Staying Real in Israel
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And, once again, Israel is leading the way…
Will the US (and Europe , of course) be smart enought to follow?

Israel seeks US support for ending oil dependency

The plan seeks to develop oil alternatives, including biofuels, synthetics, electric cars, and energy efficient vehicles.

Reprinted from Globes.co.il

National Economics Council chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel is trying to drum up US support for a plan for reducing oil dependency. Last week, he held a series of meetings in Washington to present Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan, approved by the cabinet in January, to develop oil alternatives, including biofuels, synthetics, electric cars, and energy efficient vehicles.

The Americans, who have their own plans, expressed interest in the Israeli plan, which is based on international cooperation. “The Americans see eye-to-eye with us on this,” said Kandel, who believes that there are grounds for cooperation in this field. “There is a complete meeting of interests, because the objective of the Israeli plan is to reduce dependency of the US and the whole world, not just by Israel.”

Kandel added, “It is very important for us that the US apply this regulation, because it will change the whole world. Transportation’s dependency on oil is because our vehicles run on a single kind of fuel, and converting them to several kinds of fuel will significantly lower dependence.” He noted that President Barack Obama has called on the US to serve as an example.

Kandel said, “Israel has begun to go out and seek interfaces with similar ventures in an attempt to focus them on this objective. We’ve met with a great many people, and explained that the focus should be put on this issue. This isn’t a comprehensive energy strategy, or that protecting the environment is less important, but compared with all other issues, reducing oil dependency should be given priority. This is an existential matter for us and for the US in the short term.”

(except in Israel, of course…)

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Iran, Iraq, the Palestinian Authority…All have experienced and continue to perpetuate ethnic cleansing of their Christian populations once the “democratic” revolutions have taken place…Why expect anything different in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan or Tunisia?…

And…Although only 1500 Jews remain in Tunisia, they fear for their safety as synagogues beef up protection in light of anti-Jewish demonstrations in the streets following the ouster of THEIR autocratic leader, Ben Ali…

Also…Rabbi Shmuley Boteach urges the Pope to promote “Shabbat Dinners” amongst his Catholic followers…This, as Rabbi Boteach promotes his new book about pop icon Michael Jackson, who, in Boteach’s words, “was a family man with strong values and love for his children”…Huh???

Plus…The Israeli public votes “National Religious” as the group that contributes most to the Israeli Army…

Tel Aviv Pedicure

How about topless female barber(ettes) in Tel Aviv…

Michelle Obama's Cousin...Rabbi Funnye

And President Barak Obama receives another letter calling for clemency for Jonathan Pollard…This time from a Jewish Rabbi…who happens to be First Lady Michelle Obama’s FIRST COUSIN!!!

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Israeli Arab citizens second class citizens? I don’t think so.
In fact, in some ways the JEWISH Israelis are discriminated against in favor of the Arabs.
For instance, in my community, Beduin families, Muslim Beduin families freely buy homes and move in to my neighborhood. In the surrounding Beduin cities, one of which is less than 500 yards from my home, nary a Jew to be found. They would not dare. The protests, threats and violence would be unbelievable, as previous attempts by Jews to move in to “Arab” cities in Israel have proven.
Nevertheless, the government of Israel continues to take international abuse from all quarters as being racist, discriminatory and apartheid…

Arab Businessman

Israeli minister: New fund to benefit Arabs


An Israeli Cabinet minister says a new government fund for the Arab sector could go a long way toward improving relations between the country’s Jews and Arabs

Reprinted from Businessweek.com

Avishai Braverman, the minister for minority affairs, said Monday the $214 million fund will boost economic growth and help make up for past discrimination against Israeli Arabs.

The Cabinet approved the fund Sunday. The money will be pumped into 10 Arab municipalities to create jobs, build new homes, improve public transportation and beef up security.

Arabs make up about 20 percent of Israel’s population. Their towns have frequently suffered from lower budgets than their Jewish counterparts.

Braverman said tapping into the Arab sector could bring tremendous economic benefit to Arabs and the country as a whole.

Hillary and the US show their true colors…
With friends like these, who needs enemies? Ramp up pressure on your best friend and ally? This is supposed to achieve a real and lasting peace? With the enemies of Israel that are launching missiles, rockets and bullets at Israeli citizens on a daily basis?
Thanks to the “Obama Intifada”, the Arabs have felt free to riot and attack Jewish civilians, soldiers and policemen every day for weeks now. They can taste blood, drawn by, of all people, the American administration. US actions and statements have forced the Israeli security forces to fight back against the Arab insurgency, which has led to the death of those same rioting Arabs.
It would not be inappropriate for the true supporters of Israel, who I hope are the attendees at the AIPAC meeting right now in America, to all stand up and walk out as Hillary begins to address the gathering.
Judging by her recent statements and actions, at the present time, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her boss, President Obama are NOT friends of Israel. They have no business addressing AIPAC…

Hillary Clinton and Friend, Suha Arafat

Clinton: Decision to escalate row with Israel ‘is paying off’


U.S. Secretary of State says pressure over East Jerusalem construction could restart negotiations.

Reprinted from Haaretz.com

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that the Obama administration’s decision to ramp up pressure on Israel over construction of Jewish homes in East Jerusalem was bringing results.

In an interview with BBC television, Clinton was asked whether escalating the tone with Israel had paid off.

She said: “I think we’re going to see the resumption of the negotiation track and that means that it is paying off because that’s our goal.”

Over the past two weeks Israel has sought to cool American ire over plans for 1,600 new homes in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish neighborhood that lies beyond the Green Line in East Jerusalem.

Clinton had described the announcement, which coincided with a visit to Israel by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and led Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to pull out of scheduled U.S.-mediated peace talks, as an “insult”.

It was now the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s duty to overcome opposition within his coalition government and ensure that the stalled negotiations moved forward, Clinton told the BBC.

“I think what the prime minister has said repeatedly is that his government and he personally are committed to pursuing these negotiations and he just has to make sure that he brings in everyone else,” she said.

“That’s his responsibility and it’s not something that the United States can or is interested in doing.”

Over the past few days the U.S has signaled its desire to move beyond the row over Ramat Shlomo and focus on restarting so-called the ‘proximity talks’ between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian officials told The Associated Press on Friday that it appeared unlikely Abbas would defy mounting international pressure for a return negotiations.

Israel also seems willing to return to the negotiating table.

At a news conference later Friday following a meeting of the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators in Moscow, Clinton indicated that Netanyahu is ready to address U.S. concerns.

“What I heard from the prime minister in response to the requests we made was useful and productive,” she said.

In a telephone call to Netanyahu last week, Clinton laid out U.S. expectations from Israel including a rollback to the housing plan, a gesture of good faith to the Palestinians and an express statement that all issues dividing Israel and the Palestinians, including the fate of divided Jerusalem, remain part of the negotiations.

Clinton said she expects to see Netanyahu in Washington next week, where both are to address the annual gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

President Obama had planned to be out of town during Netanyahu’s visit but canceled his trip to remain in Washington for a vote on his health care overhaul.

According to reports on Friday, the president has scheduled a last-minute meeting with Netanyahu.

Some countries would call this treason, like, for instance, any Arab country in the Middle East that Mr. Copti might choose to live in.(but he doesn’t…he chooses Israel) He is, in fact, a citizen of the State of Israel. Israel, by the way, helped fund this film which is giving Copti his 15 minutes of fame. He had no problem accepting the money and all the benefits of Israeli citizenship. He chooses to live in Israel, not anywhere else, as do all of the Arab citizens of the Jewish State. No one is keeping them here against their will.
How about a little grace? How about a little thankfulness for all the good you have received from your country?
You seem to be taking your freedom and human rights in Israel a bit for granted…
Copti says he doesn’t represent his home country,,the country that facilitated his advance in the movie industry and helped finance his film. I wonder just exactly who he DOES represent?…I guess just old selfish himself…

‘Ajami’ director: I don’t represent Israel


‘I cannot represent a state that does not represent me,’ Scandar Copti says just hours before Academy Awards ceremony

Reprinted from YNet News

“Ajami” co-director Scandar Copti said Sunday that he is not representing Israel at the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, just hours before his film competes in the best foreign film category.

“I am not the Israeli team and I am not representing Israel,” Copti told Channel 2. “It’s a very technical thing. This is how it works at the Oscars. It says Israel because the money comes from Israel. You have an Israeli director, you have a Palestinian director, you have Palestinian actors and Israeli actors.

International Success
‘Ajami’ gets real, aims for Oscar / Reuters
None of Israeli film’s actors imagined low-budget drama would earn nomination for best foreign language film at Academy Awards. Directors’ strategy was to find first-time actors who shared similar backgrounds with characters and who would infuse roles with real-life experience
Full story

“The film represents Israel technically, but I don’t represent Israel. I cannot represent a country that does not represent me.”

Yaron Shani, the film’s other co-director, does not agree with Copti. “It’s an Israeli film. It represents Israel, it speaks in the Israeli language and it deals with Israeli problems. The representation question refers to problems of perspectives and political problems which need to be solved,” Shani said in the same interview.

Following the remarks, Science and Technology Minister Daniel Herkowitz (Habayit Hayehudi) called on Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat to launch an inquiry into the film’s funding by the State of Israel.

“The person who directed the film with Israeli funding may cover himself with Hamas flags tonight. If the film wins an Oscar, this may be a Pyrrhic victory for the State of Israel,” the minister said.

In response to Copti’s remairs, Minister Livnat said, “The film ‘Ajami’ was produced and received an Oscar nomination thanks to funds from the State of Israel, which Scandar Copti now tries to renounce. Without the State’s support, Copti would not be walking on the red carpet tonight.”

She added, “It’s sad that a director who was supported by the State is renouncing those that made it possible for him to create and express himself. Fortunately, all the others who had a part in the film’s creation consider themselves part of the State of Israel and are proud to represent it.”

The film’s directors and stars attended several Hollywood events over the weekend ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony. Copti told Ynet earlier that winning was not the most important thing for him.

“It would be nice to get the prize, but we don’t need it. It’s not a must,” he said.

“Ajami” will be competing in the best foreign-language film category against “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” from Argentina, “The Milk of Sorrow” from Peru, “Un Prophete” from France, and “The White Ribbon” from Germany. It is the ninth Israeli movie to be nominated for an Oscar in this category.