….absolutely nothing besides ungratefulness:

Muhammas Hussein was waiting for his nephew Fayez, who has been jailed for five years. “It’s hard to say we are happy,” he said. “It’s true we are satisfied with Fayez’s release, but it’s hard to say that this move is even a drop in the sea, because it’s much less.

“What are 200 prisoners out of more than 10,000? I don’t know how they can talk about a gesture? What gesture? Where is the gesture?”

This is exactly why peace negotiations are describe as far from possible.

Did I mention that two of the Palestinian men released today were serving life sentences for murder?

Said al-Atba was convicted for his part in a 1977 explosion in Petah Tikva’s market that killed Russian immigrant Tzila Galili, 54, who had made aliya four years earlier. The longest-held Palestinian prisoner, Atba had been convicted of bomb-making, planting explosives, illegal military training and membership in a illegal organization.

Muhammad Abu Ali had been jailed for life for the fatal shooting of 20-year-old yeshiva student Joshua Saloma, a newly arrived Danish immigrant, in Hebron in 1980. He was later convicted of killing a Palestinian in jail whom he had accused of collaborating with Israel.

I can’t see how any of the prisioner releases will be worthwhile in the end.  As long as Hamas is in control of Palestine, peace negotians will never conclude and Olmert will continue to go down in history as the most damning Israeli Prime Minister ever.

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It sends a message to capture even more Israeli soldiers.

When Olmert decided to exchange several high profile Lebanese prisoners for two deceased Israeli soldiers, I was shocked.  His heart was in the right place but we’re not dealing with the usual suspects here.  It reveals the Israeli Achilles’ heal.  At the end of August, Olmert will do it again but this time releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners.

This news item from Palestine is EXACTLY why I think Olmert’s decision is fatally wrong:

PRC rehearses kidnapping of IDF soldier

The Salah al-Din Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), conducted an exercise in Beit Hanoun on Saturday in which it rehearsed a raid of an IDF base and the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier.

PRC spokesman Abu Abir told Ynet that the drill was aimed at sending a message that “if the Israelis don’t resolve the Palestinian prisoners issue soon and contemplate attacking Gaza, the Palestinian resistance is prepared to not only defend the Strip but also take the initiative and kidnap more soldiers who will never see the light of day unless a prisoner exchange deal is signed.”

It’s a veritable gold mine for the Palestinians.  Capture Israeli soldiers and be rewarded.

To ad insult to injury, the PRC spokesman added:

According to Abu Abir, some 50 PRC members took part in the drill, adding that the gunmen who portrayed the kidnapped IDF soldier “looked very much like Gilad Shalit”.

You’re poking the lion with that one, Mr. Abir.

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There’s a weekly magazine published here in Israel called Akbar Ha’eir, or, The City Mouse.  The last page always has a comic strip which I sometimes try to translate with my horribly elementary Hebrew skills and online dictionary.

I’m not quite sure I understood the complete gist of it but what I do know is the author is Israeli, supports Obama, and in the comic, she has Obama say “Allah” as a nod to his “Muslim” roots. gasp!

Putting Obama and Allah in the same sentence while on American soil may get you a beat down… or at least a tongue lashing.

But the thing is… it’s actually kinda funny. Americans need to take a lesson from this comic. It’s not necessary to be so completely overwhelmed with political correctness.

Remember the cover of The New Yorker?  Yeah.  The public reaction was a little out of hand, I’d say.  When in politics, all is fair game to criticism, sarcasm, and (above all) dark humor. HUMOR, people.

Israel represent….

The City Mouse Comic Strip July, 2008

A really horrible translation (I’m only an aleph talmidah, dammit!). Please assist if you can translate it properly:

1. (White cat) Tuna
2. (Black Cat) I can’t believe that I could see Obama in real life but I’m stuck here instead.
3. The air between Orna and Ella is a little complicated.
4. The new air (ventilation) there visible as if Will-E from big. (??)
5. Here’s Mom #1 and Mom #2.
6. (White Cat) I ate the tuna left on Rafi’s plate but it’s definitely rotten.
7. (Black Cat) I could have been pet by him….
8. It’s very refreshing, but….
9. No, Will-E more than charming.
10. I don’t think that they (the cats) are particularly fond of me.
11. They left the air conditioning on for me otherwise I might not survive.
12. Perhaps he would have scratched under my chin… or behind my ears….
13. “A black cat keeps appearing in my dreams. What in Allah’s name does it mean?”

Underneath:

Cat holding up sign below Obama: Sorry, Obama… Oh well (So what) Olmert,
Tilniski corruption but expel to Obama at the note Western Wall? Where’s the shame?

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In a surprise announcement two days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert decided to step down as Israel’s leader.  In the last six months, he’s been riddled with scandal over accepting large sums of money from a wealthy American entrepreneur.   Not to mention have single digit public support over his handling of the 2005 Lebanon War.

Unfortunately, his speech didn’t exactly help his public image:

source: Israellycool

It’s a little strange that Olmert and Bush are leaving office at nearly the same time.  Olmert will step down after his parties elections in September just before the American general elections voting for Bush’s successor.

Olmert would be losing the support of his jerk-off mate either way.  Doesn’t seem like a hard decision to vacate the Jewish throne…

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Ms. Missive is back!  pazowww!!

Corresponding from Israel and taking prisoners.  hmmm…  maybe that was a little out of taste.  (Gilad anyone?) No matter because she’s back and ready to bring some news from the the Holy Land.  Consider me the veteran who k’vetchs….  the soldier who shmolders… the patriot who, er, now I’m just making the shit up.

Whether we like it or not, Israel has an imense affect on our foreign policy.  It’s equally important to know what’s going on in the Middle East as it is to know about national issues  (And the article about the 40 lb cat I just read about on drudgereport.com doesn’t count). That’s where I come in!

Maybe it was (President) Obama’s visit to Israel last week that has inspired me.  Maybe it was the announcement last night that Prime Minister Olmert will resign as Israel’s leader.  Either way, I’m expecting a group hug welcoming me back.

Lets see where this crazy ride takes us!  yee haw!

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