Obama and co. may soften sanctions on Sudan
The Obama administration seems to be doing its best in blurring the distinction between good and evil. Meanwhile here is some news on a National Fast concerning Darfur.
Five reasons why Obama will hike middle class taxes despite the rhetoric to the contrary.
Key Idea: He is a Keynesian at heart and so are his advisers.
Human Rights Watch slams Hamas.........I guess they finally saw through all the pro-Terror rhetoric.
A Chavez Thug may actually meet some justice.... Although I wouldn't hold my breath.
Gordon Brown insists Britain is still a Christian Country
But not for long....The Anglican Church is in severe decline, atheism is at an all-time high and the only religion that is gaining strength in the UK is Islam.
Wishful thinking from Hilary Clinton regarding Zimbabwe-South Africa
South Africa has enabled Mugabe's Zimbabwe and will likely (if post-colonial African history is a guide) follow the same policies towards self destruction in the future. However you have to at least appreciate Clintion's Pollyanna like effort....it has some value in its irony.
Canadian PM is not budging on Omar Khadr
I agree with Harper. Although Khadr should be tried in a US Court (not held indefinitely).
Michael Ignatieff has to tell us who he is..
The man changes position so often that I am not sure he knows himself.
Sotomayor confirmed
She replaces the liberal David Souter in the Court (so from that perspective it is awash) but for all those who champion the discriminatory policies of affirmative action this is a big win.
Obama aides sees signs of recovery but say it will be slow
Yes and at the end of it all future generations of Americans will have a huge mountain of debt to deal with.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Ratings of recently seen movies
Bruno- A far cry from Borat. This movie falls far short of the mark despite several funny scenes (the talk show, Hamas-Hummus jibe). Rating: 5/10
Hangover - A pleasant surprise. Hilarious and well directed. Although the movie took some licence with a slightly disjointed plot it delivered as expected in the humour department. Rating: 8/10
Transformers II - long, tedious and disappointing. Failed to reach the heights of the original and if it wasn't for the special effects I would classify this as a complete dud. Rating: 4/10.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Except for the Hogwarts shtick..I couldn't care less about ole' Harry 'Pothead' anymore. The series has run its course and this, the latest installment was indicative of the fact. Rating: 5/10
Hangover - A pleasant surprise. Hilarious and well directed. Although the movie took some licence with a slightly disjointed plot it delivered as expected in the humour department. Rating: 8/10
Transformers II - long, tedious and disappointing. Failed to reach the heights of the original and if it wasn't for the special effects I would classify this as a complete dud. Rating: 4/10.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Except for the Hogwarts shtick..I couldn't care less about ole' Harry 'Pothead' anymore. The series has run its course and this, the latest installment was indicative of the fact. Rating: 5/10
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Scramjets...All the Rage
Picture Courtesy of N ASANew Scientist sees them flying around the world in four hours......
For more on this marvel of aeronautics (planes can reach speeds of 10 Mach) go to NASA mission
On the Iraq Pullout...Not so fast
RAMADI, Iraq - The top U.S. general in Iraq said Tuesday that he disagrees with a colonel's memo urging an early troop withdrawal even though the security situation is better than expected since American forces turned over security in urban centers to the Iraqis more than a month ago.
Gen. Ray Odierno, the first senior American official to comment on the memo, told The Associated Press the Americans need to stay the course in Iraq.
The Iraqi security forces face corruption and other problems but "overall it's gone very, very well," he said. But, he added, the Americans are still needed to protect security gains.
For the full story go to MSN
Gen. Ray Odierno, the first senior American official to comment on the memo, told The Associated Press the Americans need to stay the course in Iraq.
The Iraqi security forces face corruption and other problems but "overall it's gone very, very well," he said. But, he added, the Americans are still needed to protect security gains.
For the full story go to MSN
I have moved house
For the fourth time in seven years I have moved location. However I do not plan to move again for a very long time...this is it. Too much impermeance is bad for the soul.....
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
From the World of Science
Is Pluto a Planet again?
I always believed that it was unfairly demoted now it appears that the case for reinstatement is gaining momentum..Mark Sykes an astronomer at the Planetary Institute in Tuscon puts forth this argument
if an object is big enough for its own gravity to squeeze it into a rounded shape, then call it a planet. That would make a planet of Pluto again, as well as Ceres and a growing number of other bodies
For more go to Pluto
Comets not Asteroids to blame for Moons Scarred face
It all happened 3.85 billion years ago...The clincher would be the discovery of ice.
Source Comets
Food Dye may ease Spinal Injury Severity
Its all about halting the rush of molecular changes that occur after an injury. Apparently the food dye Brilliant Blue G can help. Science never fails to surprise.
Source Food Dye
Low Level Cloud Cover and Global Warming
This further complicates the Rube Goldberg mechanism of feedback cycles that already influence climate change.
Source Cloud Cover
I always believed that it was unfairly demoted now it appears that the case for reinstatement is gaining momentum..Mark Sykes an astronomer at the Planetary Institute in Tuscon puts forth this argument
if an object is big enough for its own gravity to squeeze it into a rounded shape, then call it a planet. That would make a planet of Pluto again, as well as Ceres and a growing number of other bodies
For more go to Pluto
Comets not Asteroids to blame for Moons Scarred face
It all happened 3.85 billion years ago...The clincher would be the discovery of ice.
Source Comets
Food Dye may ease Spinal Injury Severity
Its all about halting the rush of molecular changes that occur after an injury. Apparently the food dye Brilliant Blue G can help. Science never fails to surprise.
Source Food Dye
Low Level Cloud Cover and Global Warming
This further complicates the Rube Goldberg mechanism of feedback cycles that already influence climate change.
Source Cloud Cover
Dersh gets it right again
Hamas 'New' Culture Wars
by Alan Dershowitz
Hamas, the terrorist organization that specializes in targeting civilians, has now decided, according to a New York Times headline, to shift “from rockets to culture war” in an effort to garner public support for its cause. Part of its ongoing public relations campaign is to portray the Israelis as the “new Nazis” and the Palestinians as the “new Jews.” In order to bring about this transformation, it must engage in a form of Holocaust denial that erases the historical record of widespread Palestinian complicity with the “old Nazis” in perpetrating the real Holocaust. It has become an important part of the mantra of Hamas supporters that neither the Palestinians people nor its leadership played any role in the Holocaust. Listen to Mohammad Ahmadinejad talking to students at Columbia University:
If [the Holocaust] is a reality, we need to still question whether the Palestinian people should be paying for it or not. After all, it happened in Europe. The Palestinian people had no role to play in it. So why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price of an event they had nothing to do with?...The Palestinian people didn’t commit any crime. They had no role to play in World War II. They were living with the Jewish communities and the Christian communities in peace at the time.
by Alan Dershowitz
Hamas, the terrorist organization that specializes in targeting civilians, has now decided, according to a New York Times headline, to shift “from rockets to culture war” in an effort to garner public support for its cause. Part of its ongoing public relations campaign is to portray the Israelis as the “new Nazis” and the Palestinians as the “new Jews.” In order to bring about this transformation, it must engage in a form of Holocaust denial that erases the historical record of widespread Palestinian complicity with the “old Nazis” in perpetrating the real Holocaust. It has become an important part of the mantra of Hamas supporters that neither the Palestinians people nor its leadership played any role in the Holocaust. Listen to Mohammad Ahmadinejad talking to students at Columbia University:
If [the Holocaust] is a reality, we need to still question whether the Palestinian people should be paying for it or not. After all, it happened in Europe. The Palestinian people had no role to play in it. So why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price of an event they had nothing to do with?...The Palestinian people didn’t commit any crime. They had no role to play in World War II. They were living with the Jewish communities and the Christian communities in peace at the time.
The conclusion that is supposed to follow from this “fact” is that the establishment of Israel in the wake of the Nazi genocide of the Jewish people was unfair to the Palestinians. Central to this claim is that neither the Palestinian people nor their leadership bore any responsibility for the Holocaust, and if any reparations are owed the Jewish people, it is from Germany and not from the Palestinians. The propounders of this historical argument suggest that the West created the Jewish state out of guilt over the Holocaust. It might have been understandable if a portion of Germany (or Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, France, Austria, or other collaborator nations) had been allocated for a Jewish homeland—but why Palestine? Palestine, according to this claim, was as much a “victim” as were the Jews.
The truth is that the Palestinian leadership, supported by the Palestinian masses, played a significant role in Hitler’s Holocaust.
The official leader of the Palestinians, Haj Amin al-Husseini, spent the war years in Berlin with Hitler, serving as a consultant on the Jewish question. He was taken on a tour of Auschwitz and expressed support for the mass murder of European Jews. He also sought to “solve the problems of the Jewish element in Palestine and other Arab countries” by employing “the same method” being used “in the Axis countries.” He would not be satisfied with the Jewish residents of Palestine—many of whom were descendants of Sephardic Jews who had lived there for hundreds, even thousands, of years—remaining as a minority in a Muslim state. Like Hitler, he wanted to be rid of “every last Jew.” As Husseini wrote in his memoirs, “Our fundamental condition for cooperating with Germany was a free hand to eradicate every last Jew from Palestine and the Arab world. I asked Hitler for an explicit undertaking to allow us to solve the Jewish problem in a manner befitting our national and racial aspirations and according to the scientific methods innovated by Germany in the handling of its Jews. The answer I got was: ‘The Jews are yours.’
For the rest go to the Source
Friday, July 24, 2009
In the News LIX
Joe Biden denounces Russian Invasion of Georgia
Georgia is an ally of the West it is important that we not let them down
(as the West did with the Czechs prior to WWII).
George Bush and Tony Blair in Africa
Success in Africa - You won't read much about this story line in the MSM but it is definitely newsworthy. Juxtapose this against the failure of the Clintonistas in the region.
Honour Killings on the rise in Canada
This phenomenon is growing in my home country under the cover of the twisted phrase of 'Reasonable Accomodation'. For more go to Jawa Report
Obama Approval rating at new low
Only 43% approve of his handling of healthcare for example. Has the Glean come off the Messiah? Meanwhile the Obama (not knowing all the facts) has unwisely chosen to stir the racial pot on the Henry Louis Gates issue. Larry Elder had this to say about the issue.
For more on the Obama stimulus package read: Rasmussen. 31% say the stimulus packages hurt the economy.
Rioting in South Africa
Georgia is an ally of the West it is important that we not let them down
(as the West did with the Czechs prior to WWII).
George Bush and Tony Blair in Africa
Success in Africa - You won't read much about this story line in the MSM but it is definitely newsworthy. Juxtapose this against the failure of the Clintonistas in the region.
Honour Killings on the rise in Canada
This phenomenon is growing in my home country under the cover of the twisted phrase of 'Reasonable Accomodation'. For more go to Jawa Report
Obama Approval rating at new low
Only 43% approve of his handling of healthcare for example. Has the Glean come off the Messiah? Meanwhile the Obama (not knowing all the facts) has unwisely chosen to stir the racial pot on the Henry Louis Gates issue. Larry Elder had this to say about the issue.
For more on the Obama stimulus package read: Rasmussen. 31% say the stimulus packages hurt the economy.
Rioting in South Africa
It is interesting to see how Zuma responds to this. I hope for the sake of the country that he does not take a leaf out of the playbook of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.
Crackdowns in Iran Continue
Something has to give. I still believe that Obama and co. missed the boat in driving this situation into a more favourale direction. The democracy moving was left hanging by the nation that is supposed to be the champion of liberal democracy.... What a shame.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Obama Track Record
by Dick McDonald
1. He promised to save 3 or 4 million jobs – we have lost 3.5 million jobs since January
2. He promised to hold unemployment to 8% - it is at 9.5% and skyrocketing
3. The Government’s tax receipts from corporations are down 55%
4. The Government’s tax receipts from individuals are down 27%
5. Obama passed a stimulus bill that has no chance of stimulating the economy.
6. Announced plan to tax job creators and kill old people to pay for a universal health plan no one wants
7. The deficit hit a record $1 trillion on July 14, 2009 on its way to a record $2 trillion by year end
8. The number of under-employed is at 20% and rising
9. Business is reeling from being told they will bear more of the tax burden and have reduced staff
10. Cap and Trade will add billions to the cost of all products sold in America – it will hurt the poor
11. New emission standards will add billions to transportation cost for everything
12. He has incurred more debt in 5 months than all the presidents before him (combined)
13. He has favored wealth re-distribution over job creation and economic growth
14. He bowed to a Saudi King and runs down America wherever he goes
15. He has taken sides favoring Islamic Palestinians over the Israelis1
16. He funds a Gestapo-like mob of ACORN brown shirts intimidating everyone
17. He voted against strict constructionists for SCOTUS
18. He is anti-gun and for post-birth abortions
19. He attended a black separatist church for twenty years and never heard the sermon
20. He has taken over General Motors and bankrupted little old ladies that invested in their bonds
21. He gave an equity interest in General Motors to an unsecured UAW debtor as a political payoff
22. He doesn’t hold his hand over his heart for the pledge of allegiance
23. His only solutions are to tax the rich directly or the poor indirectly
24 Gives Miranda Rights to the enemy on the battlefield
25. Wants to stop the CIA from killing enemy leaders during a war
26. Hires 30 Czars to run the country without vetting by Congress
27. He is an anti-capitalist that favors a socialist big government
28. He is against increasing domestic oil drilling in ANWR and offshore
29. He is against building nuclear plants
30. His ethanol addiction has caused corn shortages that precipitated starvation in the Third World
1. He promised to save 3 or 4 million jobs – we have lost 3.5 million jobs since January
2. He promised to hold unemployment to 8% - it is at 9.5% and skyrocketing
3. The Government’s tax receipts from corporations are down 55%
4. The Government’s tax receipts from individuals are down 27%
5. Obama passed a stimulus bill that has no chance of stimulating the economy.
6. Announced plan to tax job creators and kill old people to pay for a universal health plan no one wants
7. The deficit hit a record $1 trillion on July 14, 2009 on its way to a record $2 trillion by year end
8. The number of under-employed is at 20% and rising
9. Business is reeling from being told they will bear more of the tax burden and have reduced staff
10. Cap and Trade will add billions to the cost of all products sold in America – it will hurt the poor
11. New emission standards will add billions to transportation cost for everything
12. He has incurred more debt in 5 months than all the presidents before him (combined)
13. He has favored wealth re-distribution over job creation and economic growth
14. He bowed to a Saudi King and runs down America wherever he goes
15. He has taken sides favoring Islamic Palestinians over the Israelis1
16. He funds a Gestapo-like mob of ACORN brown shirts intimidating everyone
17. He voted against strict constructionists for SCOTUS
18. He is anti-gun and for post-birth abortions
19. He attended a black separatist church for twenty years and never heard the sermon
20. He has taken over General Motors and bankrupted little old ladies that invested in their bonds
21. He gave an equity interest in General Motors to an unsecured UAW debtor as a political payoff
22. He doesn’t hold his hand over his heart for the pledge of allegiance
23. His only solutions are to tax the rich directly or the poor indirectly
24 Gives Miranda Rights to the enemy on the battlefield
25. Wants to stop the CIA from killing enemy leaders during a war
26. Hires 30 Czars to run the country without vetting by Congress
27. He is an anti-capitalist that favors a socialist big government
28. He is against increasing domestic oil drilling in ANWR and offshore
29. He is against building nuclear plants
30. His ethanol addiction has caused corn shortages that precipitated starvation in the Third World
Wise words from Bibi
"Jerusalem is the "unified capital of Israel and the capital of the Jewish people, and sovereignty over it is indisputable. We cannot accept the notion that Jews will not have the right to buy apartments specifically in Jerusalem. I can only imagine what would happen if they were forbidden from purchasing apartments in New York or London; there would be an international outcry. This has always been Israel's policy and this is the policy of the current government."
Reading Time well spent
Gavin's Big Five
Five Areas that tend to consume about 90% of my reading time as of late.
1. Physics: Both Classic and Modern
2. Modern History - Philosophy of History
3. Jewish Philosophy
4. Political Commentary
5. Climate Change Science
Five Areas that tend to consume about 90% of my reading time as of late.
1. Physics: Both Classic and Modern
2. Modern History - Philosophy of History
3. Jewish Philosophy
4. Political Commentary
5. Climate Change Science
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Roger Federer - Tennis Genius
Roger Federer now has his fifteenth Grand Slam title which makes him the most succesful Grand Slam Tennis Player of All-Time.
He has gone ahead of the following illustrious ensemble and is my pick for the Greatest Player of all-Time. Kudos to the Swiss super talent.
(Player and Number of Slams won)
Sampras - 14
Emerson - 12 (took advantage of the Laver absentee years)
Laver - 11 (could have won twenty + if Professionals weren't barred for several years)
Borg -11
Tilden - 10
Rosewell - 8
Agassi -8
Connors -8
McEnroe -7 (My personal favourite)
Newcombe - 7
Wilander - 7
He has gone ahead of the following illustrious ensemble and is my pick for the Greatest Player of all-Time. Kudos to the Swiss super talent.
(Player and Number of Slams won)
Sampras - 14
Emerson - 12 (took advantage of the Laver absentee years)
Laver - 11 (could have won twenty + if Professionals weren't barred for several years)
Borg -11
Tilden - 10
Rosewell - 8
Agassi -8
Connors -8
McEnroe -7 (My personal favourite)
Newcombe - 7
Wilander - 7
Mussar Movement
I have been reading about the Mussar Movement lately and find it to be a very refreshing and forward thinking philosophy. The ideal encapsulates the vision of Judaism that appeals to me most. I have been disappointed before in my search for spiritual betterment so I still have some reservations but right now I am impressed with what I have read.
For more go to: http://www.mussarinstitute.org/
or
http://www.salantfoundation.org/
For more go to: http://www.mussarinstitute.org/
or
http://www.salantfoundation.org/
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa
The British and Irish Lions have been battling it out in my country of birth. The Springboks lead the Rugby Union Series 2-0 and could sweep their opponents with a win this coming weekend. However all games have been exciting - much as the famed 1980 series (which I remember from my childhood - South Africa triumphed 3-1) was. For more on the tour go to
http://www.lionsrugby.com/supportersclub/Benefits.php
http://www.lionsrugby.com/supportersclub/Benefits.php
Footer Roundup from last week.
Confederation Cup
The Confed Cup is the poor cousin of the World Cup and it lived up to expectations. The Italians underachieved, the Spaniards choked and the South Africans groaned their way to the semi-final. Kudos to Brazil for restoring the world order with a first rate display in the second half of the final (to win their third Confed Cup) but the tournament's real heroes were the Americans, who showed as they did in World Cup 2002, that they are not afraid to rub heads with football's elite.
European Under 21 Championship
England almost caused a rip in the space time continuum but in predictable fashion went down to the Germans in the final......this time in a torrent of bullets (4 to zero). Well done to Steve Pearce and co. for closing in on the finish line with nothing more than fumes.
I still don't know why they call it an Under 21 championship when there were several players in each squad who were older than 21.....go figure.
The Confed Cup is the poor cousin of the World Cup and it lived up to expectations. The Italians underachieved, the Spaniards choked and the South Africans groaned their way to the semi-final. Kudos to Brazil for restoring the world order with a first rate display in the second half of the final (to win their third Confed Cup) but the tournament's real heroes were the Americans, who showed as they did in World Cup 2002, that they are not afraid to rub heads with football's elite.
European Under 21 Championship
England almost caused a rip in the space time continuum but in predictable fashion went down to the Germans in the final......this time in a torrent of bullets (4 to zero). Well done to Steve Pearce and co. for closing in on the finish line with nothing more than fumes.
I still don't know why they call it an Under 21 championship when there were several players in each squad who were older than 21.....go figure.
In the News LVIII
Bernie Madoff sentenced to 150 years
I am interested in what he will have to say when he wins release in 2159. Seems as though the sentence fits the crime in this case. If he were convicted in Canada he would probably only receive five to ten years.
Coup D'Etat in Honduras
Manuel Zelaya was a threat to democracy and was on his way to establishing a dictatorship in the country (via an unconstitutional referendum) but his opponents should have sought redress and defeated him at the ballot box. A military coup d'etat is not the solution.
A Muslim Nation moves closer to Israel
Kudos to Azerbaijan for seeing the light. Who will follow next?
Pakistani troops hit out at Taliban at Swat
There was room for a pun in this one but I will let it go. Suffice it to say Pakistan is finally pulling its weight in their fight against Islamofascism.
United Nations continues its war against the Jews
This heading sounds severe - but I am tired of glossing over what is so obvious.
Mousavi - not really better than Ahmadinejad
Mir Hossein Mousavi a thug and is no champion of Freedom and Justice.
Iran needs a true democracy not another spokesperson for the Mullahs.
Is Obama getting tough with Cuba?
The better question is : How did he get this one by the Move.on.org crowd who so influence the Dems?
Affirmative Action defeated in Firefighter Case
The New York Times laments the Supreme Court verdict but those who believe in fairness and equality will champion it.
British PM Gordon Brown attempts to wreck tourism industry with added tax
Lets see the British economy is in the tank and our boy Gordon wants to burden it with further taxes.....Draw your own conclusion here.
Chavez continues his march toward dictatorship by threatening to remove a second TV Network from the air.
Still he remains the darling of the left. Proving once again when push comes to shove the left is totally hypocritical.
Hamas endorses Obama
Not exactly earth shattering but worth mentioning.
I am interested in what he will have to say when he wins release in 2159. Seems as though the sentence fits the crime in this case. If he were convicted in Canada he would probably only receive five to ten years.
Coup D'Etat in Honduras
Manuel Zelaya was a threat to democracy and was on his way to establishing a dictatorship in the country (via an unconstitutional referendum) but his opponents should have sought redress and defeated him at the ballot box. A military coup d'etat is not the solution.
A Muslim Nation moves closer to Israel
Kudos to Azerbaijan for seeing the light. Who will follow next?
Pakistani troops hit out at Taliban at Swat
There was room for a pun in this one but I will let it go. Suffice it to say Pakistan is finally pulling its weight in their fight against Islamofascism.
United Nations continues its war against the Jews
This heading sounds severe - but I am tired of glossing over what is so obvious.
Mousavi - not really better than Ahmadinejad
Mir Hossein Mousavi a thug and is no champion of Freedom and Justice.
Iran needs a true democracy not another spokesperson for the Mullahs.
Is Obama getting tough with Cuba?
The better question is : How did he get this one by the Move.on.org crowd who so influence the Dems?
Affirmative Action defeated in Firefighter Case
The New York Times laments the Supreme Court verdict but those who believe in fairness and equality will champion it.
British PM Gordon Brown attempts to wreck tourism industry with added tax
Lets see the British economy is in the tank and our boy Gordon wants to burden it with further taxes.....Draw your own conclusion here.
Chavez continues his march toward dictatorship by threatening to remove a second TV Network from the air.
Still he remains the darling of the left. Proving once again when push comes to shove the left is totally hypocritical.
Hamas endorses Obama
Not exactly earth shattering but worth mentioning.
Monday, June 29, 2009
I am keeping busy
I am hoping to start posting soon on a more frequent basis but I am swamped what with the end of school, the beginning of my new opportunity and the forthcoming house move. Nevertheless still true to myself I have managed to wangle in some readings on the Musser Movement, Economics Theory and Climate Change.
Yes I know the world is going down around me (Iran, Michael Jackson, Bernie Madoff and Honduras etc) but I expect to be back with more regular comm entries and opinions in a day or two.
Anyone seen my life jacket.......
Gavin
Yes I know the world is going down around me (Iran, Michael Jackson, Bernie Madoff and Honduras etc) but I expect to be back with more regular comm entries and opinions in a day or two.
Anyone seen my life jacket.......
Gavin
Monday, June 15, 2009
Netanyahu's Speech..The Full Text
Honored guests, citizens of Israel.
Peace has always been our people's most ardent desire. Our prophets gave the world the vision of peace, we greet one another with wishes of peace, and our prayers conclude with the word peace.
We are gathered this evening in an institution named for two pioneers of peace, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, and we share in their vision.
Two and half months ago, I took the oath of office as the Prime Minister of Israel. I pledged to establish a national unity government - and I did. I believed and I still believe that unity was essential for us now more than ever as we face three immense challenges - the Iranian threat, the economic crisis, and the advancement of peace.
The Iranian threat looms large before us, as was further demonstrated yesterday. The greatest danger confronting Israel, the Middle East, the entire world and human race, is the nexus between radical Islam and nuclear weapons. I discussed this issue with President Obama during my recent visit to Washington, and I will raise it again in my meetings next week with European leaders. For years, I have been working tirelessly to forge an international alliance to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Confronting a global economic crisis, the government acted swiftly to stabilize Israel's economy. We passed a two year budget in the government - and the Knesset will soon approve it.
And the third challenge, so exceedingly important, is the advancement of peace. I also spoke about this with President Obama, and I fully support the idea of a regional peace that he is leading.
I share the President's desire to bring about a new era of reconciliation in our region. To this end, I met with President Mubarak in Egypt, and King Abdullah in Jordan, to elicit the support of these leaders in expanding the circle of peace in our region. I turn to all Arab leaders tonight and I say: "Let us meet. Let us speak of peace and let us make peace." I am ready to meet with you at any time. I am willing to go to Damascus, to Riyadh, to Beirut, to any place- including Jerusalem.
I call on the Arab countries to cooperate with the Palestinians and with us to advance an economic peace. An economic peace is not a substitute for a political peace, but an important element to achieving it. Together, we can undertake projects to overcome the scarcities of our region, like water desalination or to maximize its advantages, like developing solar energy, or laying gas and petroleum lines, and transportation links between Asia, Africa and Europe.
The economic success of the Gulf States has impressed us all and it has impressed me. I call on the talented entrepreneurs of the Arab world to come and invest here and to assist the Palestinians - and us - in spurring the economy. Together, we can develop industrial areas that will generate thousands of jobs and create tourist sites that will attract millions of visitors eager to walk in the footsteps of history - in Nazareth and in Bethlehem, around the walls of Jericho and the walls of Jerusalem, on the banks of the Sea of Galilee and the baptismal site of the Jordan. There is an enormous potential for archeological tourism, if we can only learn to cooperate and to develop it.
I turn to you, our Palestinian neighbors, led by the Palestinian Authority, and I say: Let's begin negotiations immediately without preconditions.
Israel is obligated by its international commitments and expects all parties to keep their commitments. We want to live with you in peace, as good neighbors. We want our children and your children to never again experience war: that parents, brothers and sisters will never again know the agony of losing loved ones in battle; that our children will be able to dream of a better future and realize that dream; and that together we will invest our energies in plowshares and pruning hooks, not swords and spears.
I know the face of war. I have experienced battle. I lost close friends, I lost a brother. I have seen the pain of bereaved families. I do not want war. No one in Israel wants war.
If we join hands and work together for peace, there is no limit to the development and prosperity we can achieve for our two peoples - in the economy, agriculture, trade, tourism and education - most importantly, in providing our youth a better world in which to live, a life full of tranquility, creativity, opportunity and hope.
If the advantages of peace are so evident, we must ask ourselves why peace remains so remote, even as our hand remains outstretched to peace? Why has this conflict continued for more than sixty years?
In order to bring an end to the conflict, we must give an honest and forthright answer to the question: What is the root of the conflict?
In his speech to the first Zionist Conference in Basel, the founder of the Zionist movement, Theodore Herzl, said about the Jewish national home "This idea is so big that we must speak of it only in the simplest terms." Today, I will speak about the immense challenge of peace in the simplest words possible.
Even as we look toward the horizon, we must be firmly connected to reality, to the truth.
And the simple truth is that the root of the conflict was, and remains, the refusal to recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own, in their historic homeland.
In 1947, when the United Nations proposed the partition plan of a Jewish state and an Arab state, the entire Arab world rejected the resolution. The Jewish community, by contrast, welcomed it by dancing and rejoicing. The Arabs rejected any Jewish state, in any borders.
Those who think that the continued enmity toward Israel is a product of our presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, is confusing cause and consequence. The attacks against us began in the 1920s, escalated into a comprehensive attack in 1948 with the declaration of Israel's independence, continued with the fedayeen attacks in the 1950s, and climaxed in 1967, on the eve of the Six-Day War, in an attempt to tighten a noose around the neck of the State of Israel. All this occurred during the fifty years before a single Israeli soldier ever set foot in Judea and Samaria.
Fortunately, Egypt and Jordan left this circle of enmity. The signing of peace treaties have brought about an end to their claims against Israel, an end to the conflict. But to our regret, this is not the case with the Palestinians. The closer we get to an agreement with them, the further they retreat and raise demands that are inconsistent with a true desire to end the conflict.
Many good people have told us that withdrawal from territories is the key to peace with the Palestinians. Well, we withdrew. But the fact is that every withdrawal was met with massive waves of terror, by suicide bombers and thousands of missiles.
We tried to withdraw with an agreement and without an agreement. We tried a partial withdrawal and a full withdrawal. In 2000 and again last year, Israel proposed an almost total withdrawal in exchange for an end to the conflict, and twice our offers were rejected. We evacuated every last inch of the Gaza strip, we uprooted tens of settlements and evicted of Israelis from their homes, and in response, we received a hail of missiles on our cities, towns and children.
The claim that territorial withdrawals will bring peace with the Palestinians, or at least advance peace, has up till now not stood the test of reality. In addition to this, Hamas in the south, like Hizbullah in the north, repeatedly proclaims their commitment to "liberate" the Israeli cities of Ashkelon, Beersheba, Acre and Haifa.
Territorial withdrawals have not lessened the hatred, and to our regret, Palestinian moderates are not yet ready to say the simple words: Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, and it will stay that way.
Achieving peace will require courage and candor from both sides, and not only from the Israeli side. The Palestinian leadership must arise and say: "Enough of this conflict. We recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own in this land, and we are prepared to live beside you in true peace."
I am yearning for that moment, for when Palestinian leaders say those words to our people and to their people, then a path will be opened to resolving all the problems between our peoples, no matter how complex they may be. Therefore, a fundamental prerequisite for ending the conflict is a public, binding and unequivocal Palestinian recognition of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. To vest this declaration with practical meaning, there must also be a clear understanding that the Palestinian refugee problem will be resolved outside Israel's borders. For it is clear that any demand for resettling Palestinian refugees within Israel undermines Israel's continued existence as the state of the Jewish people.
The Palestinian refugee problem must be solved, and it can be solved, as we ourselves proved in a similar situation. Tiny Israel successfully absorbed tens of thousands of Jewish refugees who left their homes and belongings in Arab countries. Therefore, justice and logic demand that the Palestinian refugee problem be solved outside Israel's borders. On this point, there is a broad national consensus. I believe that with goodwill and international investment, this humanitarian problem can be permanently resolved.
So far I have spoken about the need for Palestinians to recognize our rights. In am moment, I will speak openly about our need to recognize their rights. But let me first say that the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel has lasted for more than 3500 years. Judea and Samaria, the places where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, David and Solomon, and Isaiah and Jeremiah lived, are not alien to us. This is the land of our forefathers.
The right of the Jewish people to a state in the land of Israel does not derive from the catastrophes that have plagued our people. True, for 2000 years the Jewish people suffered expulsions, pogroms, blood libels, and massacres which culminated in a Holocaust - a suffering which has no parallel in human history. There are those who say that if the Holocaust had not occurred, the state of Israel would never have been established. But I say that if the state of Israel would have been established earlier, the Holocaust would not have occured.
This tragic history of powerlessness explains why the Jewish people need a sovereign power of self-defense. But our right to build our sovereign state here, in the land of Israel, arises from one simple fact: this is the homeland of the Jewish people, this is where our identity was forged.
As Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaimed in Israel's Declaration of Independence: "The Jewish people arose in the land of Israel and it was here that its spiritual, religious and political character was shaped. Here they attained their sovereignty, and here they bequeathed to the world their national and cultural treasures, and the most eternal of books."
But we must also tell the truth in its entirety: within this homeland lives a large Palestinian community. We do not want to rule over them, we do not want to govern their lives, we do not want to impose either our flag or our culture on them.
In my vision of peace, in this small land of ours, two peoples live freely, side-by-side, in amity and mutual respect. Each will have its own flag, its own national anthem, its own government. Neither will threaten the security or survival of the other. These two realities - our connection to the land of Israel, and the Palestinian population living within it - have created deep divisions in Israeli society. But the truth is that we have much more that unites us than divides us.
I have come tonight to give expression to that unity, and to the principles of peace and security on which there is broad agreement within Israeli society. These are the principles that guide our policy. This policy must take into account the international situation that has recently developed. We must recognize this reality and at the same time stand firmly on those principles essential for Israel.
I have already stressed the first principle - recognition. Palestinians must clearly and unambiguously recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people.
The second principle is: demilitarization. The territory under Palestinian control must be demilitarized with ironclad security provisions for Israel. Without these two conditions, there is a real danger that an armed Palestinian state would emerge that would become another terrorist base against the Jewish state, such as the one in Gaza. We don't want Kassam rockets on Petach Tikva, Grad rockets on Tel Aviv, or missiles on Ben-Gurion airport. We want peace.
In order to achieve peace, we must ensure that Palestinians will not be able to import missiles into their territory, to field an army, to close their airspace to us, or to make pacts with the likes of Hizbullah and Iran. On this point as well, there is wide consensus within Israel. It is impossible to expect us to agree in advance to the principle of a Palestinian state without assurances that this state will be demilitarized. On a matter so critical to the existence of Israel, we must first have our security needs addressed.
Therefore, today we ask our friends in the international community, led by the United States, for what is critical to the security of Israel: Clear commitments that in a future peace agreement, the territory controlled by the Palestinians will be demilitarized: namely, without an army, without control of its airspace, and with effective security measures to prevent weapons smuggling into the territory - real monitoring, and not what occurs in Gaza today. And obviously, the Palestinians will not be able to forge military pacts. Without this, sooner or later, these territories will become another Hamastan. And that we cannot accept.
I told President Obama when I was in Washington that if we could agree on the substance, then the terminology would not pose a problem. And here is the substance that I now state clearly:
If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitirization and Israel's security needs, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people, then we will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarized Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state.
Regarding the remaining important issues that will be discussed as part of the final settlement, my positions are known: Israel needs defensible borders, and Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel with continued religious freedom for all faiths. The territorial question will be discussed as part of the final peace agreement. In the meantime, we have no intention of building new settlements or of expropriating additional land for existing settlements.
But there is a need to enable the residents to live normal lives, to allow mothers and fathers to raise their children like families elsewhere. The settlers are neither the enemies of the people nor the enemies of peace. Rather, they are an integral part of our people, a principled, pioneering and Zionist public.
Unity among us is essential and will help us achieve reconciliation with our neighbors. That reconciliation must already begin by altering existing realities. I believe that a strong Palestinian economy will strengthen peace.
If the Palestinians turn toward peace - in fighting terror, in strengthening governance and the rule of law, in educating their children for peace and in stopping incitement against Israel - we will do our part in making every effort to facilitate freedom of movement and access, and to enable them to develop their economy. All of this will help us advance a peace treaty between us.
Above all else, the Palestinians must decide between the path of peace and the path of Hamas. The Palestinian Authority will have to establish the rule of law in Gaza and overcome Hamas. Israel will not sit at the negotiating table with terrorists who seek their destruction. Hamas will not even allow the Red Cross to visit our kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who has spent three years in captivity, cut off from his parents, his family and his people. We are committed to bringing him home, healthy and safe.
With a Palestinian leadership committed to peace, with the active participation of the Arab world, and the support of the United States and the international community, there is no reason why we cannot achieve a breakthrough to peace.
Our people have already proven that we can do the impossible. Over the past 61 years, while constantly defending our existence, we have performed wonders.Our microchips are powering the world's computers. Our medicines are treating diseases once considered incurable. Our drip irrigation is bringing arid lands back to life across the globe. And Israeli scientists are expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. If only our neighbors would respond to our call - peace too will be in our reach.
I call on the leaders of the Arab world and on the Palestinian leadership, let us continue together on the path of Menahem Begin and Anwar Sadat, Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein. Let us realize the vision of the prophet Isaiah, who in Jerusalem 2700 years ago said: "nations shall not lift up sword against nation, and they shall learn war no more."
With God's help, we will know no more war. We will know peace.
Peace has always been our people's most ardent desire. Our prophets gave the world the vision of peace, we greet one another with wishes of peace, and our prayers conclude with the word peace.
We are gathered this evening in an institution named for two pioneers of peace, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, and we share in their vision.
Two and half months ago, I took the oath of office as the Prime Minister of Israel. I pledged to establish a national unity government - and I did. I believed and I still believe that unity was essential for us now more than ever as we face three immense challenges - the Iranian threat, the economic crisis, and the advancement of peace.
The Iranian threat looms large before us, as was further demonstrated yesterday. The greatest danger confronting Israel, the Middle East, the entire world and human race, is the nexus between radical Islam and nuclear weapons. I discussed this issue with President Obama during my recent visit to Washington, and I will raise it again in my meetings next week with European leaders. For years, I have been working tirelessly to forge an international alliance to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Confronting a global economic crisis, the government acted swiftly to stabilize Israel's economy. We passed a two year budget in the government - and the Knesset will soon approve it.
And the third challenge, so exceedingly important, is the advancement of peace. I also spoke about this with President Obama, and I fully support the idea of a regional peace that he is leading.
I share the President's desire to bring about a new era of reconciliation in our region. To this end, I met with President Mubarak in Egypt, and King Abdullah in Jordan, to elicit the support of these leaders in expanding the circle of peace in our region. I turn to all Arab leaders tonight and I say: "Let us meet. Let us speak of peace and let us make peace." I am ready to meet with you at any time. I am willing to go to Damascus, to Riyadh, to Beirut, to any place- including Jerusalem.
I call on the Arab countries to cooperate with the Palestinians and with us to advance an economic peace. An economic peace is not a substitute for a political peace, but an important element to achieving it. Together, we can undertake projects to overcome the scarcities of our region, like water desalination or to maximize its advantages, like developing solar energy, or laying gas and petroleum lines, and transportation links between Asia, Africa and Europe.
The economic success of the Gulf States has impressed us all and it has impressed me. I call on the talented entrepreneurs of the Arab world to come and invest here and to assist the Palestinians - and us - in spurring the economy. Together, we can develop industrial areas that will generate thousands of jobs and create tourist sites that will attract millions of visitors eager to walk in the footsteps of history - in Nazareth and in Bethlehem, around the walls of Jericho and the walls of Jerusalem, on the banks of the Sea of Galilee and the baptismal site of the Jordan. There is an enormous potential for archeological tourism, if we can only learn to cooperate and to develop it.
I turn to you, our Palestinian neighbors, led by the Palestinian Authority, and I say: Let's begin negotiations immediately without preconditions.
Israel is obligated by its international commitments and expects all parties to keep their commitments. We want to live with you in peace, as good neighbors. We want our children and your children to never again experience war: that parents, brothers and sisters will never again know the agony of losing loved ones in battle; that our children will be able to dream of a better future and realize that dream; and that together we will invest our energies in plowshares and pruning hooks, not swords and spears.
I know the face of war. I have experienced battle. I lost close friends, I lost a brother. I have seen the pain of bereaved families. I do not want war. No one in Israel wants war.
If we join hands and work together for peace, there is no limit to the development and prosperity we can achieve for our two peoples - in the economy, agriculture, trade, tourism and education - most importantly, in providing our youth a better world in which to live, a life full of tranquility, creativity, opportunity and hope.
If the advantages of peace are so evident, we must ask ourselves why peace remains so remote, even as our hand remains outstretched to peace? Why has this conflict continued for more than sixty years?
In order to bring an end to the conflict, we must give an honest and forthright answer to the question: What is the root of the conflict?
In his speech to the first Zionist Conference in Basel, the founder of the Zionist movement, Theodore Herzl, said about the Jewish national home "This idea is so big that we must speak of it only in the simplest terms." Today, I will speak about the immense challenge of peace in the simplest words possible.
Even as we look toward the horizon, we must be firmly connected to reality, to the truth.
And the simple truth is that the root of the conflict was, and remains, the refusal to recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own, in their historic homeland.
In 1947, when the United Nations proposed the partition plan of a Jewish state and an Arab state, the entire Arab world rejected the resolution. The Jewish community, by contrast, welcomed it by dancing and rejoicing. The Arabs rejected any Jewish state, in any borders.
Those who think that the continued enmity toward Israel is a product of our presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, is confusing cause and consequence. The attacks against us began in the 1920s, escalated into a comprehensive attack in 1948 with the declaration of Israel's independence, continued with the fedayeen attacks in the 1950s, and climaxed in 1967, on the eve of the Six-Day War, in an attempt to tighten a noose around the neck of the State of Israel. All this occurred during the fifty years before a single Israeli soldier ever set foot in Judea and Samaria.
Fortunately, Egypt and Jordan left this circle of enmity. The signing of peace treaties have brought about an end to their claims against Israel, an end to the conflict. But to our regret, this is not the case with the Palestinians. The closer we get to an agreement with them, the further they retreat and raise demands that are inconsistent with a true desire to end the conflict.
Many good people have told us that withdrawal from territories is the key to peace with the Palestinians. Well, we withdrew. But the fact is that every withdrawal was met with massive waves of terror, by suicide bombers and thousands of missiles.
We tried to withdraw with an agreement and without an agreement. We tried a partial withdrawal and a full withdrawal. In 2000 and again last year, Israel proposed an almost total withdrawal in exchange for an end to the conflict, and twice our offers were rejected. We evacuated every last inch of the Gaza strip, we uprooted tens of settlements and evicted of Israelis from their homes, and in response, we received a hail of missiles on our cities, towns and children.
The claim that territorial withdrawals will bring peace with the Palestinians, or at least advance peace, has up till now not stood the test of reality. In addition to this, Hamas in the south, like Hizbullah in the north, repeatedly proclaims their commitment to "liberate" the Israeli cities of Ashkelon, Beersheba, Acre and Haifa.
Territorial withdrawals have not lessened the hatred, and to our regret, Palestinian moderates are not yet ready to say the simple words: Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, and it will stay that way.
Achieving peace will require courage and candor from both sides, and not only from the Israeli side. The Palestinian leadership must arise and say: "Enough of this conflict. We recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own in this land, and we are prepared to live beside you in true peace."
I am yearning for that moment, for when Palestinian leaders say those words to our people and to their people, then a path will be opened to resolving all the problems between our peoples, no matter how complex they may be. Therefore, a fundamental prerequisite for ending the conflict is a public, binding and unequivocal Palestinian recognition of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. To vest this declaration with practical meaning, there must also be a clear understanding that the Palestinian refugee problem will be resolved outside Israel's borders. For it is clear that any demand for resettling Palestinian refugees within Israel undermines Israel's continued existence as the state of the Jewish people.
The Palestinian refugee problem must be solved, and it can be solved, as we ourselves proved in a similar situation. Tiny Israel successfully absorbed tens of thousands of Jewish refugees who left their homes and belongings in Arab countries. Therefore, justice and logic demand that the Palestinian refugee problem be solved outside Israel's borders. On this point, there is a broad national consensus. I believe that with goodwill and international investment, this humanitarian problem can be permanently resolved.
So far I have spoken about the need for Palestinians to recognize our rights. In am moment, I will speak openly about our need to recognize their rights. But let me first say that the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel has lasted for more than 3500 years. Judea and Samaria, the places where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, David and Solomon, and Isaiah and Jeremiah lived, are not alien to us. This is the land of our forefathers.
The right of the Jewish people to a state in the land of Israel does not derive from the catastrophes that have plagued our people. True, for 2000 years the Jewish people suffered expulsions, pogroms, blood libels, and massacres which culminated in a Holocaust - a suffering which has no parallel in human history. There are those who say that if the Holocaust had not occurred, the state of Israel would never have been established. But I say that if the state of Israel would have been established earlier, the Holocaust would not have occured.
This tragic history of powerlessness explains why the Jewish people need a sovereign power of self-defense. But our right to build our sovereign state here, in the land of Israel, arises from one simple fact: this is the homeland of the Jewish people, this is where our identity was forged.
As Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaimed in Israel's Declaration of Independence: "The Jewish people arose in the land of Israel and it was here that its spiritual, religious and political character was shaped. Here they attained their sovereignty, and here they bequeathed to the world their national and cultural treasures, and the most eternal of books."
But we must also tell the truth in its entirety: within this homeland lives a large Palestinian community. We do not want to rule over them, we do not want to govern their lives, we do not want to impose either our flag or our culture on them.
In my vision of peace, in this small land of ours, two peoples live freely, side-by-side, in amity and mutual respect. Each will have its own flag, its own national anthem, its own government. Neither will threaten the security or survival of the other. These two realities - our connection to the land of Israel, and the Palestinian population living within it - have created deep divisions in Israeli society. But the truth is that we have much more that unites us than divides us.
I have come tonight to give expression to that unity, and to the principles of peace and security on which there is broad agreement within Israeli society. These are the principles that guide our policy. This policy must take into account the international situation that has recently developed. We must recognize this reality and at the same time stand firmly on those principles essential for Israel.
I have already stressed the first principle - recognition. Palestinians must clearly and unambiguously recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people.
The second principle is: demilitarization. The territory under Palestinian control must be demilitarized with ironclad security provisions for Israel. Without these two conditions, there is a real danger that an armed Palestinian state would emerge that would become another terrorist base against the Jewish state, such as the one in Gaza. We don't want Kassam rockets on Petach Tikva, Grad rockets on Tel Aviv, or missiles on Ben-Gurion airport. We want peace.
In order to achieve peace, we must ensure that Palestinians will not be able to import missiles into their territory, to field an army, to close their airspace to us, or to make pacts with the likes of Hizbullah and Iran. On this point as well, there is wide consensus within Israel. It is impossible to expect us to agree in advance to the principle of a Palestinian state without assurances that this state will be demilitarized. On a matter so critical to the existence of Israel, we must first have our security needs addressed.
Therefore, today we ask our friends in the international community, led by the United States, for what is critical to the security of Israel: Clear commitments that in a future peace agreement, the territory controlled by the Palestinians will be demilitarized: namely, without an army, without control of its airspace, and with effective security measures to prevent weapons smuggling into the territory - real monitoring, and not what occurs in Gaza today. And obviously, the Palestinians will not be able to forge military pacts. Without this, sooner or later, these territories will become another Hamastan. And that we cannot accept.
I told President Obama when I was in Washington that if we could agree on the substance, then the terminology would not pose a problem. And here is the substance that I now state clearly:
If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitirization and Israel's security needs, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people, then we will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarized Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state.
Regarding the remaining important issues that will be discussed as part of the final settlement, my positions are known: Israel needs defensible borders, and Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel with continued religious freedom for all faiths. The territorial question will be discussed as part of the final peace agreement. In the meantime, we have no intention of building new settlements or of expropriating additional land for existing settlements.
But there is a need to enable the residents to live normal lives, to allow mothers and fathers to raise their children like families elsewhere. The settlers are neither the enemies of the people nor the enemies of peace. Rather, they are an integral part of our people, a principled, pioneering and Zionist public.
Unity among us is essential and will help us achieve reconciliation with our neighbors. That reconciliation must already begin by altering existing realities. I believe that a strong Palestinian economy will strengthen peace.
If the Palestinians turn toward peace - in fighting terror, in strengthening governance and the rule of law, in educating their children for peace and in stopping incitement against Israel - we will do our part in making every effort to facilitate freedom of movement and access, and to enable them to develop their economy. All of this will help us advance a peace treaty between us.
Above all else, the Palestinians must decide between the path of peace and the path of Hamas. The Palestinian Authority will have to establish the rule of law in Gaza and overcome Hamas. Israel will not sit at the negotiating table with terrorists who seek their destruction. Hamas will not even allow the Red Cross to visit our kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who has spent three years in captivity, cut off from his parents, his family and his people. We are committed to bringing him home, healthy and safe.
With a Palestinian leadership committed to peace, with the active participation of the Arab world, and the support of the United States and the international community, there is no reason why we cannot achieve a breakthrough to peace.
Our people have already proven that we can do the impossible. Over the past 61 years, while constantly defending our existence, we have performed wonders.Our microchips are powering the world's computers. Our medicines are treating diseases once considered incurable. Our drip irrigation is bringing arid lands back to life across the globe. And Israeli scientists are expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. If only our neighbors would respond to our call - peace too will be in our reach.
I call on the leaders of the Arab world and on the Palestinian leadership, let us continue together on the path of Menahem Begin and Anwar Sadat, Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein. Let us realize the vision of the prophet Isaiah, who in Jerusalem 2700 years ago said: "nations shall not lift up sword against nation, and they shall learn war no more."
With God's help, we will know no more war. We will know peace.
Friday, June 12, 2009
13 Maxims that I live by
1. Always have Faith in G-d
2. Make the most of an opportunity
3. Don't Panic
4. Think and Reason (no this doesn't contradict #1 - not at all)
5. Stand back from the detail if necessary
6. See yourself from above... not from below
7. Watch what you say
8. Never lose your sense of wonder
9. Rejoice in the Complexity
10. Don't compare yourself to others
11. Slow down to speed up
12. Pick your fights
13. Its ok to fall once in a while
2. Make the most of an opportunity
3. Don't Panic
4. Think and Reason (no this doesn't contradict #1 - not at all)
5. Stand back from the detail if necessary
6. See yourself from above... not from below
7. Watch what you say
8. Never lose your sense of wonder
9. Rejoice in the Complexity
10. Don't compare yourself to others
11. Slow down to speed up
12. Pick your fights
13. Its ok to fall once in a while
Sunday, June 07, 2009
In the News LVII
Obama woos Muslim World
There were several errors and rewrites of history in his speech but it could have been a lot worse. The Detroit Free Press had this to say. I personally liked David Horowitz's take.
Ralph Alter (American Thinker) nevertheless sees Obama as America's first Female President (you may want to avoid sharing this with your feminist friends).
Bad Economic Policy likely to make the situation in the US even worse.
Gerard Jackson of Brookes News has a first rate economic mind. He has the following to say about Obamanomics.
Gordon Brown sinks further into the sludge
Its really time that British electorate throw out Labour and elect a Conservative Government.
Chavez to expand oil nationalizations
Chavez is prepared to kill off all foreign investment to feed his ego - even if it means bankrupting his country. He already has substantial control of the air waves and is stifling freedom of speech.
Lebanese vote in General Election
If Hezbollah and their allies in the Free Patriotic Movement Movement come to power this could spell more trouble for the Israelis. I still can't believe that the Christian leader Michel Aoun is willing to ally himself with the Islamofascists of Hezbollah in the first place. The New York Slimes had this to say about the election.
More evidence of Al Qaeda's international outreach. (Sssh don't tell this to leftists apparently Islamist terror is an illusion). Jihad Watch reported on this article.
More on Al Qaeda in Algeria.
France gets tough on Iran.
Bravo Nicolas Sarkozy.
There were several errors and rewrites of history in his speech but it could have been a lot worse. The Detroit Free Press had this to say. I personally liked David Horowitz's take.
Ralph Alter (American Thinker) nevertheless sees Obama as America's first Female President (you may want to avoid sharing this with your feminist friends).
Bad Economic Policy likely to make the situation in the US even worse.
Gerard Jackson of Brookes News has a first rate economic mind. He has the following to say about Obamanomics.
Gordon Brown sinks further into the sludge
Its really time that British electorate throw out Labour and elect a Conservative Government.
Chavez to expand oil nationalizations
Chavez is prepared to kill off all foreign investment to feed his ego - even if it means bankrupting his country. He already has substantial control of the air waves and is stifling freedom of speech.
Lebanese vote in General Election
If Hezbollah and their allies in the Free Patriotic Movement Movement come to power this could spell more trouble for the Israelis. I still can't believe that the Christian leader Michel Aoun is willing to ally himself with the Islamofascists of Hezbollah in the first place. The New York Slimes had this to say about the election.
More evidence of Al Qaeda's international outreach. (Sssh don't tell this to leftists apparently Islamist terror is an illusion). Jihad Watch reported on this article.
More on Al Qaeda in Algeria.
France gets tough on Iran.
Bravo Nicolas Sarkozy.
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