The major port city of Ashkelon was hit by two short-range Kassam missiles Monday morning. No one was hurt. One rocket exploded inside a private home's yard and the other hit an unpopulated spot in Ashkelon's southern industrial zone.

The day after the latest victim of Gaza-based Islamist terrorism was buried, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman will visit Jerusalem Monday and meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Although the visit is not formally described in these terms, Suleiman will be presenting Hamas's demands to the Israeli government, and the government will presumably be answering the enemy through the Egyptian middleman. The Egyptian plan for an informal agreement between Israel and Hamas includes the following, Haaretz reports:

• Israel would agree to reopen the Rafiach crossing, and perhaps others as well, and stop all military activity inside Gaza.
• In exchange, Hamas would promise to stop the barrage of rockets and mortars at Israel and not to initiate murderous terrorist infiltrations from Gaza.
• This agreement would not be valid in Judea and Samaria at first, but after six months of a ceasefire, Egypt will make an effort to implement it in Judea and Samaria as well.

The Israeli cabinet discussed the Egyptian plan Sunday and ministers were asked for their opinions. Several ministers, including Avi Dichter, Roni Bar-On, Ze'ev Boim of Kadima and the ministers from Shas, opposed it. Boim said the deal would be no more than a temporary ceasefire, which would serve Hamas and the other terrorists, who would rearm, regroup, and then renew their attacks on Israel. "We need to keep hitting at the terror, just as in Judea and Samaria, and keep on operating like a lawn mower, forcing the terrorists' head down," Boim said.

Talk of 'Tahadiyeh'
A senior diplomatic source said Israel would have to accept the Egyptian offer in order to avoid appearing like it was opposed to a calm in the fighting. The Israeli side, including the media, has adopted the Arab terminology and uses the word "tahadiyeh" to refer to Hamas's proposal. The word refers to a temporary lull in
Several ministers, including Avi Dichter, Roni Bar-On, Ze'ev Boim and the ministers from Shas, opposed the Egyptian plan.
fighting used for gathering strength.

Olmert will be visiting Egypt himself this month. The visit was agreed upon by Olmert and President Hosni Mubarak when they spoke on April 30. The two agreed that the visit would take place after U.S. President George W. Bush visits Israel this Tuesday, and next week's Arab leaders' summit in Sharm al-Sheikh, where Bush will also be present.

Hamas recently started using upgraded 120-millimeter mortar shells against Israel's civilian population. Some of the shells have a rocket's booster engine and their range has been enlarged to between six and ten kilometers.

As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert increasingly hints that a final agreement with the Palestinian Authority is close, the Shas party steps up its threats to quit the government. As the agreement progresses, so does Shas' march out of the government.

Shas, Israel's Sephardic-hareidi-religious party, is the party on which the government coalition is currently most dependent. Until now, it has threatened to quit only if negotiations with the Palestinian Authority deal with the partition of Jerusalem.  Despite much evidence that such talks have, in fact, begun, Shas has maintained that no such talks are underway - while continuing to insist that it would quit the moment they begin.

Now, however - just three days before the arrival of U.S. President George Bush in honor of Israel's 60th birthday - Shas says that any agreement with the PA is dangerous enough to warrant quitting the government. 

Shas Can Bring Down Government
The government coalition currently numbers only 64 Knesset Members (out of 120).  The Pensioners Party, following its recent split, now has four MKs; it has not threatened to quit. Labor has 19 MKs, and it also appears to be solidly in the government - at least as long as there are no major developments in the police investigation of Olmert. Shas, however, with its 11 MKs, represents a major and constant threat to the integrity of the government coalition.

Shas political leader and Minister of Industry and Trade Eli Yishai said on Monday morning that he would recommend to his party's spiritual leaders that Shas should quit if an agreement is formulated with the Palestinian Authority.  "We will not lend our hand to any attempt to hand over territory to Hamas," Yishai said. 

Olmert told Newsweek last week that even if a final agreement is not reached by the end of the year, he hopes to have a type of "declaration of principles." Yishai related to this and said he would recommend quitting if "any dangerous shelf agreement is reached... Shas will not be part of a government that reduces the Jewish country and fills it with [Arab] refugees... Giving land to [PA and Fatah Chairman] Abu Mazen essentially means giving it to Hamas, as happened in Gaza.  It's obvious that if Abu Mazen can't make peace amidst his own people, how can he make peace with us?"

Even just attempting to formulate such an agreement is dangerous, Yishai said: "This mad dash to attain a virtual agreement will lead to a deterioration of our security... We are in favor of peace, but first there has to be peace within the PA. Until then, we have nothing to talk about with them regarding borders, territories, and refugees, and certainly not Jerusalem.  The only thing we can talk about is financial issues; if we make progress there, the terrorism will decrease."

Rabbis to Bush: Don't Meet With Olmert, Don't Help Destroy Jerusalem
Other religious elements are similarly suspicious of Olmert, and leading rabbis have written to Bush himself, asking him not to meet with the Israeli premier. 

"The Prime Minister is prepared to betray his country and homeland in order to save himself from the law," the Yesha Rabbis Council writes in a particularly strong letter.  "Do not let yourself be engraved in history as Nebuchadnezzar or Titus [who destroyed Jerusalem 2,500 and 2,000 years ago, respectively]."

Also signed on the letter are Rabbis Yaakov Yosef, David Druckman, Shmuel Eliyahu and Shalom Dov Wolpe.

Criticizing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, the letter states that American pressure on Israel to destroy Jewish towns, exile their residents and give up land has resulted in "Hamas control over Gaza, catastrophe for 2,000 families, and allowing our enemies to become stronger and present a major threat to millions of Jews... It is an unprecedented chutzpah for the US, at the same time that it fights terrorism on one front, to pressure Israel to give in to terrorists on another front!"

"In the name of the Nation of Israel, the Land of Israel, the Torah of Israel, and the G-d of Israel, we demand of your honor to cease pressuring Israel to give land to the Arabs.  We ask that you do not meet with Mr. Olmert on these matters, and certainly not during this period.  Mr. President, do not be engraved in history as Nebuchadnezzar and Titus, who destroyed Jerusalem.  You certainy recall that America does not benefit from causing harm to the Jewish People and its land.  If you work on behalf the integrity of the Land of Israel, we guarantee you and your country endless blessings." 

A poll published Monday by daily newspaper Yediot Acharonot showed that 59 percent of the public think Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should step down, or at least suspend himself voluntarily until the criminal investigation against him runs its course. Sixty percent of the public does not believe Olmert's claims that he never took any of the money given by Morris Talansky for his personal use.

The same poll would appear to show that Kadima, if headed by Tzipi Livni, could win the general elections if held today. The poll found that if the public had to choose between Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud), Tzipi Livni (Kadima), and Ehud Barak (Labor), Kadima would win 27 seats while the Likud would garner 23 seats and Labor would receive 15. Were Kadima to be headed by Sha'ul Mofaz, it would receive only 17 seats. Under Meir Sheetrit, Kadima would take just 13 parliamentary seats.

In a seeming contradiction, the poll showed that 37 percent of the public think that Netanyahu is the most fitting person to lead the country at present. Livni did not even come in second; Barak was the runner up, with 20 percent.

'Olmert - We're Behind You!'
The situation has created tension between Olmert and Livni, whose relations have been cool ever since last year, when Livni called for Olmert's resignation after publication of the interim report of the Winograd Commission on the Second Lebanon War. Olmert's confidantes noted that Livni has not been supportive of Olmert in the present crisis, preferring to keep mum and voice confidence in the police instead of expressing faith that Olmert will be acquitted, as other ministers have done.

A gathering of central Kadima activists was held in Petach Tikva Sunday night, and the group voiced loud support of Olmert. This is apparently meant to signal that Olmert is stronger politically than some may think, despite the latest investigation scandal. Olmert supporters shouted "Olmert – we are behind you!" and sent warnings to ministers who failed to publicly support the Prime Minister in his time of trouble.

'He Will Bury the Party'
The poll showed that 37 percent of the public think that Netanyahu is the most fitting person to lead the country at present. Livni did not even come in second.

Olmert has said that if the Attorney General decides to indict him, he will resign. This would lead to new elections, in which either Livni is likely to run as head of Kadima.  Some sources say Olmert is considering naming Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz as his successor, in place of Livni. According to other speculation, Olmert intends to make Livni's life difficult in order to bring about her resignation.

Senior Kadima sources quoted in Ynet called on Olmert to stop attacking Livni, because such criticism only damages Kadima in the end.  They also said that Olmert's political future was ending while Livni could turn out to be the leader who saves the party. "If Olmert hurts Livni he will wind up burying the party," they said.

Hundreds of World War II veterans of the Soviet Red Army marched proudly down Jerusalem’s main Jaffa Road, from Zion Square to IDF Square, to commemorate the allied victory over the Nazis 63 years ago.

The Sunday march in the capital was organized by Israel’s Absorption Ministry in honor of the tens of thousands of Israeli citizens, many of them immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who fought the Nazis during the Second World War. Similar events are taking place in cities throughout the Jewish State.

WWII veterans march down Jerusalem's Jaffa Road, commemorating the allied victory over the Nazis.
(Israel News Photo: Flash 90)

Up to 1.5 million Jews fought against the Nazis in various allied armies during the Holocaust, with tens of thousands more joining underground resistance groups. An estimated 30,000 veterans are now living in Israel.

The Jerusalem march was attended by government and city officials including Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, billionaire philanthropist Arkadi Gaydamak, Absorption Minister Yaakov Edry (Kadima) and Likud Party Chairman and Knesset Opposition Leader Binyamin Netanyahu. The annual march was accompanied by the Israel Police Band.

A Border Police officer stands guard as veterans of the war against the Nazis celebrate their victory as members of foreign armies.
(Israel News Photo: Flash 90)

Victory in Europe Day (called VE Day) is considered either May 7 or May 8, 1945, depending on the time zone in which the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. VE Day marked the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, though Hitler himself had already committed suicide on April 30. The surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, German President Karl Dönitz.

The surrender was signed on May 7 in Reims, France, and May 8 in Berlin, Germany.

Hana Levi Julian contributed to this report

Following a weekend of over 20 mortar shells and rockets, Hamas fired a rocket Sunday afternoon that narrowly missed a busload of students in the parking lot of Sapir College in Sderot. A car was damaged. 

Earlier this year, student Roni Yichye was killed by a Hamas-fired rocket in the same parking lot.

A second rocket fell in an open area in the western Negev, causing a fire and sending a man driving nearby into shock. Hamas terrorists also fired two mortar shells late Sunday, north and northeast of Gaza, causing no damage.

Over the weekend, terrorists in Gaza fired 22 Kassams and five mortar shells at Israel's western Negev areas. The tally: One man was killed by a shell on Friday night, two people were lightly wounded by shrapnel, others were treated for shock, and a house suffered a direct hit.

Over the course of Friday night, five Hamas terrorists were killed in an Israel Air Force anti-terrorist operation.

In other security-related news, Arabs in Gaza fired at an IDF unit near Kisufim late Sunday afternoon; no word on casualties. 

The Shaarei Mishpat (Gates of Justice) Law School in Hod HaSharon is opening its doors to Torah study - and will provide financial incentives to those who wish to take part.  The goal is to increase the proportion of Torah-observant lawyers into Israel's legal system.

The 11-year-old Shaarei Mishpat law school has decided to integrate high-level Torah studies into its law curriculum, and has charged Rabbi Avichai Katzin of Raanana with heading the new program.  Shaarei Mishpat announced that it wishes to "jump a level" and integrate "top level lawyers into Israel's justice system who are also Torah Jews specializing in Jewish Law." 

Those who study in the new program five hours a week will receive financial credit for other course in the college, and those who study at least ten weekly hours will receive credit for additional courses.  The Torah program will include study of Talmud (Gmara), Shulchan Arukh (Jewish Law), Jewish philosophy, Emunah (faith), and Mussar (ethics). 

Rabbi Katzin, the rabbi of the Lechu Neranena community in Raanana, formerly headed the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva High School there, and established the Reishit communal Beit Midrash program, designed for both religious and secular Jews.

"In Light of the Challenges Facing the Jewish Nation"
Dr. Aviad Cohen, Dean of the College, explained, "Having invested much thought and discussions regarding the challenges facing the Jewish Nation and the State of Israel, we have decided that the time is ripe to climb up to the next level and found a Beit Medrash (Torah study hall) within the college.  The integration of people with values, whose strengths are nourished from Jewish sources and the eternal values of the Jewish people, can and should have an influence on the character of the State of Israel for many years to come."

"Given this recognition," Cohen continued, "we wish to raise a generation of jurists for whom the Torah and the values of Jewish tradition are the center of their lives, and who excel academically, and who will be the front line of the jurists in Israel."

The college wishes to attract more religious youths into Israeli law, in light of the perceived loss of rabbinical court authority over the past several years.  The absence of religious and hareid-religious faces on the Supreme Court is also an impetus for the new program. 

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner of Beit El published an article in Maayanei HaYeshua, a weekly magazine aimed at the religious and newly-religious audience, in which he called upon young women not to enlist to the IDF. "If it is a challenge you are looking for," he wrote in an open letter to religious girls, "we have a wonderful challenge for you: [call for the] cancellation of young women's military service, until there is 'national service' for all of them, including the secular girls, just as secular women's groups demand. Create a movement of girls for cancelling the draft for young women. What a great challenge!"

Religious-Zionist rabbis have never come out so strongly against army service for girls, and in fact many religious girls have served in the army in the past.

Under the headline "Don't Enlist, G-d Forbid!," Rabbi Aviner wrote: "Never enlist in the army, in any framework and in any way. G-d forbid! Never!"  He mentioned that all of the great sages of modern Israel forbade women's service in the IDF, including the chief rabbis and religious-Zionist rabbis, some of whom served in the IDF and attained senior rank. "It is forbidden! Forbidden like unkosher food! Forbidden like work on Shabbat! And especially, forbidden like immodest dress!," he explained.

Rabbi Aviner rejected the argument offered by some young women, that they want to serve the country through the military service: "One does not do a mitzvah [commandment] by doing an aveira [transgression]," he explained. Women in the army causes damage to the army, he said: "The role of women in war is to support the men of the family who go to war, but their own enlistment is a Chilul HaShem [desecration of G-d's Name]."

'Ah, the Uniform!'
Rabbi Aviner questioned the true motive for the enlistment of young women: "You are not going to the army just for the country but for yourself. Be honest! You are going because it is a challenge, for the feeling and the experience, because it is a great window of opportunity – a profession, an education, academic studies. Generally speaking, being a soldier is an honor, and especially the uniform. Ah, the uniform!"
"You are not going to the army just for the country but for yourself. Be honest!"

The rabbi went on to suggest a plan of action: "As with any ideal, start with yourself. Then convince two girls who want to enlist to stop and see the light, and let each of them convince two others, and so on until we completely put an end to this evil. A mixed army is truly immodest, it is terrible…" If the IDF needs women, the Rabbi added, let it hire civilians.

Rabbi Aviner said that comparing service in the mostly-male military to membership in a mixed-sex religious youth movement is "a despicable lie." The military, he explained, is not a place where get whatever you ask for. "There is a regime. There is obedience. There are orders. You cannot switch jobs if your assignment turns out to be problematic. Not only that, even if you are well off, you could get
" We need you to function as a clean and pure woman, without a dark record from the past."
transferred to another, problematic unit." The IDF has no unit that is protected from mixed-gender mingling, he reminded his readers, and added that the situation in that respect is getting worse.

"Swimming against the current is an experience, but don't swim in a muddied stream," Aviner wrote. "We need you for the Nation of Israel for your whole life and not just for these two years. We need you to function as a clean and pure woman, without a dark record from the past. Do not harm the building of your delicate, pure, spiritual personality. The army is a place where others make decisions for you and you are not free. The general atmosphere is far from pure, as well. What could be fun and experiences for other girls may turn out to be a deep scar for your whole life."

A new Israeli law, which went into effect at the beginning of last month, bans Israelis from having their cars repaired in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas - and car thefts are already down significantly.

Israel Police's Etgar (Challenge) unit has been operating in recent months to dismantle the stolen car-parts industry - a mainstay of the economy of Arab villages in Judea and Samaria.  The industry is based largely on car parts mostly stolen from Israeli vehicles and then transplanted - illegally and unsafely - into Israeli cars.

Etgar detectives carried out, over the past week, enforcement activity in the Arab parts of Hevron, the village of Nabi Alias between Kfar Saba and Karnei Shomron, and elsewhere. The police confiscated several dozen cars in various stages of being repaired, and questioned many Arab workers in the relevant garages.  Police say the information will lead to indictments against the owners of the vehicles and of the tow-trucks that brought them to the Arab garages.

The findings thus far show that among those bringing cars to be repaired in the PA are dealers who buy totaled cars from insurance companies, bring them to the PA for "repair," and then sell them in "perfect condition" to the public at large.

The success of the new law and efforts have been successful, as the following statistics show:  In 2006, the average number of cars stolen daily in Israel was 93 - while this year, that number is down to 66, and only 59 in the month of April.

A7 Radio's  "Walter's World" with Walter Bingham

Also: All about the imaginary comfort in the Diaspora and an appeal to you to come home now, and save your children from having to face the inevitable later. And: The Walter’s World travel expert to give you the necessary advice. Plus: Remembering the fallen of our wars. And: A word about Ehud Olmert’s hypocracy.

Listen Now

or

Download

   
How to use XML?