Author: venturatreker

Israelis shot attempting to enter holy site

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The fighting is seemingly endless and without any reason.  Seven hours ago, in Israel, the Palestinian Authority opened fire on three civilian vehicles heading towards the tomb of Joseph near Nablus.  three men were wounded and one, Ben-Joseph Livnat, a 25-year-old father of four and nephew of Culture and Science Minister Limor Livnat, was killed.

This holy site is controlled by the PA and Israeli citizen are only allowed to visit once a month, yet there is still no justification for murder.  The vehicles were not driving suspiciously or disobeying the law.

The official statement from the PA is that the soldiers fired into the air as a warning, and then just happened to fire automatic rifles into three cars full of people.  The victims were not soldiers, they were ultra orthodox pilgrims, on a peaceful pilgrimage to pray. Ben Joseph Livnat was a simple religious man, and he was killed for following his religion.

Breaking Point

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Following the indiscriminate shooting of three vehicles full of Israeli worshippers,  Israel is in uproar:

The Culture Minister Limor Livnat, aunt of Ben Joseph Livnat claims: “My nephew was killed by a terrorist disguised as a Palestinian policeman”.

The Yesha Council of Settlements,  a council comprised of members from settlements across the west bank: “Israel cannot let this murder pass silently”.

Ehud Barak, the most highly decorated Israeli soldier, and now the defense minister, said:  “No problem of coordination can justify an incident like this and the shooting of innocent people.” Barak has also ordered the army to begin a full investigation into the incident, calling it no less then murder.

With nerves pushed so thin already by Hamas continued attacks in Gaza, an escalation like this in the West Bank will only increase tension, and require the IDF to place more units in the region aggravating the palestinian residents.  For the settlers, this was just an open invitation to attack.  Hours following the shooting a group of Israeli teenagers attacked a nearby arab village and broke windows, torched cars and injured one arab child.

Weekends?

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So for almost every teenager, the weekend is a time of rest and recuperation from the stress of school.

But my weekends never seem to end with me feeling refreshed and ready for school.  I’m always so busy on the weekends hanging out with friends and going out.  The reason my weekends always feel so jam-packed is because of the time commitment OVS attempts to put on their day students.

Now, understand that I have successfully circumvented the rules and actually get out of school earlier, AND don’t have to play a sport or fitness.  But for the other Day students that are forced to be around at OVS for agonizing hours on end, they have absolutely no time. When I played soccer, some nights I would not get home until seven o’clock!  So the reason why I believe that weekends leave OVS students more tired then refreshed is simply because of the long hours put onto the students.

A Double Standard

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BREAKING NEWS: A family in Texas was massacred in their sleep. A bomb hits bus #74 outside D.C. convention center injuring dozens and killing at least one. More than  50 rockets and missiles continue falling in Fairfax, Virginia.

If this were what you read in the newspaper today, you would panic.  You would demand those responsible be brought to swift justice. And when the “bad guys” are killed and airplanes are flying bombing runs, you will say it is deserved and right.

Now what if I told you all these things happened in Israel?  Your response most likely would be along the lines of “it doesn’t concern me, its not my problem.”

But when Israel responds with airplanes and tanks, the world cries out injustice.  How can a world that claims to be democratic and fair hold Israel to a double standard.  the world calls Israel’s actions unjust.  The true injustice is that a world that condemns terrorism and the killing of innocence will so quickly jump to the defense of those they have vowed to stop.  Since the creation of the State, Israel has fought for recognition. Israel is recognized by the United Nations, therefore giving it equal standing and rights in the World Court. Yet still Israel is held to a double standard.

The Fogel Family

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Over the weekend, Israel experienced a heavy blow.  An entire family was brutally murdered in their sleep by a Palestinian in the settlement of Itamar near Nablus.  Both parents Udi and Ruth were stabbed in their bed, the killer then slashed the throat of 11-year-old Yoav, knifed 3-year-old Elad in the heart, and slit the throat of their three-month-old baby, Hadas.

At present the Al Aqsa martyrs brigade, the military wing of Fatah has taken credit for the attack.  Nothing though is conclusive yet because Al Aqsa frequently takes credit for acts they did not actually commit to strengthen their own popularity.  Prime Minister Netanyahu has started a huge military operation to hunt down the man responsible.  The IDF has already arrested twenty people.  We can only hope that the perpetrator for this heinous crime be caught.

Budget Day

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On February 14th, for many Americans, it was a day of love and spending time with that special someone, but to Washington DC, it was day of money, petitions, and vetoes.

At around noon on Monday, President Barrack Obama released his Draft of the 2012 Budget.  Speaking to a Legislative Assistant to California Senator Dianne Feinstein, he commented that the draft was about 15” thick.  Later this week the Draft will go through Congress for revision.

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Currently the 2011 fiscal year budget plan, is the continuation of 2010’s.  When the budget can not be finalized by the start of a fiscal year (November)  the previous years budget plan is continued into the next fiscal year.

Senator Barbara Boxer, our own California representative, released the following statement on President Obama’s Budget:“While I may not agree with everything in it, the President’s budget reflects the need to cut the deficit in a responsible way.”

What our Senator does support fully is Obama’s increased funding to transportation which will help maintain and create millions of much-needed jobs.  The 2012 Budget Plan has a great possibility of going through.  This would greatly help Obama to first off, reduce the overall budget, and allow him to better concentrate funds on Health Care and Transportation.

Egypt’s potential to become Islamic State

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With protests becoming more violent and the growing popularity of the Islamic brotherhood, Egypt is beginning to look a lot like 1979 Iran.

For Israel and the world as a whole this can only spell disaster.  One Islamic state is enough.  If Egypt were to become an Islamic state, Israel would be the most directly infected.

To start, Israel and Egypt have maintained a cold peace for over thirty years.  If Mubarak is overthrown, and the Islamic brotherhood takes power, not only would they not recognize Israel as a legitimate state, but also they would begin to openly fund Hamas in the Gaza strip, and at the least Israel would face a repeat in 2005 when over 10,000 Kasam rockets fell in Israeli towns and cities.

Putting Israel aside and looking at the interests of the US, pre 1979 Iran was a powerful ally ruled by the Shah who welcomed in western ideas.  Now Iran is not only one of the most oppressed and human rights void country in the world but also the most likely country the US will go to war with next.

Iran is a threat to the entire world, and Egypt is well on its way to stand beside its brother Arab country.  Yes, Mubarak is a dictator, but what Arab countries leader is not.  Is not the continued oppression of a small number of people better the rise of yet another Islamic state that threatens world peace?