THE SETTLEMENTS REVISITED

posted by Bernice Lipkin, November 21, 2002.

 A few weeks ago, Americans For A Safe Israel (AFSI) conducted a tour of settlements in Samaria, Judea, Gaza and East Jerusalem. We spoke to the settlers; we saw what they have accomplished. They have character, fortitude, self-respect, civility and dedication to Israel. They are worthy successors to the earlier Zionist settlers in Israel.

A TALE OF TWO REALITIES

Posted by Caroline B. Glick, The Jerusalem Post. October 25, 2002.

 Caroline Glick writes about the evacuation of Gilad Pass within the larger context of Israeli politics and the Oslo War. In a brilliant analysis, she contrasts the reality of the Israeli Left, which regards the Israeli Right and the settlers as the enemies of peace and the reality of the Israeli Right, which understands that Israel is fighting for its survival as the Arabs continue to wage war.

EVERYDAY LIFE IN ISRAEL

Posted by Judy Balint, author of Jerusalem Diaries. November 14, 2002.

 Moshe Saperstein writes with humor and warmth of his everyday life in Neve Dekalim in the Gaza Strip. This week, he goes to two weddings, visits his grandchildren, listens to shelling while watching a thunderstorm in the night, spends the Shabbat of Chaye Sarah at Hebron, hears of another terror murder and lives through a couple more attacks by neighboring Arabs. Just an ordinary week.

THE WEST BANK/GAZA SETTLEMENTS: The Fake Issue of the Current Middle East Crisis

posted by Sarah Bedein, Israel Resource News Agency, Jerusalem.

 Sarah Bedein asks whether ceding the Jewish settlements in Samaria, Judea and Gaza would really satisfy the demands of the Palestinian Arabs. What about their right of return to the 531 villages inside the Green Line that they lost in 1948?

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THEORY THAT JEWS ARE DESCENDENTS OF THE KHAZARS

posted by Lewis Lipkin, November 21, 2002.

 In The 13th Tribe, Arthur Koestler asserted that Ashkenazic Jews are not of the seed of Jacob; they are the descendants of the Khazars, a semi-nomadic tribe that lived in the Caucasian Mountains and converted to Judaism in the 8th century C.E. Modern genetics proves him wrong.

DYING FOR REVENGE: Controlling Allies In Wartime

posted by Rand H. Fishbein, Ph.D., November 15, 2002.

  Suppose a local paramilitary group loosely associated with an outside country engaged in warfare in the region. Suppose this local group independently carries out an act of vengeance against its ancient enemy? Examples are: (1) the killing of captive al-Qaeda members by the USA-backed Northern Alliance in Afghanistan; and (2) the killing of Muslim Lebanese in the Shatila and Sabra refugee camps by Christian Lebanese, who were allied with Israel. Is the major partner responsible?