In Israel, everyone is equal in the eyes of the law
Israel is still reeling from the news that former President Moshe Katzav has been found guilty on two counts of rape and sexual assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that today marked a “sad day for the State of Israel and its residents.”
But the Prime Minister also made a point that is well worth making: the verdict proves that in Israel — unlike so many other places in the Middle East — even high officials are held accountable for their actions. Opposition leader and Kadima Chair Tzipi Livni echoed Netanyahu’s remarks, and added that the ruling carries an important message to woman victimized by such attacks: “The court’s decision conveys a clear message with regard to public officials, but more importantly, it conveys a message to the victims. In these difficult times for Israeli society, the message should strengthen the weak in society: women and anyone who is victimized.”
Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch added: “This is a sad day, but this is a day demonstrating more than anything what it means to be equal before the law.” It is this commitment to equality, upheld by rule of law, that makes Israel a beacon of democracy in a part of the world where democracy is scarce to nonexistent.
Comments (0) »Thursday, December 30th, 2010 at 1:13 PM | David Kuner
Israel’s desert — and ocean — is blooming
Up until Israel’s establishment in 1948 many believed that the Holy Land held no natural resources. Oil and gas deposits were still undiscovered, and even water sources were — and continue to be — sparse.
When Jews began streaming into Israel after the country’s founding, they quickly got to work dealing with the scarcity of resources. God promised the Jewish people in the Bible that when they settled the Holy Land the desert would bloom, and, thanks to innovative methods of irrigation and other scientific wonders developed by Israelis, that is exactly what happened. Previously barren desert was, and continues to be, transformed into forests and fertile land filled with fruits, vegetables, and other crops planted by Jewish farmers.
Now we see that God’s promise is broader than we thought – God has made the ocean bloom as well and provided the Jewish people with a rich supply of natural gas. For the first time in the Jewish state’s history, Israel might finally become a real competitor in the Middle East for exporting this modern gem of natural gas. God indeed keeps his promises and will always provide for His nation of Israel!
Comments (10) »Thursday, December 30th, 2010 at 12:32 PM | Amichai Farkas
Iran hangs man convicted of spying for Israel
Iran recently hung one of seven spies convicted of supplying Israel with secrets on Iran’s nuclear programs, and the regime’s courts sentenced another suspect to death by hanging for “counter-revolutionary activities.” According the French news agency AFP Iran has carried out 171 death sentences over the last year for a wide range of crimes like drug dealing, rape, adultery, and anti-revolutionary activities.
It appears that the death sentences were a response to Iran’s frustration over the sabotage inflicted on their nuclear program. Iran’s drive towards a nuclear bomb has been severely damaged by factors including the stuxnet virus – which is said to have set Iran’s nuclear program back by two years – as well the assassination of two senior Iranian nuclear scientists. No one has taken credit for these attacks but Iran has laid the blame on Israel.
Comments (2) »Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 at 2:32 PM | Amichai Farkas
121 injured in Israel train fire
A fire broke out on a commuter train in northern Israel on Tuesday morning. The fire was caused by an electrical short in the rear engine. 121 passengers suffered mild to light injury. Four fire fighting units and many MDA units rushed to the scene to help contain the situation.
Thank God that paramedics were able to treat most of the passengers on the spot. While Israel is still recovering from the shock of the Carmel fire which left 43 dead, Tuesday’s incident was reported with a deep sense of relief from the entire country that no one was fatally injured.
Comments (0) »Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 at 9:16 AM | Amichai Farkas
Lieberman: No apologies to Turkey
Speaking at a conference for ambassadors, Israeli foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had some harsh words for Turkey and the Palestinian Authority. Lieberman refused Turkey’s demand for Israel to apologize for the Gaza flotilla incident, which left nine Turkish citizens dead, and instead demanded that Turkey apologize for its support of terrorist groups and its ongoing incitement against the Jewish state.
As for the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Lieberman stated that he does not believe that peace will be achieved in the near future, and that Israel has a plan set in place to deal with the conflict once the current talks break down. He went on to say that no matter what Israel will offer the Palestinians they will never accept a peace accord with Israel.
Lieberman is known for his often candid speech — he routinely makes headlines for his strong rhetoric against Israel’s foes in the Middle East. Oddly enough, his style of being blunt — and sometimes even rude — probably helped get him elected. Israeli’s have tired of the usual rhetoric of appeasement towards their enemies and preferred Lieberman’s off-the-cuff political style.
Comments (6) »Monday, December 27th, 2010 at 7:58 AM | Amichai Farkas
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