DIRECT LINK TO TODAY'S ARTICLES, IHC EDITORIALS AND RECENT ARTICLES

(Wednesday, May 14, 2008) 1. In the peace process Palestinians have nothing to lose but Israel has everything to lose. 2. Hizbullah has received 35 speed boats from Iran. These are suicidal speed boats. 3. The main problem with Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign is the kind of people who surround him. 4. US knows that the only way to wipe out al-Qaida in Iraq is to level their bases. 5. While many want to assist the stricken people of Myanamar (Burma), the military government there is placing obstacles. (Scroll down to read the full stories under “Today’s Overviews...”)

Will Hizbullah’s bullying the legitimate Lebanese government and Hizbullah receiving 35 high-powered speed boats from Iran finally knock some common sense into many international diplomats who exhibit difficulty seeing the obvious? (See: “Hizbullah’s Violence Splits Arab World, Exposes Iranian/Arab Rift”)

How much pressure will be exerted by President Bush on PM Olmert who should have stepped down, at least temporarily, in view of serious police investigations. (See: “Bush to Celebrate Israel, Mark Contours of “Palestine” by End of Term”)

Should Israel’s national representative who is under serious police investigation have the right to speak and make commitments to President Bush? (See: “Rabbis to Bush: Meeting Scandalous Olmert is “Unbecoming” of a President”)

The struggles of the Jewish nation have captured the imagination of people world over ever since Biblical times. Against the backdrop of violence and bloodshed, Israel has emerged from the ashes and continues to flourish in spite of ominous predictions and continuous threats of annihilation. (See: “Israel: The Gateway of Hope”)

Are Muslim donors controlling the syllabus of some of Britain’s top universities? (See: “Islamist Money Buying Clout in British Academia”)

Will tapping in to Israel’s potential for advanced water recycling ensure that drought-induced food shortages are a thing of the past? (See: “Israeli Water Companies Take on World Market”)

It is up to the Palestinians to prove themselves now that they will be running their own territory. (See: “Israel Transfers Northern West Bank Responsibilities to Palestinians”)


***SEE NEW WEEKEND ROUND UP of selected articles for week
ended 7 May 2008. To locate this, scroll down to box titled
“Index to Direct Links.” In addition, at top of Home Page check icon “New
Postings” for all articles published over the last couple of weeks.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Will the West watch passively while the democratic state of Lebanon slowly falls to the Iranian-backed proxy Hizbullah, which in effect means falling into the Iranian orbit and causing an increased threat to all countries located on the eastern Meditteranean?

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

The Israel Hasbara Committee takes this opportunity to welcome President George W. Bush, President of the United States, and his entire entourage to the State of Israel. We hope it will be a memorable and pleasant visit for him and that after he leaves the presidency, he will again return to visit the State of Israel where he will always be welcome.

GEORGE STEADFAST IS CONFUSED

George is confused about the long term water planning of Israel or lack thereof. From the beginning of time Israel has been situated in a region where there is little rainful with the exception of a few small areas. Only Israeli ingenuity has assisted to make a barren land bloom by using: water recycling, the drip system and now water desalinization plants. But with an increasing population and increased use of water, this is still inadequate. George asks, "Are there any other plans or ideas to increase the actual supply of fresh water?"

(George Steadfast is an Israel Hasbara Committee member and charter member of the Flat Earth Society established 1500.)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

HEADLINE NEWS Two rockets - possibly Grad Katyushas - have hit a building in a shopping center in the city of Ashkelon. Initial reports are that parts of the building collapsed, that four people are trapped inside, and that three people have been seriously hurt.

The shopping center is located in the southern area of the port city.

Ashkelon, Israel's 13th largest city with nearly 110,000 people, has come into range of Gaza's rockets over the past year and a half. Many of the rockets have landed very near the Rotenberg Power Plant, Israel's second-largest electric station, which supplies about a quarter of Israel’s electricity. (Source: INN)

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Hasbara Committee.

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Today's IHC Articles

• Israel Transfers Northern West Bank Responsibilities to Palestinians
  
  By Britain Israel Communications Research Center (BICOM)

  [PEACE PROCESS] Whereas Israel is fulfilling her side of the agreement, we can only hope and pray that the Palestinians will keep theirs and that this latest removal of roadblocks and easing of restrictions does not lead to more bloodshed. Read more.

• Hizbullah's Violence Splits Arab World, Exposes Iranian/Arab Rift
  
  By Amihai Zippor

  ([ARAB AFFAIRS] IHC News Analysis, 14 May 2008) Destruction of the secret Syrian nuclear reactor by Israel last fall clearly shows Arab states are not on the same page regarding Iran. With Hizbullah's violent attempted coup in Lebanon the divisions are growing increasingly apparent. Read more.

• Bush to Celebrate Israel, Mark Contours of "Palestine" by End of Term
  
  By Amihai Zippor

  ([ISRAEL] IHC News Analysis, 14 May 2008) Palestinians are not happy with US President Bush taking part in Israel's 60th anniversary. They also disagree with his policy that Israel's final borders may include land the Jewish state liberated from Jordan in June 1967. As a result PA leaders are angry and say a peace agreement will have to wait until the next US administration. Read more.

• Today's Overview of Leading News & Views - 14 May 2008
  
  

  ([ISRAEL/INTERNATIONAL] IHC News, 14 May 2008 ) Hizbullah terrorist group takes delivery of 35 fast speedboats for use with explosives from Iran. The craft pose a danger to the US Sixth Fleet and Israel Navy shipping close to Lebanese shores. They can reach Israel's Haifa and Ashdod Mediterranean ports and raid its coastal oil installations. Will Hamas eventually be receiving the same? Read more.

• Rabbis to Bush: Meeting Scandalous Olmert is "Unbecoming" of a President
  
  By Amihai Zippor

  ([ISRAEL] IHC News Analysis, 14 May 2008) Bush is the first US president to indicate there will not be a full Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders in a final peace deal with the Palestinians. While this is a milestone in US/Israeli relations anything close to those contours still means a major security risk for Israel's population centers. Read more.

• Israel: The Gateway of Hop
  
  By Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

  In his inimitable way, British Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks celebrates the State of Israel's 60th anniversary with a thought provoking and informative article that addresses the struggle to regain Jewish sovereignty over the Land of Israel. He asserts that both Jews and Arabs have a right to live in peace but for co-existence to be viable, promises must be kept and UN resolutions must be adhered to. Read more.

• Islamist Money Buying Clout in British Academia
  
  By David J. Rusin

  Islamic indoctrination is heading towards Western universities at a very quick pace. Muslim sponsorship of some of Britain's and the US' most famed educational institutions means that extremist ideas are bound to be promoted on campus, especially as donors have specified that funds be used for the advancement of Islamic studies. Read more.

• Israeli Water Companies Take on World Market
  
  By Reuters

  Always at the cutting-edge of technology, it is hardly surprising that Israeli scientists have come up with an extremely advanced water purification system. To many, the challenge of turning arid desert into blooming fields is simply insurmountable yet Israeli brainpower and creativity have succeeded in transforming much of Israel's south, once bare expanses of sand dunes. Read more.

• Thoughts on Parshat Behar
  
  By Menachem Persoff

  In this week's parsha, Hashem gives the Children of Israel clear instructions concerning the commandments of "Shmitta" and "Yovel". These laws are both complicated and restricting therefore the Torah warns the Jews twice to be extra cautious and to conduct their business matters with honesty and without prejudice towards one another. Read more.

IHC EDITORIALS

• The Communication of Ideas
  
  By Anthony David Marks

  (IHC Editorial, 1 April 2008) Often it is not apparent to many that they must bear in mind the greater picture of what is being communicated. It is all too easy to become mired in details and develop tunnel vision. It is easy to lose one’s way. This article should help one appreciate the depth aspect of communication. It is especially relevant in Israel’s case. Read more.

• Can Israel's Prime Minister Olmert Survive?
  
  By Anthony David Marks

  ([ISRAEL] IHC News Editorial, 11 May 2008) Once again, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is in the news but not about discharging his duties. Again it concerns irregularities that are considered sufficiently serious as to force him to resign. It is not possible for anyone to devote his full energies to running the country under these trying conditions. How long will this untenable situation last? Read more.

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