Ted Cruz Gets Booed Off Stage At Middle East Christian Event

[OriZ 3,157]

Where were they in Iraq? Both times for that matter.

Do some research. You might be surprised.

[Curmudgeon 227]

The Onion is propaganda now? Fantastic.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The Onion is propaganda now? Fantastic.

Don't ever say you're not learning new things here on VJ.

[OriZ 3,157]

Father Gabriel Nadaf, a prominent leader of Israeli Christians, pleads for support from the global community in the war against Hamas terror.

Father Gabriel Nadaf joins a rally in Tel Aviv calling for protection of Christians under Islamic rule. (Photo: Voice of the Persecuted)

Father Gabriel Nadaf, a leader in the Greek-Orthodox church in Israel and a staunch supporter of the State of Israel, dispatched a letter to ambassadors from various countries stationed in Israel, calling on them to support Israel’s government and the IDF during OperationProtective Edge, to unite and fight terrorism and “to safeguard the Holy Land.”

Father Nadaf is a strong supporter of Arab Christians joining the IDF and is considered the spiritual father of the Israeli Christians in the IDF. He has been attacked because of his support of Israel, his family has been assaulted and threatened, and the church has even threatened to excommunicate him.

“In the name of Israeli Christians,” Father Nadaf wrote:

“Edmond Burke, the 18th-century Irish philosopher and political theorist, said, ‘The only thing necessary for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.’ Therefore, we are all brothers in the face of evil, with no regard to religion, race, and faith. The outcry about the atrocities we are crying out together. As the spiritual father of the Israeli Christians Forum, who encourages the recruitment of Israeli Christians to the IDF and full integration of Christians into the Israeli society, I would like to turn to you with a plea to support and back Israel, our Holy land, and its defense forces. The country is under fire and our soldiers are fighting against terrorist organizations, whose sole purpose and goal is to destroy the State of Israel.”

‘The World has to Wake Up’

“In the name of the Israeli Christians, I am crying out to the whole world, the world has to wake up! Terrorism acts don’t allow any chance for peace. If Hamas doesn’t safeguard its own people, Israel cannot be held responsible for their safety. Hamas is supposed to be protecting its own people but unfortunately, like all the terrorist organizations, it does the opposite, takes advantage of the civilian Gaza population and sacrifices its people. Therefore, the death of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza is the sole responsibility of Hamas. They are the only ones to blame.”

“Israel complied with Egypt’s offer of a cease fire, but Hamas refused. Israel cannot sit idle while the barrages of rockets are being fired on its civilians and it cannot allow the infiltration of terrorists into its space through tunnels whose sole purpose is killing Israeli civilians. The one big difference between Hamas and Israel is that the lives of Israeli civilians are very precious to the State and it will do everything in its power to protect them, regardless of religion.”

Christians are Suffering in Gaza under Hamas Rule

The letter continues to describe the plight of Christians in the region:

(Photo: Voice of the Persecuted)

“Since the takeover of Gaza, Hamas has done everything to force the Christians to disappear and flee from Gaza. They hate the Christians no less than they hate the Jews. Hamas is part of the Al-Qaida ideology and resolutions cannot be reached with them. Their refusal of the cease fire is a clear testimony to that.”

Father Nadaf criticizes the world’s response to Hamas aggression:

“Instead of reinforcing the State of Israel and the security it provides for the Christians and all of its citizens, it’s being boycotted and there are continued attempts to weaken it, which will lead to us becoming an easy prey like all the countries around us. The State of Israel is at the forefront of the battle against the terrorism that is trying to swallow the whole world. The flame of terrorism is going to reach every corner of the world and no country will be immune from the terrorist attacks. What is happening in Syria, Iraq, and Gaza will be happening in your country if you continue to do nothing.”

Father Nadaf finally relays a call for action: “Therefore, we all have to come together in unity and uproot terrorism. We should not be complacent and accept terrorism as a fact of life. We have to stop being indifferent about terrorists, who are exploiting our freedom and good spirit. I am calling on you, on behalf of the Israeli Christians, to support the IDF and the State of Israel in Operation ‘Protective Edge’ and to fight terrorism with us, in order to protect the Holy Land. For, if God forbid, our country falls in the hand of terrorists, a catastrophe will befall the entire world. May God bless you and bring justice and peace to the world. Amen!”

http://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-christians-the-world-must-unite-against-hamas/

I can go on and on about the difference between how Israel treats its Christians and how the rest of the region does. Wait, I already did.

Here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/511168-stop-blaming-israel-and-wake-up-the-black-flag-of-jihad-is-the-real-threat-to-the-world/#entry7200589

Here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/510738-abbas-hamas-plot-against-pa-threatens-unity-govt/#entry7195494

Here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/509471-the-we-are-not-anti-jews-just-anti-israel-myth/#entry7178229

and here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/505085-the-next-time-you-see-images-of-dead-women-and-children-remember-who-is-responsible/#entry7120030

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Do some research. You might be surprised.

Israel would have been listed between Iceland and Italy but it's obviously absent from the list of coalition members. I mean Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands made the list and they don't even have standing armies. But hey, that's probably just an oversight or poor research on part of the George W. Bush White House. I'm sure you'll copy and paste a wall of text soon that will show - in your mind at least - that Israel really bore the majority of the weight of this effort.

Who are the current coalition members?

President Bush is assembling a Coalition that has already begun military operations to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction, and enforce 17 UNSC resolutions.

The Coalition will also liberate the Iraqi people from one of the worst tyrants and most brutal regimes on earth.

Contributions from Coalition member nations range from: direct military participation, logistical and intelligence support, specialized chemical/biological response teams, over-flight rights, humanitarian and reconstruction aid, to political support.

Forty-nine countries are publicly committed to the Coalition, including:

Afghanistan

Albania

Angola

Australia

Azerbaijan

Bulgaria

Colombia

Czech Republic

Denmark

Dominican Republic

El Salvador

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Georgia

Honduras

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Japan

Kuwait

Latvia

Lithuania

Macedonia

Marshall Islands

Micronesia

Mongolia

Netherlands

Nicaragua

Palau

Panama

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Rwanda

Singapore

Slovakia

Solomon Islands

South Korea

Spain

Tonga

Turkey

Uganda

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States

Uzbekistan

[OriZ 3,157]

Israel would have been listed between Iceland and Italy but it's obviously absent from the list of coalition members. I mean Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands made the list and they don't even have standing armies. But hey, that's probably just an oversight or poor research on part of the George W. Bush White House. I'm sure you'll copy and paste a wall of text soon that will show - in your mind at least - that Israel really bore the majority of the weight of this effort.

Ok, now stop being the lazy researcher you normally are, and do some serious research. Let me know what you come up with.

P.S. did you ever see me say Israel's contribution was by sending large, conventional forces? Contribution can be in many other ways such as intelligence, small special forces etc.

Lazy.

[OriZ 3,157]

I guess I'll have to do the job for you like I always do. This is just in regards to the first gulf war. Look up the second one yourself.

It is true that Israel viewed Iraq as a serious threat to its security given its leadership of the rejectionist camp. Israeli concerns proved justified after the war began and Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at its civilian population centers. The Bush Administration had promised to prevent Iraq from attacking Israel, but the U.S. troops assigned to scour the desert for Scud missiles had poor intelligence and failed to destroy a single real missile (they did destroy several decoys) in nearly 2,500 missions (Jerusalem Post, January 30, 2003).

Israel has never asked American troops to fight its battles. Although Israeli forces were prepared to participate in the Gulf War, they did not because the United States asked them not to. Even after the provocation of the Scud missile attacks, Israel assented to U.S. appeals not to respond.

Israel Aids Allied War Effort

Israel was never expected to play a major role in hostilities in the Gulf. American officials knew the Arabs would not allow Israel to help defend them; they also knew U.S. troops would have to intervene because the Gulf states could not protect themselves.

Israel's posture reflected a deliberate political decision in response to American requests. Nevertheless, it did aid the United States' successful campaign to roll back Iraq's aggression. For example:

• The IDF was the sole military force in the region that could successfully challenge the Iraqi army. That fact, which Saddam Hussein understood, was a deterrent to further Iraqi aggression.
• By warning that it would take military measures if any Iraqi troops entered Jordan, Israel, in effect, guaranteed its neighbor's territorial integrity against Iraqi aggression.
• The United States benefited from the use of Israeli-made Have Nap air-launched missiles on its B­52 bombers. The Navy, meanwhile, used Israeli Pioneer pilotless drones for reconnaissance in the Gulf.
• Israel provided mine plows that were used to clear paths for allied forces through Iraqi minefields.
• Mobile bridges flown directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia were employed by the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Israeli recommendations, based upon system performance observations, led to several software changes that made the Patriot a more capable missile defense system.
• Israel Aircraft Industries developed conformal fuel tanks that enhanced the range of F­15 aircraft. These were used in the Gulf.
• General Dynamics has implemented a variety of Israeli modifications to improve the worldwide F­16 aircraft fleet, including structural enhancements, software changes, increased capability landing gear, radio improvements and avionic modifications.
• An Israeli-produced targeting system was used to increase the Cobra helicopter's night-fighting capabilities.
• Israel manufactured the canister for the highly successful Tomahawk missile.
• Night-vision goggles used by U.S. forces were supplied by Israel.
• A low-altitude warning system produced and developed in Israel was utilized on Blackhawk helicopters.
• Other Israeli equipment provided to U.S. forces included flack vests, gas masks and sandbags.
• Israel offered the United States the use of military and hospital facilities. U.S. ships utilized Haifa port shipyard maintenance and support on their way to the Gulf.
• Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981. Consequently, U.S. troops did not face a nuclear-armed Iraq.
• Even in its low-profile mode, Israeli cooperation was extremely valuable: Israel's military intelligence had focused on Iraq much more carefully over the years than had the U.S. intelligence community. Thus, the Israelis were able to provide Washington with detailed tactical intelligence on Iraqi military activities. Defense Secretary Richard Cheney said, for example, that the U.S. utilized Israeli information about western Iraq in its search for Scud missile launchers (UPI, March 8, 1991).
• Before, during and after the war, Israel also contributed intelligence to the United States.
• Rafael designed the Litening Targeting Pods used to fire precision weapons from the Marines' AV-8B Harrier jets, as well as F-15s and F-16s. Limited use was also made of an Israeli helmet system that allows a pilot to more easily target the enemy without maneuvering the aircraft into attack position.

During a visit to Israel May 30, 1991, Defense Secretary Cheney said: "We think that the cooperation that we were able to engage in during the war in the Gulf...emphasizes how important the [u.S.-Israel] relationship is and how well it works when put to the test."

Critics have argued that the U.S. desire for Israel to maintain a low profile to facilitate holding the coalition of Arab states opposing Iraq together reflects a diminution of Israel's strategic value; however, Israel was never expected to play a major role in hostilities in the Gulf. American officials knew the Arabs would have to be prepared to defend themselves. Moreover, the fact that it was possible to build this U.S.-Arab coalition at the same time U.S.-Israel strategic relations are closer than ever, illustrates the two are not contradictory. The United States can continue to strengthen its ties with Israel without worrying about jeopardizing ties with the Arab states.

What is it you ask? How did the PLO feel about all of this? Here you go.

The PLO, Libya and Iraq were the only members who opposed an Arab League resolution calling for an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. The intifada leadership sent a cable of congratulations to Saddam Hussein, describing the invasion of Kuwait as the first step toward the "liberation of Palestine" (Mideast Mirror, August 6, 1990).

PLO leader Yasir Arafat played a critical role in sabotaging an Arab summit meeting that was to have been convened in Saudi Arabia to deal with the invasion. Arafat, the New York Times observed (August 5, 1990), "diverted attention from the planned summit and helped capsize it" by showing up in Egypt with a "peace plan" devised by Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

According to an eyewitness account by Al-Ahram editor Ibrahim Nafei, Arafat worked hard to "water down" any anti-Iraq resolution at the August 1990 Arab League meeting in Cairo. Arafat "moved from delegation to delegation, hand in hand with Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, who was openly threatening some Gulf and other Arab delegates that Iraq would turn them upside down," Nafei wrote (Al-Ahram, August 12, 1990).

In Amman, Jordan, a PLO official warned that Palestinian fighters had arrived in Yemen. "We expect them to take suicidal operations against the American troops in Saudi Arabia if the Americans move against Iraq," he declared. "There are more than 50,000 Palestinian fighters" in both Kuwait and Iraq, he said, who "will defend the interests of Iraq" (UPI, August 10, 1990). Abul Abbas, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, threatened that "any American target will become vulnerable" should the United States attack Iraq (Reuters, September 4, 1990).

In Jenin, August 12, 1,000 Palestinians marched, shouting: "Saddam, you hero, attack Israel with chemical weapons" (Associated Press, August 12, 1990).

According to some sources, the PLO played an active role in facilitating Iraq's conquest of Kuwait. The logistical planning for the Iraqi invasion was at least partially based on intelligence supplied by PLO officials and supporters based in Kuwait. One Arab diplomat was quoted in the London Independent as saying that on arrival in Kuwait, Iraqi officials "went straight to their homes, picked them up and ordered them to go to work." The Iraqi Embassy had compiled its own list of key Kuwaiti personnel, said the diplomat, "but who helped them? Who were the skilled technicians who worked alongside the Kuwaitis and knew all this information?" he asked. "The Palestinians" (Jerusalem Post, August 8, 1990).

When the U.S. began massing troops in Saudi Arabia, Arafat called this a "new crusade" that "forebodes the gravest dangers and disasters for our Arab and Islamic nation." He also made clear his position on the conflict: "We can only be in the trench hostile to Zionism and its imperialist allies who are today mobilizing their tanks, planes, and all their advanced and sophisticated war machine against our Arab nation" (Sawt al-Sha'b, September 4, 1990).

Once the war began, the PLO Executive Committee reaffirmed its support for Iraq: "The Palestinian people stand firmly by Iraq's side." The following day, Arafat sent a message to Saddam hailing Iraq's struggle against "American dictatorship" and describing Iraq as "the defender of the Arab nation, of Muslims and of free men everywhere" (Agence France-Presse, February 26, 1991).

Arafat's enthusiasm for Hussein was undaunted by the outcome of the war. "I would like to take this opportunity to renew to your excellency the great pride that we take in the ties of fraternity and common destiny binding us," he said in November 1991. "Let us work together until we achieve victory and regain liberated Jerusalem" (Baghdad Republic of Iraq Radio Network, November 16, 1991).

[Expat1 971]

I have already proven numerous times that Expat likes to take things out of context, lie, and uses the three D's quite often...Distract, Divert and Distort...My wife is Christian and spent 4 years with me in Israel, you can ask her where is the one place in the middle east she would live in.

.......We ran into this “feigned ignorance” all the time in the Jewish and Israeli newsgroups. Any charge of bad behavior against Jews or Israelis was typically met by the extremely educated Jews and Israelis in the groups with, “And your evidence for this is?” We knew full well that they were knowledgeable about the bad behavior we were talking about, but they always faked ignorance...........

I did not copy and paste anything out of context. Not only is intolerance of Christianity in Israel ignored, it is encouraged and covered up.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9529123/Vatican-official-says-Israel-fostering-intolerance-of-Christianity.html

The Israeli government's failure to respond adequately to Jewish extremist attacks against churches and monasteries is fostering a climate of intolerance towards Christianity in the country, a senior Vatican official in Jerusalem has warned.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/call.for.fairer.treatment.of.evangelicals.in.israel/36311.htm

Rights and privileges often enjoyed by the more traditional denominations, such as the ability to hold officially recognised wedding ceremonies, arrange funerals, and other religious ceremonies and practices, are often denied to evangelical Christians.

"Evangelical Christians have dwelled in this land for many years and yet their churches do not have official recognition by the State. It is beyond time, that this recognition should be granted," said Dr Tunnicliffe.

http://mondoweiss.net/2012/03/the-myth-of-israels-favorable-treatment-of-palestinian-christians

Israel’s fundamental basis is as a racist state built for Jews only, and the majority of the Jewish population doesn’t really care what religion we are if we’re not Jewish. In my daily dealings with the State, all I have felt is rudeness and overt contempt.

Of course there are the videos of Isreali jews in religious garb harassing random Christian tourists on the street.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlT3ARuUSGc

And other reports on the ground of daily harassment:

In May 2008, hundreds of New Testaments were burned in Or Yehuda, Israel after having been collected by the Deputy Mayor who described the material as “Messianic propaganda” and then claimed that the books were burned by three Yeshiva students.

In May 2009 a Russian orthodox church in Northern Israel was showered with stones thrown by yeshiva students, injuring many of the congregation.

In 2009 a church in Israel was vandalized. Messages such as “We killed Jesus” and “Christians out” were written on it, as well as “#### off” which was adorned with a Star of David. Churchmen at the site also stated that the church doors are urinated on almost every day.

In 2012 a Greek Orthodox Christian monastery near Jerusalem was defaced with “Death to Christians”, and “Greeks out” slogans.

Jerusalem’s Christian community was said to feel increasingly under assault.

I'll say it again. Far from being our friends, Israel and the leadership there sh-ts on our principles on an ongoing, daily basis. You got a cartoon for that or do you want another list? Maybe posting pictures of Israelis dressing like santa in hospitals isn't the best propaganda tool for a country that bans Christmas trees or celebration of Christmas? Christmas trees are a provocation? Christmas is an issue of national security? I say it is if you are a nation of racist little bigots but it is not if you practice and exercise tolerance for others.

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/forbidden-celebrate-israels-war-christmas-continues-despite-netanyahus-claim

The ban on Christmas at Safad college is no isolated incident. For several years, Shimon Gapso, the notoriously racist mayor of the Israeli settlement of “Upper Nazareth” in the Galilee, has banned Christmas trees, calling them a provocation. “Nazareth Illit [upper Nazareth] is a Jewish city and it will not happen – not this year and not next year, so long as I am a mayor,” Gapso said.

According to journalist Jonathan Cook in Nazareth, such bans continue and are widespread this year with Israel’s state-financed rabbis warning hotels and restaurants that they will lose their kosher certifications if they put up trees or other Christmas decorations or hold Christmas events.

“In other words,” Cook says, “the rabbinate has been quietly terrorising Israeli hotel owners into ignoring Christmas by threatening to use its powers to put them out of business. Denying a hotel its kashrut (kosher) certificate would lose it most of its Israeli and foreign Jewish clientele.”

Edited September 13, 2014 by Expat1

[OriZ 3,157]

Interesting. I remember going to many Christmas celebrations with my wife, trees and all. lol. Keep digging for dirt. How Pathetic.

[OriZ 3,157]

This was really cool to see in person:

The city of Haifa, in northern Israel, has Jewish, Christian, Baha’i and Muslim residents, and so many religious holidays are celebrated there. In honor of the upcoming Christmas holiday, the Haifa Municipality approached local artist Hadas Itzcovitch about creating a Christmas tree for the city. Unfortunately (and perhaps symbolically) the tree went up the day the catastrophic Carmel fires began in the region. And so as 5000 hectares of natural trees were burning in the area, Itzcovitch’s tree made of recycled plastic bottles stood tall – reminding onlookers to think a little bit more about their environmental impact.

The tree itself is made of 5,480 recycled plastic bottles collected by the Municipality and energy-efficient LED lights. Itzcovitch created it together with her father, artist Ernest Itzcovitch, with the objective of raising awareness for environmental issues. - See more at: http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/tree-recycled-plastic-bottle/#sthash.aKWT2ZAR.dpuf

You can see the pictures of it if you click on the link.

My wife and I also had a tree and lights inside the house and lights on the windows which no one ever said a single word to us about. In Haifa there is actually a celebration called the festival of the holidays where Jews, Muslims and Christians together celebrate Ramadan, Christmas and Hanukkah.

Taking a few isolated incidents by an extreme minority and posting them all over the forum still doesn't make them any more than an exception to the rule, and something you can find in any country in the world including the US if you try hard enough. Jews attacking Christians, Christians attacking Jews, Jews attacking Muslims, Muslims attacking Jews, Muslims and Christians attacking each other - happens everywhere. But my conclusion about you has been the same for weeks now - you are not interested in human rights - your one life's mission is to try and find everything you can with which to smear and defame Israel and the Jews. That's all you care about and all you ever will. Unless you've spent a few years in Israel as a Christian or even a Jew, you have no clue...so keep on posting your garbage. I'll keep saying what I've been saying - America will never have a better friend than Israel in the ME and Christians will never have a safer place than Israel in the ME. That's not even my opinion, it's a fact based on decades of evidence. Although I keep waiting for someone to bring up the USS Liberty libel, shocked that has not happened yet.

Edited September 13, 2014 by OriZ

[Karee 4,191]

This was really cool to see in person:

The city of Haifa, in northern Israel, has Jewish, Christian, Baha’i and Muslim residents, and so many religious holidays are celebrated there. In honor of the upcoming Christmas holiday, the Haifa Municipality approached local artist Hadas Itzcovitch about creating a Christmas tree for the city. Unfortunately (and perhaps symbolically) the tree went up the day the catastrophic Carmel fires began in the region. And so as 5000 hectares of natural trees were burning in the area, Itzcovitch’s tree made of recycled plastic bottles stood tall – reminding onlookers to think a little bit more about their environmental impact.

The tree itself is made of 5,480 recycled plastic bottles collected by the Municipality and energy-efficient LED lights. Itzcovitch created it together with her father, artist Ernest Itzcovitch, with the objective of raising awareness for environmental issues. - See more at: http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/tree-recycled-plastic-bottle/#sthash.aKWT2ZAR.dpuf

You can see the pictures on it if you click on the link.

My wife and I also had a tree and lights inside the house and lights on the windows which no one ever said a single word to us about. In Haifa there is actually a celebration called the festival of the holidays where Jews, Muslims and Christians together celebrate Ramadan, Christmas and Hanukkah.

Taking a few isolated incidents by an extreme minority and posting them all over the forum still doesn't make them any more than an exception to the rule, and something you can find in any country in the world including the US if you try hard enough. Jews attacking Christians, Christians attacking Jews, Jews attacking Muslims, Muslims attacking Jews, Muslims and Christians attacking each other - happens everywhere. But my conclusion about you has been the same for weeks now - you are not interested in human rights - your one life's mission is to try and find everything you can with which to smear and defame Israel and the Jews. That's all you care about and all you ever will. Unless you've spent a few years in Israel as a Christian or even a Jew, you have no clue...so keep on posting your garbage. I'll keep saying what I've been saying - America will never have a better friend than Israel in the ME and Christians will never have a safer place than Israel in the ME. That's not even my opinion, it's a fact based on decades of evidence.

See the bolded underlined. That's what I'm talking about. They're not the same thing, no matter how much you, the Israeli govt, etc. want them to be. People are finally realizing there's a difference. I think in previous years the Israeli govt. did a great job of sending the message that Jews=Israel and vise versa. People are finally realizing that disagreeing with Israeli govt. policies, does not mean that you have a problem with Jewish people in general. And that's a good thing.

[OriZ 3,157]

I never said everyone does it. I am saying it specifically about Expat. He has proven to be doing it for months now with all his rabbinic posting, or about Jews getting rich at everyone else's expense before the holocaust etc. You should really pay close attention to his posts and see what he's all about.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

MBD to OriZ: I'm sure you'll copy and paste a wall of text soon that will show - in your mind at least - that Israel really bore the majority of the weight of this effort.

Was I right again or what? Damn!

OriZ:

I guess I'll have to do the job for you like I always do. This is just in regards to the first gulf war. Look up the second one yourself.

Israel Aids Allied War Effort

It is true that Israel viewed Iraq as a serious threat to its security given its leadership of the rejectionist camp. Israeli concerns proved justified after the war began and Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at its civilian population centers. The Bush Administration had promised to prevent Iraq from attacking Israel, but the U.S. troops assigned to scour the desert for Scud missiles had poor intelligence and failed to destroy a single real missile (they did destroy several decoys) in nearly 2,500 missions (Jerusalem Post, January 30, 2003).

Israel has never asked American troops to fight its battles. Although Israeli forces were prepared to participate in the Gulf War, they did not because the United States asked them not to. Even after the provocation of the Scud missile attacks, Israel assented to U.S. appeals not to respond.

What is it you ask? How did the PLO feel about all of this? Here you go.

Israel was never expected to play a major role in hostilities in the Gulf. American officials knew the Arabs would not allow Israel to help defend them; they also knew U.S. troops would have to intervene because the Gulf states could not protect themselves.

Israel's posture reflected a deliberate political decision in response to American requests. Nevertheless, it did aid the United States' successful campaign to roll back Iraq's aggression. For example:

• The IDF was the sole military force in the region that could successfully challenge the Iraqi army. That fact, which Saddam Hussein understood, was a deterrent to further Iraqi aggression.
• By warning that it would take military measures if any Iraqi troops entered Jordan, Israel, in effect, guaranteed its neighbor's territorial integrity against Iraqi aggression.
• The United States benefited from the use of Israeli-made Have Nap air-launched missiles on its B­52 bombers. The Navy, meanwhile, used Israeli Pioneer pilotless drones for reconnaissance in the Gulf.
• Israel provided mine plows that were used to clear paths for allied forces through Iraqi minefields.
• Mobile bridges flown directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia were employed by the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Israeli recommendations, based upon system performance observations, led to several software changes that made the Patriot a more capable missile defense system.
• Israel Aircraft Industries developed conformal fuel tanks that enhanced the range of F­15 aircraft. These were used in the Gulf.
• General Dynamics has implemented a variety of Israeli modifications to improve the worldwide F­16 aircraft fleet, including structural enhancements, software changes, increased capability landing gear, radio improvements and avionic modifications.
• An Israeli-produced targeting system was used to increase the Cobra helicopter's night-fighting capabilities.
• Israel manufactured the canister for the highly successful Tomahawk missile.
• Night-vision goggles used by U.S. forces were supplied by Israel.
• A low-altitude warning system produced and developed in Israel was utilized on Blackhawk helicopters.
• Other Israeli equipment provided to U.S. forces included flack vests, gas masks and sandbags.
• Israel offered the United States the use of military and hospital facilities. U.S. ships utilized Haifa port shipyard maintenance and support on their way to the Gulf.
• Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981. Consequently, U.S. troops did not face a nuclear-armed Iraq.
• Even in its low-profile mode, Israeli cooperation was extremely valuable: Israel's military intelligence had focused on Iraq much more carefully over the years than had the U.S. intelligence community. Thus, the Israelis were able to provide Washington with detailed tactical intelligence on Iraqi military activities. Defense Secretary Richard Cheney said, for example, that the U.S. utilized Israeli information about western Iraq in its search for Scud missile launchers (UPI, March 8, 1991).
• Before, during and after the war, Israel also contributed intelligence to the United States.
• Rafael designed the Litening Targeting Pods used to fire precision weapons from the Marines' AV-8B Harrier jets, as well as F-15s and F-16s. Limited use was also made of an Israeli helmet system that allows a pilot to more easily target the enemy without maneuvering the aircraft into attack position.

During a visit to Israel May 30, 1991, Defense Secretary Cheney said: "We think that the cooperation that we were able to engage in during the war in the Gulf...emphasizes how important the [u.S.-Israel] relationship is and how well it works when put to the test."

Critics have argued that the U.S. desire for Israel to maintain a low profile to facilitate holding the coalition of Arab states opposing Iraq together reflects a diminution of Israel's strategic value; however, Israel was never expected to play a major role in hostilities in the Gulf. American officials knew the Arabs would have to be prepared to defend themselves. Moreover, the fact that it was possible to build this U.S.-Arab coalition at the same time U.S.-Israel strategic relations are closer than ever, illustrates the two are not contradictory. The United States can continue to strengthen its ties with Israel without worrying about jeopardizing ties with the Arab states.

The PLO, Libya and Iraq were the only members who opposed an Arab League resolution calling for an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. The intifada leadership sent a cable of congratulations to Saddam Hussein, describing the invasion of Kuwait as the first step toward the "liberation of Palestine" (Mideast Mirror, August 6, 1990).

PLO leader Yasir Arafat played a critical role in sabotaging an Arab summit meeting that was to have been convened in Saudi Arabia to deal with the invasion. Arafat, the New York Times observed (August 5, 1990), "diverted attention from the planned summit and helped capsize it" by showing up in Egypt with a "peace plan" devised by Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

According to an eyewitness account by Al-Ahram editor Ibrahim Nafei, Arafat worked hard to "water down" any anti-Iraq resolution at the August 1990 Arab League meeting in Cairo. Arafat "moved from delegation to delegation, hand in hand with Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, who was openly threatening some Gulf and other Arab delegates that Iraq would turn them upside down," Nafei wrote (Al-Ahram, August 12, 1990).

In Amman, Jordan, a PLO official warned that Palestinian fighters had arrived in Yemen. "We expect them to take suicidal operations against the American troops in Saudi Arabia if the Americans move against Iraq," he declared. "There are more than 50,000 Palestinian fighters" in both Kuwait and Iraq, he said, who "will defend the interests of Iraq" (UPI, August 10, 1990). Abul Abbas, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, threatened that "any American target will become vulnerable" should the United States attack Iraq (Reuters, September 4, 1990).

In Jenin, August 12, 1,000 Palestinians marched, shouting: "Saddam, you hero, attack Israel with chemical weapons" (Associated Press, August 12, 1990).

According to some sources, the PLO played an active role in facilitating Iraq's conquest of Kuwait. The logistical planning for the Iraqi invasion was at least partially based on intelligence supplied by PLO officials and supporters based in Kuwait. One Arab diplomat was quoted in the London Independent as saying that on arrival in Kuwait, Iraqi officials "went straight to their homes, picked them up and ordered them to go to work." The Iraqi Embassy had compiled its own list of key Kuwaiti personnel, said the diplomat, "but who helped them? Who were the skilled technicians who worked alongside the Kuwaitis and knew all this information?" he asked. "The Palestinians" (Jerusalem Post, August 8, 1990).

When the U.S. began massing troops in Saudi Arabia, Arafat called this a "new crusade" that "forebodes the gravest dangers and disasters for our Arab and Islamic nation." He also made clear his position on the conflict: "We can only be in the trench hostile to Zionism and its imperialist allies who are today mobilizing their tanks, planes, and all their advanced and sophisticated war machine against our Arab nation" (Sawt al-Sha'b, September 4, 1990).

Once the war began, the PLO Executive Committee reaffirmed its support for Iraq: "The Palestinian people stand firmly by Iraq's side." The following day, Arafat sent a message to Saddam hailing Iraq's struggle against "American dictatorship" and describing Iraq as "the defender of the Arab nation, of Muslims and of free men everywhere" (Agence France-Presse, February 26, 1991).

Arafat's enthusiasm for Hussein was undaunted by the outcome of the war. "I would like to take this opportunity to renew to your excellency the great pride that we take in the ties of fraternity and common destiny binding us," he said in November 1991. "Let us work together until we achieve victory and regain liberated Jerusalem" (Baghdad Republic of Iraq Radio Network, November 16, 1991).

Edited September 13, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog

[Curmudgeon 227]

In the spirit of 'The Meaning of Lif', I nominate 'Caerfilly' as today's new word. Caerfilly - 'noun'. Meaning- a wall of text copied from a spurious source posted as a means to validate a point of argument on a message board which in fact serves no useful purpose other than to create the illusion that the poster 'knows that he is talking about'.

[Expat1 971]

you are not interested in human rights - your one life's mission is to try and find everything you can with which to smear and defame Israel and the Jews. That's all you care about and all you ever will.

No Oriz, these are not exceptions. If I wanted to "smear and defame Jews or Jewish beliefs" I would do so and if I wanted to post "lies and libel" I guess it would be difficult to find sources from the Vatican, from the Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, and from Palestinian Christians on the ground. 3 separate sources, same story, all match, and one thing for sure none of these three have much love for the other two.

I wasn't talking about Haifa. I was talking about Upper Nazareth. Is that story a lie? Is it defamatory to cut and paste the words of a nasty old bigot?

Major Protestant denominations that have been in the country for many years, such as the Assemblies of God, Baptists, and Lutherans, among others, are not recognized. Four religious communities that have applied for official recognition have had their applications pending for years: Ethiopian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Evangelical Alliance of Israel. Jehovah’s Witnesses presented two applications for recognition as a religious congregation, in 2003 and 2008, which were rejected.

Source:

Report on International Religious Freedom: Israel and the occupied territories

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

2011 Report on International Religious Freedom

Is this true or false Oriz? Is the State Department in cahoots with the Vatican who is in cahoots with the Evangelicals (that's a laugh) who are in cahoots with the Palestinian Christian community or are you actually thinking you can get away with fertilizing us again. Israel does NOT have religions freedom - they don't even recognize most religions - so lap up your BS and move on to something else.

Edited September 13, 2014 by Expat1