| So why is Gaza running out of fuel? Because of Hamas' stupidity! Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:31 PM PST As a follow-up to my post earlier about Gaza's latest fuel crisis, where I pointed out that Gaza has refused diesel fuel from Israel for a bit over a year, I did a little research on why Gaza does have a shortage. The answer is that it is all because of their own stubbornness combined with problems with their good friends, the Egyptians. There have been big clashes in the Sinai between the Bedouin and the Egyptian security forces - today some 18 policemen were kidnapped. The disagreements are over the smuggling of goods (and people) to Israel and Gaza. Egypt is trying to curb illegal smuggling and sometimes they kill the smugglers. Meanwhile, as I've reported, northern Egypt is suffering its own fuel crisis - mostly for butane used by consumers and especially the cylinders they are stored in. Residents are rioting and upset. So Egyptian security is cracking down on smuggling to Gaza, and it looks like their efforts are affecting the power plant fuel as well. Because, believe it or not, when Hamas decided they don't need fuel from Israel any more, they were not relying on a steady supply of diesel from Egypt being sent in trucks through Rafah - but illegally smuggled diesel going through makeshift pipes underground! Putting all this together, Hamas has created this crisis because of its hate for Israel - a country more than willing to supply Gaza with fuel at market rates. Meanwhile, Egypt's ambassador to the PA says that Egypt will do what it can to ease the crisis - but it will not tolerate smuggling. Egypt's plan, as I have previously reported, is to hook Gaza up to its own power grid. That will take some time. Meanwhile, there is no easy way to get fuel to Gaza - except through Israel. It is not inconceivable that Hamas is hoping to take advantage of this crisis to plunge Gaza into darkness and create pathos-laden wire service photos of poor people with candles illuminating homes and hospitals. They have already used that playbook when they created an artificial shortage of flour just to get the media to show the poor Gazans standing in line for bread. (h/t G) 
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| Hamas' Haniyeh to visit Iran Posted: 09 Feb 2012 01:00 PM PST The Hamas prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, is on Friday to make a visit to Iran, which is celebrating the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian government officials said.
The Palestinian leader was to be received by Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, the officials said, without giving other details or the duration of the visit.
Media said Haniya would hold talks with Iranian officials and receive an honorary degree from Tehran University.
But sources close to Haniya, currently on a tour of Arab states in the Gulf, could not confirm the visit, which the Palestinian daily Al-Quds said leaders in the Gulf were urging him to call off because of their strained ties with Tehran. I wonder what the honorary degree will be in. Murder? Terror? Extortion? Ruthlessness? Haniyeh's visit coincides with Iran's celebrations of the anniversary of the revolutionaries declaring victory over the Shah. His current tour includes Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. I imagine he'll be returning with a suitcase full of cash. If it is in Iranian rials, he'd better spend it quickly. 
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| Interesting reactions to Madonna's upcoming Tel Aviv concert Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:45 AM PST Right after the Super Bowl, Madonna announced that she is kicking off her next tour in Israel: Pop icon Madonna will launch her upcoming world tour in Israel, her Israeli show producer, Shuki Weiss, announced Tuesday.
The tour for Madonna's new album, MDNA, will set off on May 31 at Ramat Gan Stadium.
Unlike her last two concerts in Israel, where general admission cost NIS 490 per ticket, most audience members will pay between NIS 240 and 490 for the MDNA concert. Like last year, VIP entrance will cost between NIS 1,500 and NIS 2,500.
On Sunday night, the 53-year-old singer crazed Super Bowl audiences with her half time show, where she performed the songs, "Vogue", "Like a Prayer", "Music" and "Give Me All Your Lovin'" – from MDNA, which is set to be released in March.
According to numbers released by NBC Sports on Monday, Madonna's performance was the most-watched Super Bowl half time show featuring entertainment on record - and actually edged out the game's averages in both ratings and total viewers.
This will be the fourth performance by the Queen of Pop in Israel. Her first show was in 1993, and in her last world tour, "Sticky & Sweet", Madonna brought her mix of provocative music and spirituality to the Holy Land with two concerts in 2009.
Madonna also visited Israel in 2004 and 2007 on private pilgrimages, along with other Kabbalah devotees. She's been dabbling in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, for more than a decade and has taken on a Hebrew name, Esther.
The Material Girl will arrive in Israel two weeks before the concert, accompanied by an entourage of more than 300 people, to carry out intensive lastminute rehearsals. While she will visit certain sites and take advantage of being in Israel, Weiss explained that Madonna is taking the show seriously and plans to spend most of her time preparing for the big event.
"It isn't even a regular visit anymore when she comes," the local producer said. "It's as if she is the process of making aliya." What does the BDS movement say? Their protests seem, well, desultory. LondonBDS' Facebook page only has a couple of comments on the story. The number of foul-mouthed complainers on her web page is also minimal. It seems that since she spends so much time in Israel anyway, they've given up. A completely different reaction is reported by AAP: "Please don't stop the music!"
That's the plea of one Israeli fan of Madonna who has set up a Facebook group calling for Israel to delay until after the diva performs here in May what some fear will be an attack on Iran.
"Bibi! No war with Iran until after Madonna's performance on May 29," the anonymous enthusiast pleads in Hebrew in the newly created group, using a popular nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (I couldn't find that Facebook page. It still amazes me that any bozo that puts up a Facebook page can gain news coverage.) Anyway, BDSers have their work cut out for them this year. I wanted to get a list of acts going to Israel thsi year, but "Australians for Palestine" already did an even better list of concerts in Israel planned (or maybe rumored) for this year. Thanks, guys! Kenny Barron (Jazz piano, Philadelphia) is scheduled to play in Tel Aviv on 13 January
Janis Ian - 20 January (could be hopeless. she celebrates her Jewishness, and she's posted this: "Third Israel show added! How fantastic is this?! Sold out beyond belief")
The Uri Caine Ensemble [USA] is scheduled for January 19 in Eilat Harbor.
The Karl Seglem Quintet is scheduled for January 20 in Eilat Harbor.
Bad Plus [Minneapolis, USA] is scheduled for January 20 in Eilat Harbor.
Anonymous 4 is scheduled for January 20 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Kora Jazz Band is scheduled for January 21 in Eilat Harbor.
Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones are scheduled for January 21 in Eilat Harbor.
Arch Enemy is scheduled for January 24 at the Barbie Club in Tel Aviv.
Ana Moura [Portugal] is scheduled for January 27 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
James Blake [UK] is scheduled for January 27 at the Block Club in Tel Aviv.
K's Choice (Belgium) – 23 January (again, they played here last year, and could be supporters of Israel)
Oran Etkin is scheduled for February 24 at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival.
Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares (choir) is scheduled for February 24 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
The Kit Downes Sextet is scheduled to tour israel from February 26-march 1.
Oli Mustonen is scheduled for March 17 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Justin Bieber is scheduled for April 14 in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv.
The Jasmine Vardimon Dance Company (UK) is scheduled for May 24-25 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Michel Tabachnik is scheduled for May 27 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Alexandra Soumm is scheduled for May 27 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Madonna is expected to perform on May 31 in Tel Aviv.
Bruce Springsteen is scheduled for June at Ramat Gan Stadium.
Marty Ehrlich is scheduled for June 1 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Drew Gress is scheduled for June 1 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Roberto Dani is scheduled for June 1 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Momix Dance Company is scheduled for June 6-9 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (based in London) is scheduled for June 7th-12th in the magical setting of Masada.
The Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan is scheduled for June 13-16 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Andreas Staier and Alexander Melnikov are scheduled for July 4 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Kynan Johns is scheduled for July 24 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Peter Donohoe is scheduled for July 24 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Stefani Germanotta is scheduled for August at Petah Tikva Stadium.
Cirque du Soleil is scheduled for August 8th-18th at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are scheduled for September 10 in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv. I can add to that list "Cat Power" on February 12 (although now it looks like she caved), The Scorpions on May 7, and Lamb of God on May 30. (h/t OnionTearsNews) 
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| Galloway defends Syrian regime, blames Israel Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:30 AM PST Those 6000 people murdered in Syria? That's not the issue. From George Galloway's radio show: (h/t Yoel) 
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| IDF foiled 5 kidnap attempts since Shalit was freed Posted: 09 Feb 2012 09:20 AM PST From the IDF: Since the soldier abducted by Hamas terrorists and kept in captivity in the Gaza Strip for five years, SFC Gilad Shalit, was returned to Israel, there were over five attempts to kidnap soldiers in northern Israel.
"There is a direct link between Shalit's return and the kidnapping attempts," said Northern Command's military police commander, Lt. Col. Nir Golan and explained: "Terror organizations know that Israel will pay a high price for kidnapped soldiers and their motivation to abduct additional soldiers is on the rise."
The abduction attempts were reported by soldiers. After such an attempt is reported, it is conveyed to the IDF criminal investigation division for further investigation. "The reports that could not be proven false are considered to be kidnapping attempts," said Lt. Col. Golan.
The military police began intensified preventative operations, such as mock abductions and raising awareness among soldiers. "Every day there are undercover teams looking for hitchhiking soldiers," said Lt. Col. Golan. I was curious as to who would be attempting to kidnap soldiers in the north - Hezbollah? Hamas? Israeli Arabs? I asked the IDF spokesperson and the reply I received was "The kidnapping attempts were executed by Israeli Arabs, sympathizers with terror organizations. That's all we can say about the subject currently." 
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| More on Hezbollah denying taking orders from Iran Posted: 09 Feb 2012 08:20 AM PST As a followup to my post about how Hassan Nasrallah is denying that Hezbollah takes any orders from Iran, I got an email from Zach that showed: The Wilayat al-Faqih claims worldly, political and social authority over all Shia. As scholar Hassan Mneimneh recently put it in an article on the Arab reception of the concept: "Wilayat al-Faqih entails the recognition of the absolute worldly authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Supreme Leader (Rahbar), in whom the ultimate executive, legislative, and judiciary powers [are] supposed to reside."
Hezbollah's own experience lends support to Mneimneh's remarks. Not only did Hezbollah seek Khamenei's permission to enter parliamentary politics in 1992, but the party's deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, has written in his book on Hezbollah that "the wali al-faqih alone possesses the authority to decide war and peace." And: Yahya Rahim Safavi, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards and military adviser to Iran's Supreme Guide, Ali Khamenei, declared that in case of an Israeli attack on Iran, the Iranian retaliation will come from Lebanon, "because all the Zionist cities are within the range of our ally Hezbollah's Katyushas." And in a Q&A with Hezbollah's former secretary general, Sheikh Sobhi Tufayli: Analysts have repeatedly raised the possibility of an armed conflict with Israel if the Assad regime were to fall. Do you believe Hezbollah would be willing to wage another war with Israel?
Tufayli: This decision is neither in the hands of Hezbollah nor the Lebanese people. Iran will play the Lebanese card according to its own interests. War is a possible option; however, I do not foresee a conflict in southern Lebanon for now.
Do you believe Iran's political goals in Lebanon have changed over the past decade? Has Iran abandoned its Wilayat al-Faqih [Guardianship of the Jurist] project?
Tufayli: No country in the world will ever forgo its strategic interests. Iran will not abandon its dream of creating a Wilayat al-Faqih in Lebanon. Again, it is disappointing to see terror leaders and would-be genocidal murderers who are so willing to lie. What ever happened to morality? 
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| Gaza power plant running out of fuel - but not because of Israel Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:10 AM PST Palestine Today reports that "the city of Gaza will sink into darkness within 72 hours" if no fuel is found to run the power plant. The Energy Authority in Gaza sent out a distress call to the Arab and Muslim countries for urgent intervention to resolve the crisis. Of course, they can get plenty of fuel - from Israel. It used to be that this was exactly where they received the heavy diesel to run the power plant. But about a year ago they started refusing to use that evil Zionist fuel and instead relied on receiving the fuel from Egypt. It is nice to see that Hamas is so principled that it will happily make its own people miserable and put them in danger rather than accept fuel from the hated Zionist entity.
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| Shhhh! Jews and Arabs from territories plant trees - together! Posted: 09 Feb 2012 06:00 AM PST Here's another example of co-existence that the Leftists don't want people to see:  School children from the Efrat settlement and residents of the neighboring Palestinian village of Jurat al-Shama planted trees together in an initiative that promoted co-existence in the West Bank, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.
The event, held on the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shvat, aimed to block the hazardous dust that is being disseminated by a nearby tree-processing plant.
The factory's owner and a resident of Jurat al-Shama, Abu-Taled, relented recently to residents' complaints and built a stone wall that blocked the dust; but the barrier proved bothersome to both the Palestinian and Jewish residents of the area.
When a new traffic circle was installed at the entrance to Efrat recently, Mayor Oded Ravivi decided to level the land between the plant and the settlement, and replace the wall with a small forest.
"We met with Abu-Taled, and agreed to plant a grove on Tu B'Shvat in order to block the dust," Ravivi said. "Abu-Taled was very enthusiastic, and promised to bring friends and employees.
"This is how we could fulfill the mitzvah while also tightening our ties and work towards peaceful co-existence," he said, refering to the Jewish custom of planting trees on the nature-oriented holiday.
According to Ravivi, the sides are currently considering the possibility that Efrat security personnel would guard the factory at night, as part of the effort to cultivate a neighborly relationship. To the Israel-hating Left, "co-existence" means attending conferences where Jews and Arabs can both attack Israel equally. They hate real cooperation and co-existence between Jews and Arabs in Judea and Samaria, because it exposes them as hypocrites. The idea of Jews with kippot working next to Arabs in keffiyehs does not make them smile. On the contrary, it makes their blood boil. Proving once again that the Israel-hating Left is anything but liberal. 
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| Analysis of Fatah-Hamas Doha agreement (JCPA) Posted: 09 Feb 2012 03:30 AM PST JCPA's Jonathan D. Halevi has published an analysis of the latest agreement between Hamas and Fatah signed at Doha, and it is a nice expansion of things I have been writing as well. The agreement makes Abbas the supreme authority for all PA institutions. In addition to heading Fatah, Abbas serves as leader of the PLO, chairman of the PA, and soon as Palestinian prime minister as well. Although appointing "the president" as prime minister contravenes Palestinian basic law, it served as a compromise to overcome Fatah-Hamas disagreement on this issue.
Although the words sound weighty, their practical significance is small since the Doha Declaration, similar to the Cairo reconciliation agreement that preceded it, does not express genuine Hamas recognition of Abbas' leadership or his authority as leader of the Palestinian people. Instead, it is merely verbal, expedient recognition for tactical reasons, intended to enable Hamas' official entry into the PLO in the framework of new elections for the Palestinian National Council and to pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Hamas leaders are trying to implement the strategy of the Arab Spring in the Palestinian arena. They assume they will win an overwhelming majority in the elections to the representative Palestinian institutions and, thereby, complete their historic takeover of the Palestinian national movement. In other words, they view Abbas as the doorman who opens the gates to the Trojan horse.
Hamas sees no political significance in the envisaged Abbas-headed transition government. This is evident from the fact that its powers are limited to carrying out the presidential and parliamentary elections and working to rehabilitate Gaza. From Abbas' perspective, his appointment as prime minister, in addition to president, will enable him to maintain the international recognition of the Palestinian government despite the agreement with Hamas, and give him room to maneuver in contacts with the international community, both politically and in terms of keeping the aid money flowing.
The Doha Declaration, like previous Fatah-Hamas agreements, emphasizes the need to implement the agreements between the sides – once again demonstrating the difficulty of achieving institutional unity in the Palestinian arena in light of Hamas' declared ambition to assume senior status in representing the Palestinian people. The two sides will have to show great creativity to overcome the many obstacles facing the holding of elections, from unifying the separate civilian and security institutions in the West Bank and Gaza, to budget allocations.
Both sides have a basic interest in joining forces. Hamas, as noted, sees the move as an opportunity to attain seniority and rebuild its infrastructure in the West Bank. Fatah is drawn into the reconciliation by force of circumstances and awareness of the lessons and implications of the Arab Spring, which has led to the loss of its Egyptian support and the rise in power of the Muslim Brotherhood, the parent-movement of Hamas. It appears that the Fatah leaders prefer swimming with the current to sinking beneath it. Abbas thereby buys himself some quiet for an interim period. When it ends, though, he will likely find himself without assets and in a minority in the representative institutions of the Palestinian national movement.
Abbas' cooperation with Mashaal, and his uncompromising refusal to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, illustrates the strategic choice he has made. He does not prefer the path of a political settlement but, rather, to link up with Hamas and the other regional forces emerging in the Arab Spring and thereby use them as a force multiplier against Israel without having to offer political concessions. The release of the 64 prisoners is not only a gesture to Hamas but also an implicit message that the security cooperation with Israel is secondary in Abbas' eyes to the old-new alliance with Hamas. See also this. 
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