuses Israel of siding with the “rebels” especially as we have received some of their wounded in our hospitals. They are threatening us, and Prime Minister Natanyahu has replied that we will not sit by peacefully if attacked.In another few days elections for president will take place in Iran, but whoever wins, it looks as if all their candidates have the same view concerning nuclear power building and will go on with that as we say “full steam ahead”. That also means that all the sanctions put on Iran are so far not stopping them from trying to make a nuclear bomb.In Israel there are some difficulties with the ultra-religious groups, who object to the new government plan of taking their young men into military service. There have been violent demonstrations, mostly in Jerusalem and Bnei-Brak, even with arrests made by the police. And now we hear that even in New York, the ultra-religious Jews were demonstrating in favour of our Israeli ones. The ones here only want to spend all their time studying religious subjects, very few even go out to work and they live on donations, (government funds too).That will be all for today. Shalom from Irene
Posted in Observations
Due to economic difficulties, prices are going up in Israel, and of course many are complaining, especially because the VAT (value-added tax) rose from 17% to 18% at the beginning of the week. which will affect the lower and medium income groups more than others. Petrol has also gone up in price, and many industries, even the military have to lessen their expenditure.In Syria the fighting continues, Assad’s forces have been joined by the Hezbollah organization and are also helped by Iran, and being sent weapons by Russia. Who knows what the outcome will be? It seems that the Muslim Sunnis and the Muslim Shiites (different sects in their religion) are not exactly on the best of terms. And in Turkey there is also much unrest, with many violent demonstration, the police using gas to put them down.Israel has put up a temporary hospital near the Syrian border, which is to be used for humanitarian purposes for their wounded, but we have made it clear we will not accept Syrian refugees, who so far have found safety in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.Today we heard that about 500 Arab teachers will be employed in Jewish schools here for teaching mathematics, sciences, English and Hebrew in the near future – so far they have only been teaching in their own schools. This will make for better assimilation.Around a million Jews came to Israel after its establishment, from Arab and Muslim countries, being forced to leave all their property behind. Now those still alive are being asked to tell (and write) their history, how it was to live in their former countries and such – their history should not be forgotten.Enough for today. Shalom from Irene
Posted in Observations
U.S. Secretary Kerry held a meeting in Amman (Jordan) with Israeli Minister Livni and the Palestinian Authority leader Abbas to try and form a peace plan. I doubt if anything will come of these talks because Abbas has often spoken against the existence of a Jewish State. I quote him here :”We will never recognize a Jewish state and there will be no Jews allowed in a Palestinian State.” And now to top it all, Hussein Fayad, one of the commanders of the terror group which carried out the 1978 Costal Road massacre, which led to the killing of 38 Israeli civilians, including 13 children, revealed on Tuesday that Abbas has appointed him as one of his advisors. Fayad had been released in a prisoner swap with Israel in 1985.
And concerning terrorist organizations, Germany and France have at last joined Britain in recognizing the Hezbollah group as a terrorist organization (which they really are!!).
There has been an attempted Cyber attack on Israel, (apparently from Syria?) especially on water installations in Haifa, luckily it was unsuccessful.
This last Monday the Home Guard here started making exercises for possible fighting in the future, and these included letting air raid sirens being heard all over the country, to let people come into shelters and such, especially schools, hospitals, public buildings and such – a one minute one siren in the morning, and one in the evening.With these lines I close today’s blog. Shalom from Irene
Posted in possible peace talks???