Staying Real in Israel
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More anti-semitism in Europe…So what else is new?
It would seem to me that it is obvious that the time has come for the Jews still in exile to come home. The Creator cannot make it TOO much clearer without it getting REALLY painful, and He would prefer NOT to do that to his Chosen People.
But, if there is no other way for the Jews to get the message (we Jews can be a bit on the stubborn side…you know, stiff-necked and all…), our Father in Heaven has been known to turn up the heat on His children.
You can choose the easy way, or do it the hard way…

Budapest: Stones thrown at rabbi’s house during seder


Rabbi Shmuel Raskin’s home in Hungarian capital pelted with stones three times during holiday meal. ‘The rabbi was saved by a double window. Police came, but were indifferent,’ says one of guests present. Jewish Agency representative expresses concerns over rise of extreme Right in Hungary

Reprinted from Ynetnews.com Anat Shalev

Sitting around Rabbi Shmuel Raskin’s table for the second seder in Budapest and singing Passover songs, holiday celebrators were shocked when stones suddenly crashed against the windows. Ynet learned of the threatening incident, which members of the local Jewish community are attributing to the rise of the radical Right in Hungary.

Sitting next to Rabbi Raskin was Eran Elbar, a Jewish Agency representative in eastern Europe. “At around 11 pm, stones were thrown at the window behind the rabbi and myself. We didn’t make a big deal about it. We closed the shutters a bit and continued. A half hour later, we opened the shutters again, and another stone was thrown,” said Elbar.

The second incident prompted the seder guests to call the police. Police officers stationed themselves along the street, but that apparently did not deter the stone-throwers.

The rabbi himself could not be reached for comment because the holiday is not yet over in Hungary.

“Afterwards, at midnight, what seemed to be a rubber bullet from a slingshot or some primitive weapon was fired at the window. The police are still looking into the weapon. The hole made looks like a gunshot,” Elbar explained.

Another guest, a photographer working in Hungary who has attended the Raskin seder for the past few years, said that the double window installed for extra insulation against the cold apparently protected the participants from harm.

“The interior window in essence stopped the bullet from hurting the rabbi, and this is how he was miraculously saved,” explained the photographer. According to him, the improvised rubber bullet fired after midnight passed “right over the rabbi’s head.”

‘The Right growing stronger’

The photographer claimed that the police addressed the incident poorly: “They didn’t see that there was a rubber bullet and insisted that only stones were thrown. They told us, ‘We’re not going to go knocking on all the doors now to find who threw a stone at you.’ I understood they were going to do anything, so I ordered the security from the embassy to the site, and they arrived quickly.”

The photographer was deeply shaken by the evening’s events. “I couldn’t fall asleep all night. The rabbi is like my father and the Chabad House is like my second home even though I’m not religious. The Right is growing stronger here, and now there are concerns that there will be legitimacy granted to hurting foreigners. I am worried by the situation we have reached. I have lived and worked here for a few years and collaborate with Hungarians. What is going to happen now?”

Jewish Agency representative Elbar also said the incident affected the seder guests. “Even though no one was hurt, we all felt like this was a significant event. There is a sense that Jews need to lower their heads in light of strengthening of the extreme Right that could make headway in the upcoming elections. There are pamphlets everywhere for the party against the Jews,” said Elbar.

For more than 1000 years, the Jewish capital city of Jerusalem was the focus of THE happening for Jews around the world. During the 1000+ years that the Jewish Temple was standing on Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem, this week, the week of the Jewish festival of Pesach/Passover, was one of three weeks throughout the year that all Jews would travel to the Jewish capital and camp out for a week of barbecues, eating, drinking, merriment and spirituality unmatched anywhere or anytime.
Passover was one of the three times every year that Jews were commanded for “aliyah l’regal”, or pilgrimage to the Holy Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. All the Jews would set up their tents and spend the week in prayer and festivities, eating the barbecue of the roasted sacrifices, enjoying kosher wines and celebrating the closeness of the Jewish people to the Creator.
Today, in the modern Jewish State of Israel, the Temple has not yet been rebuilt, but the Jewish people are keeping the tradition. Passover week continues to be a week of family celebration and trips through the length and breadth of Israel. Festivals abound in all parts of the Holyland, spiritual happenings, musical events and concerts, treks into the wonders of nature…Israel comes alive for the entire week as Jews of all levels of religious observance celebrate the week of the Jewish Holiday of Freedom in our Homeland, each in his or her own way, in the cities or in the Negev Desert, in the holy hills of Safed or on the heights of the Golan overlooking the Kinneret, Sea of Galilee.
And many of us yearn for the days, soon to come, we hope and pray, when we will once again be able to all go up to Jerusalem to visit the Third Holy Jewish Temple, may It be built speedily in our days, and enjoy the Festival of Passover fully once again…

Israeli NBA star Omri Casspi is proud to be an Israeli…and Israel is proud of Omri Casspi…

Omri Casspi ‘proud to be Israeli’

Israeli Consulate in Boston holds special reception for Sacramento Kings forward. ‘His success in basketball is an example of the State of Israel’s success,’ says Consul General Nadav Tamir

Reprinted from Ynetnews.com

The Israeli Consulate in Boston on Thursday night held a special festive reception for Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi, a day before his team faced the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

American Jews who attended the event received flags and shirts of Israel. Casspi handed out signatures to children and other fans and gave an interview to a local television station.

“We are glad to host Omri in Boston,” said Israeli Consul General Nadav Tamir. “He is proud to be Israeli and we Israelis are proud of him. His big success in the field of basketball is an example of the State of Israel’s success in many fields, against all odds, thanks to a lot of creativity and courage.”

The Sacramento Kings were beaten 93-79 on Wednesday night by the New Jersey Nets. Sacramento played its third straight game without guard Tyreke Evans, who leads all rookies with 20.3 points per game.

You might want to do what you can to fight still another senseless boycott of Israel products…This one is REALLY without basis, as the components of Ahava products are mined from the Dead Sea…hardly occupied territories by anybody’s standards…

Oppose AHAVA BOYCOTT Tell Nordstroms to Continue Selling Beauty Products from the Holy Land

The radical group CODEPINK: Women for Peace (sic) has targeted Nordstroms,
and is asking people to send e-mails calling for Nordstroms to boycott Ahava
products.

Reprinted from IMRA.org.il

You can e-mail the same people at Nordstroms saying how disappointed you
would be if they listened to these radical “Women for Hate”.

These are the people they are e-mailing:

Linda Peffer Divisional Vice President, Social Responsibility
Linda.Peffer@Nordstrom.com

Tara Darrow, Director of Public Relations, Nordstrom
Tara.Darrow@Nordstrom.com

Krischel Pen Nordstrom
Krischel.Pen@Nordstrom.com

If predictions of an Obama-enforced settlement on Israel turn out to be true, we could be headed for a VERY rocky road ahead, indeed. This would amount to an almost complete about-face by America towards Israel and a total abrogation of previous promises and assurances given to Israel by US presidents since the Jewish State was founded, Republican and Democrat alike.
End-of-days scenarios predicted by the Jewish prophets speak of a time when ALL of the nations of the world will line up against Israel…ALL, meaning, ALL, including her former friends, such as the United States. The scenes are not pretty ones, but we know the outcome is ultimately good, with the nations of the world recognizing the True Creator and most everybody (those still alive, anyway) living happily ever after in the Messianic Age.
Israel cannot be expected to lay down and accept a US-imposed settlement that cannot possibly be good for the future existence and security of the state, therefore, the only way that Obama’s plan could be put into action would be via the use of force…hence the ugly end-of-days scenarios prophesied thousands of years ago.
Sooooo…the story can end in a limited number of ways…either, Heaven forbid, America is successful in crushing Israel under her heels, she gives in to the overwhelming force of the US military and the ultimate downfall of Israel as a sovereign Jewish State begins, ending the way of every other country throughout history…they come, and they go…as, indeed will happen to the United States of America, less than 500 years of age, a blip on the timeline of history.
Or…we will see the fulfillment of the biblical prophecies, and in the end, Israel arises strong and proud as the Jewish State, the State of the One True G-d, and the rest of the world falls in line behind her. It would seem to be a matter of belief…which scenario do you believe will happen? Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of Israel?, or is it the relatively quick rise and fall of the American Empire that Barak Obama is accelerating?
I have often said that I would have to have been a complete idiot to have left my home in America…my family, my life of leisure and luxury…for the unpredictable and often more difficult existence in the Land of Israel, if I did not truly believe in the Torah and its prophecies. If all that stuff were not true, one would be hard-pressed to find a reason to pick up house and home in California and head for the volatile Middle East.
So the headlines would indicate that we are heading towards crunch time…you either believe or you don’t…the Torah is either true, or it isn’t…
I, for one, am betting the whole farm and family that Moses had it right…Obama or no Obama…
(a side note…Sages of the Jewish Talmud are quoted as saying that some of them would prefer NOT to have the experience of witnessing the events of the end-of-days and the ensuing Messianic Age…they would rather wait until AFTER the tumult of the historical end-game before arising to join the festivities…There might just be something to that view…)

Israel fears Obama heading for imposed Mideast settlement


U.S. President Barack Obama’s demands during his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Tuesday point to an intention to impose a permanent settlement on Israel and the Palestinians in less than two years, political sources in Jerusalem say.

Reprinted from Haaretz.com Ari Shavit

Israeli officials view the demands that Obama made at the White House as the tip of the iceberg under which lies a dramatic change in U.S. policy toward Israel.

Of 10 demands posed by Obama, four deal with Jerusalem: opening a Palestinian commercial interests office in East Jerusalem, an end to the razing of structures in Palestinian neighborhoods in the capital, stopping construction in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, and not building the neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.

But another key demand – to discuss the dispute’s core issues during the indirect talks that are planned – is perceived in Jerusalem as problematic because it implies that direct negotiations would be bypassed. This would set up a framework through which the Americans would be able to impose a final settlement.

It is not just Obama’s demands that are perceived as problematic, but also the new modus operandi of American diplomacy. The fact that the White House and State Department have been in contact with Israel’s European allies, first and foremost Germany, is seen as part of an effort to isolate Israel and put enormous political pressure on it.

Israeli officials say that the Obama administration’s new policy contradicts commitments made by previous administrations, as well as a letter from George W. Bush in 2004 to the prime minister at the time, Ariel Sharon. According to this view, the new policy is also incongruous with the framework posed by Bill Clinton in 2000.

Senior Israeli sources say that as a result of the U.S. administration’s policies, the Palestinians will toughen their stance and seriously undermine the peace process’ chances of success.

Moreover, sources in Jerusalem say that the new American positions undermine the principle of credibility that has guided U.S. foreign policy since the end of World War II. Ignoring specific promises made to its Israeli ally would make other American allies lose trust in its commitments to them.

Israeli officials warn that if the United States shirks its past commitments, the willingness of the Israeli public to put its trust in future American guarantees will be undermined – as will the superpower’s regional and international standing.

Not that we are at all happy about it. This is MY neighborhood that we are talking about. My sons are in the Israeli Army. The handwriting has been on the wall for a long time, now. I have seen the coming war as inevitable since the end of the LAST war in Gaza. That’s because the Israeli government did not let the IDF finish the job.
What needed to be done before the Israeli army left Gaza, and STILL needs to be done:
1. Destroy, completely Hamas’s military ability, including weapons, supplies, command and control, military leadership.
2. Destroy ALL the smuggling routes used to replenish weapons supplies…and take control of the entire border area with Egypt where these weapons flow…that is, RE-take control of the Philadelphia corridor.
3. Remove Hamas from power in Gaza. They must be replaced by either more moderate Palestinian Authority leadership, or Israel has no choice but to re-take control until there is a reasonable alternative to fill the void.
I learned in dental school, long, long ago, that “There is never enough time to do the job right, but there is ALWAYS is enough time to do the job OVER”…
I can only hope that, if and when we DO do the job right, the price in Israeli blood will not be high…

Residents of south Israel fear another war brewing


Communities surrounding Gaza say death of two soldiers in Gaza Friday, along with continuous rocket fire, may be sign full-blown military conflict nearing. ‘We don’t deserve to live like this,’ Kfar Aza resident says

Reprinted from Ynetnews.com Tova Dadon

Residents of Israel’s southern region view the incident in which two soldiers were killed in Gaza Friday, along with the continuous rocket and mortar fire emanating from the Hamas-ruled territory, as a possible prelude to a full-blown war.

“There is a sense that we are on the brink of another war,” a member of Kibbutz Kfar Aza told Ynet on Saturday.

“Mortars have been falling here for a week now, just like in Operation Cast Lead,” said Orit Arjento, “I am in constant stress; running to the Internet to see if there is any news and debating whether I should close the window or leave it open, because of the mortars.

“Fortunately we have a secure room in our apartment, but still, jumping out of bed and making sure that all of the children made it to the secure room is not easy at age 52,” she said.

Prior to the launching of Operation Cast Lead, a mortar landed on the Arjento family home, directly hitting the room of teenage daughter Shir.

“We don’t deserve to live like this,” said Orit, who invited 30 guests from all over the country to attend the Pesach Seder.

“I can’t tell them (guests) that it is completely safe here. The ‘Color Red’ alert sounds on occasion,” she said.

Yoav Peled, security officer for the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council said, “This is the reality, and we’ve almost learned to live with it – after eight years (of rocket fire) and after the war.

“There is a sweeping decision not leave the region. I can’t say that everyone thinks as I do, but I can say with certainty that since Operation Cast Lead more and more people have relocated to the council’s communities; our kibbutzim are full,” he said.

After extolling the virtues of Israel’s fine wines, I must insert this caveat…Do NOT try drinking any of the devil’s brew while visiting Sudan…unless you also ENJOY a nice whipping every now and then (different strokes for different folks, etc. etc.)
You will be whipped not just for drinking the stuff, but plan on some S&M fun for just making or even selling any drinks of the intoxicating variety. And if you are a woman, you’d best not be wearing pants, or you, too, will get your butt whipped…for real. Not to be judgemental, but isn’t Islamic law great?
A Shabbat kiddush just wouldn’t be the same in Sudan, not to mention Purim or Passover…Oh, well…as always…There’s no place like home for the holidays…

Sudan’s Bashir warns drinkers face lash


Sudan’s president warned people caught selling, drinking or brewing alcohol would be lashed, despite complaints from rights groups, as he addressed an election rally outside Khartoum on Thursday.

Reprinted from af.reauters.com

“Anybody who drinks alcohol, we lash them. Anybody who makes alcohol, we lash them. Anybody who sells alcohol, we lash them. I don’t care about the U.N. or human rights organisations,” Omar Hassan al-Bashir said in a speech broadcast on Sudan’s Blue Nile television.

Bashir, a powerful public speaker who regularly peppers his rallies with broad nationalistic and Islamic appeals, spoke in Omdowan, a village just east of the capital, known as a religious centre.

The president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court to face charges of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region, has thrown himself into a nationwide campaign tour ahead of elections due to start next month.

Alcohol is banned in Muslim north Sudan and whipping is a common punishment for anyone caught drinking, brewing or selling it.

Rights groups have complained about lashing sentences handed out against women caught brewing alcohol in Khartoum, many of them from the non-Muslim south.

Sudan’s brand of Islamic law has come under the international spotlight in recent years. A British teacher was jailed after letting her class name a teddy bear Mohammad in 2007 and a Sudanese journalist was imprisoned in September after being convicted of indecency for wearing trousers. Both women had faced a maximum sentence of flogging.

Nigerian football star Stephen Worgu last year said he had been sentenced to 40 lashes after being convicted of drunk driving in Khartoum.

Worgu, who plays for Omdurman club Al Merreikh, said he was innocent.

“Jewish” wine, that is, wines from Israel, have become far more than the syrupy sweet Manischewitz cough syrup that my generation grew up with at home and at synagogue.
Israel grows and processes a wide variety of very fine wines of all types, available at all prices.
We will be enjoying them at our Passover seder…no reason for my Christian friends not to enjoy a nip or two to celebrate the Easter holiday…

Wines of Israel for Easter


Easter is almost upon us and with such, my wine thoughts often turn to wines from Israel.

Reprinted from wine.about.com Stacy’s Wine Blog

At ProWein this week I had the opportunity to taste through a series of wines from Israel with my favorites being Tishbi from the Negev region, Golan Heights and Galil Mountain from the upper Galilee region. Many of the wines from these specific wineries would make an authentic and delicious addition to your Easter dinner.

The wines of Israel are no longer being reserved only for traditional Jewish culture, but are being readily imported to both New World and European markets alike. And for good reason – they are not the sugary, sweet grape juices of old. Many of Israel’s wines boast numerous awards and accolades and are being well represented in international wine competitions on an annual basis.

The Hamas terrorist palestinians are feeling their oats in light of recent developments out of Washington. They are jumping on the opportunity presented by Obama-Clinton and Co.’s outrageous attacks on Israel…and Israel is paying the price of their increasingly brazen attacks in blood…
Last night’s deaths raise the toll to three young Israeli soldiers killed in the past week. The coming re-clash in Gaza seems to be inevitable, in spite of Goldstone and the rest of the world’s attempts to usurp Israel’s right to self defense. But we must not be stopped. The evil growing and prospering on all sides of Israel must be wiped out once and for all. The safety of the innocent citizens of Israel must be guaranteed…not by US promises, but by the IDF, Israel’s proud army.
The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has good reason to be concerned, and he’d best not try to interfere with Israel’s right to peaceful borders.
And how tragic is it that, instead of Israel’s defense minister Barak worrying more about wiping out the evil threatening Israel, he’s busy worrying about satisfying the American president by using Israel’s army to destroy Jewish homes…the so-called “illegal outposts”, which are neither illegal nor outposts…Shame on you, Ehud Barak…destroy Israel’s enemies, NOT her citizens’ homes…

UN chief ‘concerned’ about Gaza violence


Ban Ki-moon laments incident in which two IDF soldiers were killed, calls for ‘maximum restraint’

Reprinted from Reuters

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday he was concerned about a clash in the Gaza Strip in which two Israeli soldiers were killed.

“I am very concerned at the escalation of violence and loss of life yesterday in the vicinity of the Gaza border,” Ban told a news conference on the sidelines of an Arab League summit in the Libyan town of Sirte.

“I reiterate my appeals made during my recent visit for maximum restraint and an end to all violence, in particular at this critical time when we are engaged in efforts to revive peace talks.”

Ban was referring to Friday’s incident, in which 32-year-old Major Eliraz Peretz and 21-year-old Staff Sergeant Ilan Sviatkovsky were killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists on the Gaza border. Two Palestinians were killed while trying to plant an explosive device near the border fence.

Two hours later, two more Palestinians were killed in another incident in the area. They were spotted by an IDF force trying to plant an explosive device near the border fence and shot.

The commander of this force was the officer involved in an incident of friendly fire that occurred in Gaza earlier this week, in which a soldier was killed. He led his soldiers into a gun battle in which they were mistaken for terrorists and opened fire upon by Golani soldiers.

On Saturday morning the violence continued when a Qassam was fired towards Shaar HaNegev Regional Council. Meanwhile IDF bulldozers are accompanying IDF tanks in scanning the area on the Palestinian side of the border fence in order to locate other explosive devices. Bushes have been removed in order to improve intelligence.

Mother of fallen soldier: God loves Golani


Miriam Peretz, mother of major killed in gunfight in Gaza, says her son died so Israelis can ‘walk proud’, meanwhile Ynet learns demolition orders have been issued on his home, located in West Bank outpost

Reprinted from Ynetnews.com

The mother of 32-year-old Major Eliraz Peretz, who was killed in a gunfight with Palestinian terrorists in Gaza Friday, gave an interview Saturday in which she called her son “the salt of the earth”.

Twelve years ago Miriam lost another son, Uriel, in Lebanon. Her four sons served in the Golani Brigade.

“I know God loves the Peretz family’s Golani, loves these warriors, loves Eliraz who I will say simply was a hero,” she told her family and guests at the Peretz household.

“My sons are always at the front because officers go in front. He provided a personal example and he was alerted to give aid, so of course he was the first to do so. He didn’t go to die, but went so that I and the people of Israel could live well. My sons died for us all, so that we can walk proud.”

Miriam Peretz added, “In Morocco I went around with my head bowed and I had no freedom. Here in Israel I see my boys in uniform and I’m proud to be Jewish. Eliraz had a gentle soul and a pure soul. He was righteous and pure and a mother could be proud to have such a son.”

The mother read a letter from her son thanking her and his father for signing a form allowing him to serve in combat.

“There are no mothers, on our side or the other side, who want their children dead. I don’t want my children to die. I don’t imagine scenarios of death but rather of life. I teach my children to live in this country heroically.”

Demolition orders issued on Peretz home

Meanwhile Ynet learned Saturday evening that demolition orders have been issued for Peretz’s home in the West Bank outpost of Givat Hayovel, near the settlement of Eli, where his wife and four children reside. The home is an illegal structure.

One of Peretz’s neighbors was Major Roi Klein, who was killed during the Second Lebanon War by jumping on a hand grenade to save his fellow soldiers.

Some of the residents of Eli and Givat Hayovel told Ynet that Peretz took Klein’s family in after his death, inviting them to dinner and teaching the children the Torah.

And here comes Santa Claus, being escorted by the Tooth Fairy…
This is the US administration’s new tactic to gain popular support for pressuring Israel into an unfavorable “peace” agreement with the palestinians…Create the illusion that “If only there was a palestinian state, at any cost, all of America’s problems in the Middle East, facing terrorism and with the Muslim world would be solved…Israel is the cause for all of America’s security problems…Just force Israel to submit to the palestinians and everything will be fine and dandy for the US”. Unfortunately, not true. The Muslim world hates America and everything that the US (used to) stand(s) for. The concept of global jihad puts America in the Islamic crosshairs, sooner or later, forever and ever, until Islam rules the world. Israel is an excuse, a stop along the way, a slice of the salami to be placed in the jihadist sandwich…a mere appetizer that does not satisfy the greater appetite for world domination.
I don’t think that Obama and Clinton really get this. What they DO get is that the US electorate supports Israel and has minimal faith in the palestinians. The American public realizes the moral and strategic importance of America’s alliance with Israel. Obama and Co. are threatened by this, hence, the tactic of using lies and fear tactics to bully public opinion in the US. Petraeus and Gates playing “good cop, bad cop”…making anti-Israel statements, then denying, apologizing, new statements…on and on.
We can only hope and pray that the Israeli people and their government will hold on to THEIR strength and faith, and the that the collective wisdom of the American electorate will prevail over the radical, islamicist socialist elites currently leading the US to ruin…

Petraeus says, “I didn’t really mean it…”

Petraeus denies saying Israel endangers lives of U.S. troops


Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Military’s Central Command, telephoned Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi Wednesday to deny the reports he had blamed Israeli policy for the failure to reach a regional solution and for endangering the lives of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.

This was not the first conversation between the two generals. The two had met at Petraeus’ initiative not long ago, but in Israel they were surprised that the commander of CENTCOM broke the news of the conversation yesterday before a lecture in New Hampshire, as here efforts were made to adhere to an American request to keep exchanges under wraps.

Earlier this month, Petraeus warned the Pentagon that “America’s relationship with Israel is important, but not as important as the lives of America’s soldiers,” in a posting on the Foreign Policy Web site. Click to read more…

Reprinted from Haarestz.com Amir Oren and Natasha Mozgovaya

Gates says “..but it really IS Israel’s fault that America has security problems with the Muslim world and the Middle East…A palestinian state will sove EVERYTHING!!!”

Gates: Stalled talks affect US national security


US secretary of defense agrees with General Petraeus that stalled talks affect entire region

Reprinted from YNet News Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – “The absence of Middle East peace does affect US national security interests in the region,” US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Thursday.

Gates expressed fears that hostile elements will exploit the stalled peace talks.

“Lack of progress toward Middle East peace is clearly an issue that is exploited by our adversaries in the region and is a source of certainly political challenge,” he said. “Whether it has a direct impact, I’m not entirely sure. But there is no question that the absence of Middle East peace does affect US national security interests in the region.”

Gates, together with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, said that the political tension would not affect the important relationship between the IDF and the US military. Mullen said he had spoken to the IDF’s Chief of Staff Major-General Gabi Ashkenazi twice last week and that relations between the two armies continue to be extraordinarily strong.

Gates spoke in response to a question about last week’s comment by head of the US Central Command General David Petraeus, who is responsible for US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Petraeus expressed his concern that lack of progress in talks between Israel and the Palestinians would affect the entire region.

Testimony to the way the Arab world is carefully following the crisis echoed in the words of King Abdallah of Jordan, who said Thursday morning that Israel is “playing with fire” in continuing to build in east Jerusalem, and “trying to change the identity of the Holy City.”

He added that Israel’s unilateral moves in Jerusalem are “illegal and illegitimate and will lead to further crises.”

“East Jerusalem must be the capital of an independent Palestinian state, which must be established soon,” he said during an interview with newspaper editors in Jordan. “We have repeatedly warned that Israel is playing with fire, and Jordan denounces all steps that threaten to change the identity of Jerusalem and empty the city of its Arab, Christian and Muslim residents.

US citizens, however, are not angry. Despite the crisis and the harsh words spoken by US President Barack Obama and Israeli ministers, according to a CNN poll Israel is still considered an important friend among Americans.

The poll, conducted in the days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, reveals that most Americans see Israel as an ally of the US.

Some 41% of respondents said they considered Israel to be a friendly state, but not an ally. Some 39% said Israel was an ally, and only 12% said they considered Israel unfriendly to the US, while 5% described Israel as an enemy state.