Threat to Israel: Hamas: Not Partners of Peace

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                           

Hamas Terrorist in uniform

As President Obama is gearing up to start another round of peace talks between the Palestinian Arabs and Israel, let me remind him that he is trying to make peace between Israel's closest threat to her, the terrorist group of Hamas who have taken over Gaza.  The problem is that Hamas has influence over Judea and Samaria's political leader, Abbas.
                                                                           

Fatah and Hamas, on and off rivals,  joined together in 2011.  Here's Hamas' leader in Gaza,
Ismail Haniyeh right in the front row.  

They had joined together to create a Palestine, remember?
                                                                         

Hamas is a designated terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.  It is an immediate, ongoing threat to Israel and its citizens.  It would be lovely if a miracle happened after these 68 years and they decided not to follow their life time swearing of never making peace.  Indications are that they are as adamant as ever in not pursuing such a peace.  Even President Rivlin has said that now is not the time.
                                                                           

More Hamas Terrorists
Since 2007, they have started 3 wars with Israel.  

This is because the group is constructing an enormous infrastructure with which to attack Israeli communities, including a broad network of terror tunnels that are rebuilt with funds diverted from international humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.  This means that 7.6 million Israelis are now within range of about 10,000 Hamas rockets.
                                                                         

Morsi and Obama were tight.  

These terrorists founded Hamas in 1987 as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.  This is the group that had taken over Egypt temporarily with Morsi as its President who their General  Sisi finally ousted at the USA's President Obama's objections.
                                                                             

Later talks in Cairo with John Kerry.

 He was defending the Muslim Brotherhood a 2nd time, as he also showed favoritism to them when he first spoke in Cairo and wanted them in the front seats of the auditorium. At the time they were being blackballed by Egypt.  Morsi was a high-ranking Muslim Brotherhood leader. The Muslim Brotherhood is all for wiping Israel off the map and killing Jews.
                                                                         

Hamas Unit Right  on Israel's Doorstep

Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) rules the Gaza Strip and wants Israel destroyed.  Since 1987 they have murdered more than 500 Israeli civilians.  Since 2007, when the group violently overtook the Gaza Strip, it has started 3 wars with Israel.  They get money and arms from Iran, who also wants Israel destroyed; not made peace with but completely destroyed into oblivion.  There are other smaller jihadist militant organizations in Gaza.  One is the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic State called ISIS.
                                                                                 
To show their interest in peace, Hamas builds attack tunnels, so why does Obama think they will come to a peace table  and be sincere about it?  In the last war with them in 2014, Israel found and destroyed 32 Hamas tunnels which were going right into Israel from Gaza.  The Hamas terrorists' aim was to kidnap and kill Israelis.  Here they now are, 1,000 Hamas men are rebuilding the attack tunnel network, diverting materials provided by the international community to rebuild Gaza's home and civilian infrastructure for postwar progress.  The Israelis living near Gaza have reported hearing digging sounds beneath their communities.
                                                                           

Why dig tunnels?  Last year Israel prevented almost 1,000 Hamas smuggling operations to import weapons and other illicit materials into Gaza that could be used for bomb making.  The  contraband included rocket components, explosives, rocket fuel, drones and banned dual-use items.
                                                                             
 Also, scuba diving equipment was confiscated that would be used for sea attacks.  This shows that Hamas' continued investment in naval infiltration operations  are going on against Israel.

Two years ago in 2014, Hamas and Israel were at war and 4 Hamas divers attempted to perpetrate terror attacks at Israel's Zikim Beach.  Since Operation Protective Edge, Hamas has doubled the size of its naval commando force.
                                                                             

Long-range rockets hitting Israel 

Since 2001, which is only 15 years ago, terrorist groups from Gaza have fired more than 17,000 rockets into Israel.  Israel protects itself with their invention of the Iron Dome rocket defense system, but it cannot totally eliminate the threat.  Just 2 years ago, there were hundreds of rockets and mortar attacks from Gaza.  This included missiles made by using Iranian techniques and included longer-range Iranian rockets.  This forced Israel to launch another defensive operation known as OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE.    More rockets have been fired into Israel since the attack was officially stopped.
                                                                             

Hamas's leader is Ismail Haniyeh.  He would be the one Obama needs to convince that peace is important.  Yet Haniyeh is busy praising the recent violent attack of his men against Israel by his terrorists from Judea and Samaria and east Jerusalem and called for another Intifada in Judea and Samaria.   That's how he answered the EU and Obama's desires of being able to stage another peace initiative.  With WAR!  In this way he's telling Abbas that he cannot sit down to any peace talk as there will be no peace.  
                                                                               

Chart showing Palestinian activity against Israel : Hebrew goes from right to left instead of English that goes from left to right.  

Israel and the PA of Judea and Samaria, the rulers there, uncovered Hamas cells preparing violent attacks against Israeli civilians and other actions meant to destabilize Judea and Samaria.
                                                                               

PA leader, Abbas

During the 2014 summer war, Israel's internal security service stopped a Hamas coup attempt in Judea and Samaria aimed at overthrowing Abbas and instigating a new round of violence.

Israel and the PA have broken up Hezbollah and other Iranian sponsored terrorist cells in Judea and Samaria.
                                                                         

Remember, Israel is and has been the only Democratic state in the Middle East.  Israel's survival is important to the USA's national interests.  The USA has been the only one to provide annual security assistance for its self-defense against mounting threats across the region. which now includes ISIS.  There has been a 10 year Memorandum of Understanding between these 2 allies.  They also have going between them other cooperative programs including a missile defense and tunnel detection.   Israel is the creator of defense methods both in their own airport and in other ways that they share with other nations.  Right now they might even help Turkey with airport defense due to Turkey's current attack there.  One thing Israel can't do without are resources to buy weapons for protection so they can develop systems needed to respond decisively to threats from Hamas and Hezbollah and a potential nuclear armed Iran.
                                                                         

Congress has been more understanding of this need than our President may have been.  We must insure that this continues.  Israel is the child of the USA who is about to receive their PhD in 6 months after 4 years of hard studying.  We cannot stop our assistance now when Israel is so close to receiving its degree.  One doesn't walk out on their children.  The same with the state of Israel.  The USA cannot come to a point of pulling out its much needed alliance with new senators who might  not see the forest for the trees.  Israel has been self reliant.  She is  not costing the USA with American lives, just money well spent.  Of all the money spent in attacking, here is one place it's used in defense.

 If they are concerned about a difference in numbers of lives lost, another reminder is that to Israel, lives are to be defended, but to terrorist groups such as Hamas, lives are there to be used, and have little value.  That's why numbers have been so lop-sided.  Don't blame Israel for keeping their people alive under attacks.  This is a difference in the two value systems.  Israel preaches "TO LIFE" and Hamas and ISIS preach 'TO DEATH' which will get us what we want.

Resource:  AIPAC
https://electronicintifada.net/content/after-reconciliation-agreement-hamas-and-fatah-united-press-crackdown/13463
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/fatah-and-hamas-initial-accord-officials-say/2011/04/27/AFH7pxzE_story.html

East Jerusalem and the Arab's Complaints

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                          

Jerusalem being fought over

"In July 1980, the Knesset passed the Jerusalem Law as part of the country's Basic Law. The law declared Jerusalem the unified capital of Israel."

The question has been raised and an Arab spokesman has stated some different reasons why there has been rioting by the Arabs in Jerusalem in the last few weeks.  He stated that since Israel had closed off Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) in 1994, the city had served as the hub of Palestinians life.  It served their religious role as well.  All of the major Palestinian economic, social, cultural, educational, medical and service institutions were located in Jerusalem.  He said that for decades, Israel had been strangling East Jerusalem denying its Palestinian inhabitants freedom, opportunity, dignity and hope with devastating impact.

First, Israel's army had to close off Gaza and Judea-Samaria on February 27, 1994 from the rest of Israel because of a massacre of Muslim worshipers in Hebron that left scores dead.  The closure of Judea-Samaria began Sunday at 3:am for an indefinite period.  Entry of Arab residents to work in Israel was not to be permitted.  The closure on Gaza was imposed after the mosque massacre on Friday and would remain in force.

The day before this army announcement, 3 more Arabs died in disturbances. The IDF actions during and after the shooting were being questioned.  It looks like the closure was to protect Muslims.

This mosque was at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, where both Jews and Arabs visit since it is where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac are buried. The shooting was done by one man, "American-Israeli Baruch Goldstein."  

It happened "during the overlapping religious holidays of both Jewish Purim and Muslim Ramadan.  The attack left 29 people dead and 125 wounded.  Goldstein was only stopped after he was overpowered and beaten to death by survivors."   This happened 21 years ago.

Certainly people have had time to realize such things can never again happen, but no, Arabs have overstepped their bounds by recently going into a synagogue on November 18, 2014, a Tuesday in Jerusalem (not east but in the Har Nof area of West Jerusalem), and shot and killed those worshiping there including my distant shirttail relative and genealogy pal, Rabbi Abraham Goldberg of Jerusalem, 59 years old..  Also killed were 3 other Rabbis.  They were all doing their morning prayers.  2 Arabs did the attack with a gun and butcher knives.

"The terror attack -- the deadliest in Jerusalem since a man with an automatic weapon killed eight seminary students in March 2008 -- came at a particularly tense time in that city and the region at large. It follows a series of recent deadly stabbings and vehicle incidents that, while not the large-scale suicide bombings that defined last decade's second intifada or the rocket attacks from Gaza earlier this year, have left Jerusalem on edge." A police officer was also killed; 8 deaths total.  

Now, the UN has just decided that since the tomb lies in  Samaria, it shall be under Arab control.  This is something the PA asked for and got Arab nations to sponsor.  Up to now, all religions could visit the site, but now, I question what will happen.

Since 1998, "By 2012, almost every neighborhood in East Jerusalem had health clinics that included advanced medical equipment, specialized ER units, X-ray diagnostic centers and dental clinics. Israel's system of healthcare entitles all Israeli citizens and East Jerusalem residents to receive free healthcare service funded by the Israeli government. In some cases, East Jerusalem residents can get free transportation to clinics, free subscriptions to health clubs or free dental care, to ensure they do not switch to a rival health care HMO provider." 
                                                                           

East Jerusalem, Judea-Samaria barrier

Zobay is saying that Jerusalem, and he makes no distinction in his blog that he means East Jerusalem where the Arab population mainly lives, was Palestine's heart, and the flow of people in and out was its lifeblood.  He knows that until 1967 it was under Jordanian control, but by siding with the other Arab nations in the onslaught upon Israel in the 1967 Six Day War, lost the land that was Judea, Samaria, Gaza and East Jerusalem.  
                                                                              

Jews at night at the Western Wall, 2nd holy site for Jews.  1st is the site of our destroyed 2nd Temple which lies under the mosque that Jews are not allowed to be near.  

Jerusalem, the city mentioned in the bible 614 times,  became unified again under Israel in  1980. It is Israel's capital and never has been the capital of any other government.     .  Does Zobay realize that "Jews were ethnically cleansed from eastern Jerusalem when they were attacked by 5 Arab armies in 1948?  Israel has not done that to the Arabs.    Does he understand the Jewish history and it's connection to Jerusalem in that it had been the capital of Israel for 1,700 years before the Arab conquest after 632?  Does he understand that the name, Jerusalem, is never mentioned in the Koran?  The importance of Jerusalem to  Muslims is the Temple Mount which is in East Jerusalem, which is the Old City, the site of our Jewish 2nd Temple which lays under their mosque and just happens to be our most holy site.
                                                                              

Arab firebombing in Jerusalem

Now, if I were a Muslim and were living in East Jerusalem and wanted to keep the conditions as they stand with Jordan presiding over the Temple Mount because of the good nature of Moshe Dayan at the end of the war of 1967, the Israeli General who allowed this to happen, I would do my darndest to get along with the Israeli society.  

Look at what Hamas as done along with Fatah; 2 Intifadas and now their murdering and stabbings may be starting a 3rd.  Even a few Arab doctors were stabbing Jewish patients.  

Israel has included Arabs to serve in the Knesset.  For every complaint they have, I can prove that they brought on adverse conditions upon themselves because of their acts.  "Without Israeli security control that exists today, Jerusalem would descend into chaos, with rival militias battling each other like in the Gaza Strip. "  Hamas and Fatah fight each other more than they make plans for their people.  They fight for power.  

When an Arab kills a Jew, the PA names a street or park after them.  Children are taught in school that the land belongs to Arabs, not the Jews with maps to reflect this lie.  Nothing they do helps to unify or bring about peace between the 2 peoples.  Their results are the riots they want.  After all, when an Arab man dies, his reward in battle such as this is 72 virgins.  Jews have no such thing in their religion.  Peace is to their advantage.  To save even one life is what they strive for since they feel it saves the world.  No, a Jew is not looking to be a martyr, but to do good deeds that save lives, not takes them.  

Zobgy tells people that Israel confiscated 1/3 of Palestinian-owned land around Jerusalem to build Jewish only  colonies and highways connecting them to Israel.  

The rules of the end of 1967 showed areas A, B, and C.  "Since Judea and Samaria were never officially annexed by the Israeli government, the IDF Civil Administration has jurisdiction over the districts today. "" The communities that Israel built in Gaza and Judea and Samaria were in undeveloped, uninhabited areas and are entirely legal.  Palestinians have legitimate claims to sovereignty over some of the land..  Many are longtime inhabitants who feel they have been deprived of political rights and self-determination.  Israel disputes their territorial claims and Israel also has strong claims to the land."  

"Since 1993, the regions have been divided into areas A, B, and C.  

Area A was assigned to the Palestinian Authority where most of the Arab residents live. According to many estimates, 1.5 million Arabs live in the region.  Accurate statistics have been difficult to obtain with claims that Arab demographics have been artificially inflated.   Area B is under joint control and has large tracts of barren land.  Israel has full control of Area C where most of the over 340,000 Jewish residents live. "

"In 1948 the Latrun section of the highway was taken over by Jordan" until  the end of the 1967 war.  "In 1978 a new section opened, connecting former Road 10 (the Tel Aviv – Ben Gurion Airport road) with Sha'ar HaGai. The new section formed the third freeway in the country, after Highways 2 and 4." 

My summary of all of Zobgy's complaints and blame is that he sees only Palestinian vicimization, and the deeper story that he doesn't know about, being he resides in the USA, is how these young people have been raised to be what they are, ready to stab Jews at the first instigation from Abbas or others, and that's just what has happened.  Since Abbas cannot make peace with Israel without being in trouble with Hamas, because he had unified with them and their goal is the same, and he hasn't coaxed Israel into a blanket acceptance of a Palestinian state without controls, he instigates.  He's 80 years old, but doesn't really care about the lives of his people, only his reputation and standing. From one side of his mouth he instigates attacks while with the other side of his mouth he says, oh, stop, how terrible!  The fact of the matter is that Zobgy and other Palestinians have not been given the real facts, but a made up version that the Palestinians want their people to abide to.  We're not all on the same page.

"The international community should strongly condemn Abbas’ incitement and call on the PA president to cease this encouragement of violence and terrorism. The inflammatory language and actions must cease so that calm can return to Jerusalem and its Temple Mount in particular. - See more at: below under references.  

The international community remains deaf and dumb to whatever Abbas does and says.  

" Abbas added fuel to the flames by proclaiming: “The Muslim and Christian world will never accept Israeli claims that Jerusalem is theirs. Jerusalem is our capital and we will never give this up; Jerusalem that was occupied in 1967 is our Jerusalem. We will safeguard and protect our holy places.”  He doesn't give into the facts of life.  The Arabs still think that the land is all Palestine and under the Ottoman Empire.   His attitude did win over UNESCO, though, who gave him the Cave of the Patriarchs to police.  Evidently it was easier to give into his screaming instead of rationally weighing evidence.  


Resource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/strangling-jerusalem_b_8367818.html, author of Arab Voices, President of Arab Americans
 http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-02-27/news/1994058004_1_hebron-west-bank-israel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Jerusalem
http://www.algemeiner.com/2011/05/17/12-reasons-why-jerusalem-must-remain-under-israeli-control/
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Patriarchs_massacre
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Rabbi+Goldberg%2C+others+in+Jerusalem+synagogue%2C+attacked+and+murdered
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Jerusalem_synagogue_attack
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_1_(Israel)
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-about-israels-administered-areas.html
http://unitedwithisrael.org/jerusalem-will-be-palestinian-pa-chair-abbas-vows/
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/269902/behind-the-headlines-the-situation-in-jerusalem.html
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/269902/behind-the-headlines-the-situation-in-jerusalem.html#sthash.X5hOMrik.dpuf "