| Week ending Shabbat, February 4, 2006 |
Shevat 6, 5766 |
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United States cuts aid to Hamas:
On Monday, Condoleezza Rice stated that the United States would cut off all financial aid to the Hamas government. She added that the US would continue humanitarian projects on a case-by-case basis. "The United States is not prepared to fund an organization that advocates the destruction of Israel, that advocates violence and that refuses its obligations," Rice said. She also acknowledged that the US previously had not recognized the depth of hostility the Palestinians had towards their leaders, which led to Hamas' victory.
Editor's note: Doesn't that mean they have been listening to the wrong sources?
Meanwhile a new bill is being formulated in the U.S. Congress following Hamas' political victory in the elections last week. The bill aims to designate the "Palestinian" Authority as a haven for terrorists. Presently being drafted, this bill will make the direct or indirect transfer of funds to the "Palestinians" much more difficult. If the bill passes it will enable the U.S. to place the "Palestinians" on a list of terror-supporting countries, resulting in severe sanctions on trade with the "Palestinian" Authority [PA] and the transfer of funds to it.
Amona:
Hundreds began assembling at the Amona (north of Jerusalem) outpost Monday with the intent to strengthen and support residents who plan on resisting security forces. The Hebron Jewish Council and Israeli security made an agreement that those in the Abraham Avinu neighborhood, the so-called illegal settlement in Hebron's marketplace area would leave their homes voluntarily by Monday night. Orit Struck, a member of the Hebron Jewish Council said, "We are not abandoning any property today. The families will leave soon, and within a short time, Jewish families will return to live on the property." Nearly 14,000 security forces are training for anticipated violent resistance.
On Wednesday several were wounded when security forces violently clashed with settlers as they attempted to destroy the so-called illegal settlement of Amona. Two members of Knesset, Aryeh Eldad and Effie Eitan, were among the 250 wounded in the clashes. Of the nine homes slated for destruction, seven were bulldozed before noon. Police reinforcements were called in from all over Israel. One policeman had to be airlifted to Hadassah Hospital after he was knocked unconscious by a cement block. Thirty other policemen were also wounded. Thousands of activists were throwing rocks and setting tires on fire from rooftops. Forty-three people were arrested and taken to the Ma'asiyahu prison in Ramle.
It's a Miracle!
A 2,000-year-old date seed planted about a year ago has sprouted and is now 14 inches tall. It is being grown at Kibbutz Ketura in the Negev, and it is the oldest seed to ever produce a viable young sapling. The seed was found with a large number of other seeds during archaeological excavations near Massada (near the south west end of the Dead Sea). Massada, built by king Herrod [the great], was the last Jewish stronghold following the 70 C.E. Roman destruction of the Holy Temple. Using carbon dating [with a 50 year margin of error], the age of the seed was determined to be around the time of the Massada revolt.
Elain Solowey of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is raising the plant. She has named it Metushelah (Methusaleh), after the 969-year-old grandfather of Noah, the oldest human being recorded in the Torah. Solowey said that although the plant’s leaves were pale at first, the young tree now looks "perfectly normal."
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