Elder of Ziyon Daily News |  |
- 3,000 Trees to be Planted in Israel for Newtown Victims
- Analysis of Al Qaeda Cells in Israel
- Channel 2 Report on Hamas in the West Bank
- Video: Rockets, Rifles and Axes in Fatah Rally
- UN: Over 60,000 Dead in Syria Conflict
- Wednesday Morning Links
- Israeli Laws Banning Underweight Models & Sale of Animal-Tested Products Take Effect
| 3,000 Trees to be Planted in Israel for Newtown Victims Posted: 02 Jan 2013 07:01 PM PST Guest post by Challah Hu Akbar, aka Challah & CHA CHALLAH @ JTA
The trees will be part of the Beersheva River Park, a 1,700-acre water, environmental and commercial area being constructed by the Jewish National Fund in Israel's desert city. The idea for the Newtown grove grew from a request made by Veronique Pozner, whose son, Noah, was the only Jewish victim of the shooting at the Connecticut school. Pozner said memorial contributions could be directed toward the planting of trees in Israel.           |
| Analysis of Al Qaeda Cells in Israel Posted: 02 Jan 2013 02:52 PM PST Guest post by Challah Hu Akbar, aka Challah & CHA The following are excerpts from Israeli Intelligence and al-Qaeda by Shlomo Shpiro. Analysis of all al-Qaeda cells arrested in Israel so far shows four common characteristics which made them vulnerable to Israeli intelligence detection and interception: their young age; the influence of Internet propaganda and their reliance on Internet communication; their financial and technical limitations; and their separation from mainstream secular Palestinian terror groups. Almost all members of the various cells were young men in their twenties, who had become increasingly religious, and were known as extremists within their communities. Most were very influenced by al-Qaeda's online Internet propaganda and spent much time online, reading the preachings of radical clerics, and accumulating knowledge about bombmaking. But their enthusiasm for terrorism was not matched by technical or financial abilities. Most cells did not possess the financial means of acquiring arms or explosives on the black market, and thus expended much of their energies improvising weapons and primitive bombs. They received no support, whether money or weapons, from the secular Palestinian terror groups, which reject al-Qaeda's ideology and the independence of its cells. These vulnerabilities gave the Israeli intelligence community powerful tools to use in preventing al-Qaeda attacks inside Israel. Through the use of human sources within Arab communities and extensive monitoring of Internet activities, some cells were discovered and their members arrested. Faced with Israeli intelligence successes, and unable to carry out effective attacks inside Israel, al-Qaeda operatives increasingly turned to launching cross-border attacks into Israel from the neighboring Arab states, where they enjoyed a wider operational freedom.And Three lessons can be learned from a decade of confrontation between Israeli intelligence and al-Qaeda, lessons which are applicable to many other countries as well. The first is the vulnerability of local al-Qaeda cells due to their reliance on the Internet and other forms of digital communication. Extensive intelligence monitoring of radical jihadist Websites and communications is a powerful tool in the counterterrorism arsenal against al-Qaeda. The second lesson is the crucial importance of ''tactical'' intelligence cooperation between countries, not only in sharing information but also in ensuring that such an exchange of information is rapid enough to be relevant. The al-Qaeda threats can be managed only by constant and effective intelligence exchange, which must be adapted to fit the changes in threat levels and types. Rapid information exchange enables the prevention of terror attacks, while slower exchange often brings only outdated information of little operational value. The third lesson is the growing danger of home-grown al-Qaeda cells, young people who are attracted by al-Qaeda's online propaganda to such an extent that they form small, independent cells and are willing to commit terror attacks. While effective intelligence work can often intercept and prevent large attacks, preventing the formation of such small cells with little or no active footprint until they actually begin violent action is almost impossible. But, over time, increased Internet monitoring and human sources inside Muslim religious communities do provide effective, though imperfect, solutions to this threat. Political changes in Egypt and the ousting of the Mubarak regime in early 2011 resulted in a general weakening of the Egyptian government's authority in the Sinai Peninsula. Bedouin tribes in this lawless region, already making millions of dollars from smuggling weapons across the border into Gaza, have now become arms suppliers of the whole region. In the Sinai, the black market in arms is expanding rapidly and the weapons offered for sale include not only assault rifles and ammunition but also heavy rockets, explosives, anti-tank weapons, mortars, and even ground-to-air missiles which disappeared from Libya during the anti-Gaddafi revolution. In July 2011, the former Head of the Shabak, Avi Dichter, warned that the Sinai had turned from a region of arms smuggling to a region of arms transfers, since the lack of any effective Egyptian police presence makes it unnecessary for the Bedouins to even bother hiding the shipments of heavy weapons being sold to any terror group with enough cash and a truck to carry them out. Israeli intelligence has been able to monitor some of the arms smuggled out of Libya and warn the Egyptians. In late August 2011, Egyptian border guards intercepted a large shipment of heavy weapons near the border with Libya, which may have included SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles. In the hands of an al-Qaeda cell, such missiles would create a severe threat to Israeli civilian and military aircraft flying over the entire region. This threat prompted the Israeli government to speed up the construction of a border fence with Egypt along the entire Israeli–Egyptian border. That border remains the most vulnerable region for future al-Qaeda attacks against Israel. How the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya, and the uprising in Syria, will impact the presence and activities of al-Qaeda in the Middle East and on the level of support they gain within the populations of the region remains to be seen.      |
| Channel 2 Report on Hamas in the West Bank Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:17 PM PST Guest post by Challah Hu Akbar, aka Challah & CHA *** Earlier today I mentioned a recent Fatah march near Bethlehem, where Fatah members were seen wielding axes, knives, rifles and mock-rockets. Here is a recent Channel 2 report with English subtitles that looks at Hamas in the West Bank.      |
| Video: Rockets, Rifles and Axes in Fatah Rally Posted: 02 Jan 2013 09:50 AM PST Guest post by Challah Hu Akbar, aka Challah & CHA *** CHALLAH @ Ynet A video posted online shows dozens of veiled men taking part in a march marking 48 years since Fatah's inception. The men are seen marching at the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem carrying knives, axes, clubs and rifles. Two men were also seen carrying a rocket model. Palestinian security forces were not present at the scene. The march was a rare sight in the West Bank which has seen very few Fatah rallies in the past few years. It is possible that the Palestinian security forces were aware of the march but decided to "turn a blind eye." In the past, the forces prevented similar rallies both by Fatah and Hamas. Meanwhile, according to a new report from Palestinian Media Watch, Fatah Facebook pages are inciting terror against Israel and its citizens. The report only appears in Hebrew as of now, but Israel Hayom has an English summary.      |
| UN: Over 60,000 Dead in Syria Conflict Posted: 02 Jan 2013 07:52 AM PST Guest post by Challah Hu Akbar, aka Challah & CHA *** CHALLAH @ Reuters At least 60,000 people have died in Syria's conflict, U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said on Wednesday, citing an "exhaustive" U.N.-commissioned study. Over five months of analysis, researchers cross-referenced seven sources to compile a list of 59,648 individuals reported killed between March 15, 2011, and Nov. 30, 2012. "Given there has been no let-up in the conflict since the end of November, we can assume that more than 60,000 people have been killed by the beginning of 2013," Pillay said. "The number of casualties is much higher than we expected, and is truly shocking."The average death toll per day, based upon this data, between March 15, 2011, and November 30, 2012, would be approximately 95 people per day. UPDATE: The full report can be read here.      |
| Posted: 02 Jan 2013 06:41 AM PST From Ian: *** Expert: Israel Has an Historic Right to Judea and Samaria "Dr. Alan Baker, an expert on international law and a member of the committee headed by Judge Edmond Levi recommending the extension of Israeli law to Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria, said at a conference discussing the matter Tuesday night that Israel would be fully in its rights to do so."Extremism unchecked in schools, secret briefing reveals More than 100 independent faith schools may be radicalising students, the Department of Education has warned in a secret memo which admits that officials are struggling to tackle extremism in state and private schools. "The strategy also reported that a minority of independent faith schools had been "actively promoting views that are contrary to British values, such as intolerance of other cultures and gender inequality" and had "allowed extremist views to be expressed by staff, visitors or pupils." The document said there had been concerns that madrassahs – after-school religious classes attached to mosques - were promoting a highly conservative version of Islam and spreading extremist views, particularly against non-Muslims. It estimated that 100,000 Muslim children attended such schools."IDF Blog: 5 Remarkable Stories of 2012, As Told By IDF Soldiers This past year was full of many challenges for the IDF. Our soldiers faced many threats, from terrorist agents on Israel's borders to rocket fire targeting civilians. Here are some of most remarkable stories of 2012, as reflected upon by our soldiers.Arab soldier hides service from neighbours Samir, a Muslim Arab, hides his uniform and weapon from his neighbors, but says he's proud to be an IDF combat soldier "Samir joined the Tavor Battalion nine months ago. "To my delight my commanding officers understood me and my situation and let me go on leave on weekends," he told Yedioth Ahronoth. His comrades were equally supportive. "Even though they are only kids, 18 years old, we have developed a true friendship," Samir says. He stresses he has never encountered racism."West Bank village erupts after undercover soldiers arrest Islamic Jihad activists Rubber bullets and tear gas reportedly used in clashes; army says operation carried out to stop terror attack "A raid by Israeli soldiers disguised as vegetable vendors to seize members of a terror group sparked intense clashes in the northern West Bank Tuesday. Residents in the town of Tamoun said youths tossed stones and bottles at Israeli troops, while the soldiers responded with rubber bullets."2012's Top Ten on The Commentator This year's top ten articles on The Commentator include topics such as atheism in Pakistan, the Leveson Inquiry, the BBC and Israel in the mediaCIF Watch: CiF attacks anti-Hagel war agitators: Israel lobby, bond dealers & arms manufacturers "Hagel, a far-right Republican hostile to abortion rights, gay rights and civil rights, and who has come under fire for his views on Israel, the Middle East and the Islamist regime in Tehran, has strangely become a progressive cause celeb among the Guardian-style left."CAMERA: Prompts AP Correction on Construction Materials for Gaza MEMRI: Egyptian Cleric Mahmoud Al-Masri: When the Mahdi Comes, There Will Not be a single Jew left VIDEO & Egyptian DePaul University Professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni Supports Camp David Accords and Says: The Palestinians Always Miss Historic Opportunities VIDEO Israeli vets formulate new vaccine for dogs A serendipitous lab discovery led to a breakthrough vaccine for a fatal tick-borne disease. Now investors are sought to take it commercial. "Dr. Shimon Harrus did not intend to find the world's first vaccine against canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CMT), a sometimes fatal tick-borne disease in dogs. Instead, he was attempting to determine how long ticks must be attached to a dog's fur in order to transmit CMT."Intel offers a million bucks for app 'game-changers,' using tech developed in Haifa A 'perceptual computing' platform will utilize cameras, sensors, and microphones to enable devices to learn what you need and give it to you "The new approach, called "perceptual computing," refers to equipping PCs, laptops, and other Intel-branded and partnered devices to become "context aware." Instead of passively waiting for you to enter data and "teach" the device, a perceptual computing-equipped device will use its built in hardware and software to "learn" ways that make users' lives easier."      |
| Israeli Laws Banning Underweight Models & Sale of Animal-Tested Products Take Effect Posted: 02 Jan 2013 02:30 AM PST Back in March, Israel's Knesset "passed a law banning the use of underweight models in advertising." On Tuesday, the law went into effect. Israel's new law banning skinny models has again brought up an uncomfortable topic to the table for the fashion industry, which has long been criticized for seeming to promote unnatural thinness as beauty standard. And once again, countries are divided as to how to deal with the issue of too-skinny models, by law or with other means. Israel's law, which went into effect Tuesday, bans models with a body-mass index—a calculation based on height and weight—of less than 18.5 from appearing in advertisements. According to that BMI standard, a female model who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall can weigh no less than 119 pounds. The law also requires publications to disclose when they use altered images of models to make the women and men appear even thinner than they really are. The law's supporters in Israel said they hoped it would encourage the use of more healthful models in local advertising. The law, according to the Jerusalem Post, was initiated by then-Kadima MK Rachel Adatto, and co-sponsored by Likud-Beytenu MK Danny Danon. In addition to this law, "a law to ban the import or sale of animal-tested products [also] went into effect in Israel" on Tuesday. The law bans the import, marketing and sale of cosmetics, toiletries or detergents that were tested on animals during the manufacturing process. The law follows guidelines set by the European Union in 2004, and makes exceptions for items that are considered medicinal products.      |
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