Ben Caspit/ Out from the bunker ,the Prime Minister arises to offense with Courage

(Ben Caspit-Ma'ariv)..After four months of playing defense, Binyamin Netanyahu took the offensive yesterday for the first time. Until now, it was a one-sided game. Suddenly, for a moment, it looks balanced. Now there is a worthy rival on the playing field. True, this is a bit reminiscent of the game between the elephants and the mice, when at half-time, when the elephants are leading 6-0, the mouse coach tells his players to "start getting tough," but Netanyahu's move yesterday was a wise tactical move. Obama backed him into a corner with the settlements? So Netanyahu, with a maneuver of his own, takes him into the opposite corner, with Jerusalem. Just as the settlements are a consensus in the US and around the world, Jerusalem is a consensus in Israel and within the Jewish people.

Finally, something that is truly worth fighting over. Both of them, Obama and Netanyahu, now hold each other by a sensitive place. Now we will see whether Obama is a real man. Whether he really intends to take this to the end.

Yesterday, Bibi made a tiebreaker move for the first time. At least for one moment, he dictated the pace. He made it clear to Obama that he had pushed him against the wall, and there was no place for him to back down. He stood up in the cabinet meeting and said it in his own voice, loud and clear

Likud minister Erdan to Ynet: US Pressure on Israel will only lead to Slowdown of Peace process

Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan to Ynet:"Prime Minister Netanyahu did very significant steps in a short time since he is in Office. He has real desire to promote the political Peace process. If I was a Palestinian and i see the pressure of The United States, I would think that refusing pays in the end of the day".

"If we experience a American demand from Israel not to build in the distance of hundred meters from the national staff and the Hebrew University, on private ground that was bought by law, Then the question is if it indeed promotes the peace process that the Americans object.Such unilateral demand that are put only to the doorstep of Israel, when the real problem is the Palestinian Authority that continue to refuse to start off and meet at the negotiation table, this can only lead to the slowdown of the peace process ".

Mr. Obama you can sting us as a Bee, but don't expect to lick from us Honey!

(Jacob Kornbluh)."What does [US President Barack Obama] think to himself? That after I built 20,000 homes in Jerusalem during my last term I'm going to stop the building of 20 more?" Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly said Sunday in closed conversations, according to Channels 10 and 2.

Sources close to the prime minister said that Obama "had crossed a red line" when his administration began demanding Israel cease building projects in its sovereign capital.

Mr. Obama and the State department,Opposition and the World can all come together and criticize Netanyahu's dispute and confrontation with the US as lack of communication between the two Leaders, that led to the Americans to toughen their stance on the issue of settlement construction and demand that Israel halt all development on a project in the east Jerusalem.

But the Truth is that from the First Day that Mr. Netanyahu entered his term as PM the US President openly displayed the differences the two Leaders share, and the different policies they believe in,instead of continuing the relationship as discreet and honorable, And it was Netanayhu that was told not to come to the US before he comes up with a Peace plan, It was Netanyahu that displayed his policy to the Public in what he agreed to a Palestinian State with Conditions that secure Israel's borders and that enjoys a wide Public support, It was Netanyahu that called on the Palestinian Leaders and the Arab leaders to meet for Peace Negotiations without any pre-condition, It was Netanyahu that was praised by US offiacials and by the Quartet envoy Tony Blair on his moves the past few weeks to ease the lives of the Palestinians in the West Bank, It was Obama himself that declared in Sderot last summer:that "Jerusalem will be the Capital of Israel,and its important that we dont slice the city in Half,but i've also said that is a final Status issue...and its not the Job of the US to dictate the form it which that will take..", and at tha Annual Aipac meeting he said it out Clear:"it must be clear that Jerusalem will remain the Capital of Israel, and it must remain undivded".

So PM Netanyahu is only expressing a wide Consensus Issue across Israel which crosses Party lines and was made clear over decades that Jerusalem is the Capital of the Jeish State of Israel, and that any issue of Settlement freeze or giving up land will be discussed during the Peace negotiations that have yet to take place, Netanyahu has the backing and the Support of the Israeli People to defend Israel's interests and will not compromise when it comes to issues that remain the main spin of stabilty and security of Israel, and as former PM Ehud Olmert wrote in the Washington post: ""The insistence now on a complete freeze on settlement construction -- impossible to completely enforce -- will not promote Palestinian efforts to enhance security measures; the institution building that is so crucial for the development of a Palestinian state; better movement and access to the Palestinians....It will not bring greater security to Israel, help improve Israel's relations with the Arab world, strengthen a coalition of moderate Arab states or shift the strategic balance in the Middle East".

It is not in Nobody's Interest to cross the lines and break up a relationship that has been in decades "a friendship anchored not in transitory interests, but in eternal values and timeless ideals. And these common ideals of liberty and democracy, are the foundation of the deep and enduring bond between the United States and Israel", But If President Obama wants to bring Peace to the region he has to recognize the sacrifice the Israeli people have gone through and realize that this government was elected by the Israeli people to Bring peace and Security, and if his trust diminishes and his efforts fail upon focusing on this Issues that the Majority of Israel cannot accept, History will not only judge him for not achieving peace Between Israel and its neighbors, but for giving up and fighting against the will of freedom and the stabilization of the Middle east region.

Netanyahu rebukes Shin Bet chief: Stay out of peace process

(Haaretz).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu silenced Shin Bet security service head Yuval Diskin as Diskin was making a presentation in Sunday's cabinet meeting on intelligence matters, which included references to Palestinian attitudes to Israel and the possible renewal of the peace process. "First focus on your issues and give an intelligence report. The diplomatic arena is not the responsibility of the Shin Bet, but of the national security adviser," Netanyahu told Diskin.

"Sir, in the past we also refered to these issues. If you want it to be different, it will be different," Diskin said to Netanyahu, cutting his presentation short.

Ministers present at the meeting told Haaretz Diskin appeared embarrassed by the incident, particularly because the national security adviser, Uzi Arad, was sitting nearby.

Netanyahu's rebuke apparently stemmed from a request by Arad, who has feuded with a number of senior defense officials over the past few months. Two weeks ago, when Arad headed a delegation to Washington to discuss the Iranian nuclear program, he quarreled with a senior Mossad official at his meetings. Senior officials at Military Intelligence also say he is difficult to work with.

Prime Minister's Office blasted Saeb Erekat for meeting with Iranian FM

(Jpost).The Prime Minister's Office blasted top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
for a meeting he held with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki,
saying it stands in stark contrast to the Palestinian refusal to negotiate
with the Netanyahu government.

"The Palestinian side has refused to allow the resumption of peace talks by
placing pre-conditions on such a resumption," said Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev, referring to the Palestinian demand that
Israel declare a total settlement freeze and accept a two-state solution
before negotiations can be renewed.

"It appears, however, that they have no qualms and place no pre-conditions
upon dialogue with the most extreme and violent enemies of peace."

Netanyahy says he's surprised by US demands but promises "I will not cave in" .

(Haaretz,Channel 2).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he had been "surprised" by a recent U.S. demand that Israel halt a construction project in a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem. "I was surprised by the U.S. move," the premier told his advisors. "In my conversation with [U.S. President Barack] Obama in Washington, I told him that I could not accept any limitations on our sovereignty in Jerusalem. I told him Jerusalem is not a settlement, and it has nothing to do with discussions on a freeze."

Netanyahu's comments came after both Israel Radio and Army Radio reported that the U.S. State Department summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren over the weekend to advise him that the project, developed by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz, should not go ahead. As of Sunday evening, the bureau has not received a response from U.S. officials to the report. "I won't cave in on this matter," Netanyahu pledged Sunday during consultations at his bureau.

The prime minister added: "During my previous tenure I built thousands of housing units in the [East] Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, and I went against the world. Therefore, it is clear that in the present situation I will not cave in, all the more so since this is a matter of 20 housing units only."

State of the economy index up

(Globes).The composite state-of-the-economy index, measured by the Bank of Israel, rose 0.2% in June.

The rise was the first since July, 2008. The Bank of Israel said it is still too early to estimate whether the rise signals a turning point in Israel's economy.

Obama in Sderot: Jerusalem Will Be Israel's Capital

Kadima MK's:Israel is United on Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel

Kadima Knesset member Otniel Schneller Slamming US Dept of State and American far left liberal so called ‘Pro-Israel’ groups like J-Street:

‘It is expected that the Sec of State Mrs. Clinton be in contact with the Government of Israel and respect the will of the vast majority of Jews globally, everywhere, that Jerusalem is the Capital of the State of Israel – And will not rely on the opinions through recent meetings of a small sector of radical American Jewish groups with close & intimate ties to the Obama administration..’

Yoel Hasson, Kadima’s Chair:

The American request is totally illegitimate. Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel, not a settlement - it is important that the American administration come to terms with these realities..

Netanyahu: Israel rule over Jerusalem not up for discussion

(Haaretz).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem was not a matter up for discussion. The prime minister's comments came after the U.S. State Department told Israeli envoy Michael Oren that Israel must halt a construction project in East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting that Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel and that all citizens are allowed to purchase property in any part of the city they choose:"Jerusalem is the unified capital of Israel and the capital of the Jewish people, and sovereignty over it is indisputable".

"Imagine what would happen if someone were to suggest Jews could not living or purchase [property] in certain neighborhoods in London, New York, Paris or Rome," he said,"The international community would certainly raise protest. Likewise, we cannot accept such a ruling on East Jerusalem," Netanyahu told ministers.

This is the policy of an open city, he said, and Israel would not accept a stance that counters that civil right,"Hundreds of apartments in the west of the city were purchased by Arabs and we didn't get involved. There is no prohibition against Arab residents buying apartments in the west of the city and there is no prohibition barring the city's Jewish residents from buying or building in the east of the city," Netanyahu added, "That is the policy of an open city that is not divided".

Netanyahu said that he had made this stance clear to U.S. President Barack Obama, declaring that the issue of construction in Jerusalem could not be linked to the discussion on settlements.

US officials praise Netanyahu moves towards Peace

(Jpost).Obama administration officials praised Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for steps he has taken to ease the conditions of Palestinians, as a way of continuing efforts to retool its message so that the onus for progress in the peace process isn't perceived as lying disproportionately with Jerusalem.

White House and State Department officials stressed Friday to The Jerusalem Post that they were pleased by measures that Netanyahu had taken to lift checkpoints in the West Bank and foster economic growth, as reports from the region mentioned improved economic and living conditions among Palestinians. The Israeli government has carried out several such actions in recent weeks but has felt they have been overlooked by the international community.

"We welcome the steps that Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken to increase access and movement for Palestinians in the West Bank," a State Department official told the Post. "While more remains to be done, these are important steps that will help improve the situation on the ground and help create the context for the early resumption of negotiations towards a final-status agreement."

Olmert sides with Netanyahu in a concensus act against Obama's pressure

(Americathinker).In a Washington Post op-ed intended to catch President Obama's attention, former Israeli Prime MInister Ehud Olmert urges the U.S. administration to stop obsessing about Jewish settlements and instead focus on Palestinian leader Mahmdoud Abbas's obstructionism in rejecting any realistic two-state solution.By lining up with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu against Obama's misbegotten diplomacy, Olmert demolishes a central tenet of the president's view of Israel's approach to peacemaking. 

Obama has made no secret of the fact that he views Netanyahu's Likud party as the main Israeli obstacle to the peace process.  His administration calculated that, if Likud and Netanyahu could be marginalized -- in Israel as well as among most American Jews -- Obama would be able to get greater concessions from Israel to move toward a two-state solution.

Olmert's article demolishes this scenario by making it clear that it's not just Likud that opposes a total freeze on construction in existing settlements, but that this is a widely held view across the entire Israeli spectrum.  Olmert's Kadima party is just as much at odds with Obama on this as is the Likud.It's also a signal to American supporters of Israel, including the Jewish community, that it's time to press Obama to focus on Abbas's rejectionism as the main obstacle -- not Netanyahu.

As Olmert reminds the president, it was a Kadima-led government that last year offered Abbas the equivalent of 100 percent of the West Bank, all of Gaza, a land link between the two, all Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem, internationalization of Temple Mount and the return of several thousand Palestinian refugees -- and Abbas nevertheless rejected Olmert's offer out of hand.

PM Netanyahu met secretly with Malaysia Defense Minister Hamidi in Paris

(Bernama) -- Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Friday he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the latter's request in France last month and explained Malaysia's stand on the West Asian issue.

He said Netanyahu had agreed to the conditions he (Dr Ahmad Zahid) had insisted on prior to the meeting, which was held during the Paris Air Show."I said that if he wanted to have a meeting with me, he should not bring along any Israeli aide or photographer and he should not indulge in double standards, and he agreed," Dr Ahmad Zahid told Malaysian reporters here.

He is on a six-day visit to Lebanon.Dr Ahmad Zahid said that at their meeting of 35 minutes, he stated that if Israel was sincere about establishing peace in West Asia, it should recognise the Palestinian government."If Israel wants to extend a hand to establish peace, it must not resort to violence against the people of Palestine and neighbouring countries," he said.

Aluf Benn / Don't worry Netanyahu, Obama peace plan is still far off

(Haaretz).All the reports emanating from Washington indicate that Obama will not issue a detailed peace plan any time soon. Netanyahu's fear - that Washington will demand that he withdraw from all the territories and divide Jerusalem - will not become reality in the near future. The administration distinguishes between "substance" and "process" and will now focus solely on creating the framework for negotiations and also probably on setting target dates for the parties involved. There is no reason for Netanyahu and his coalition to lose any sleep over that.

Netanyahu seemingly won this round, then, but that is no cause for joy on his part. Even the most optimistic assessment, even the most flattering to Netanyahu, shows that Obama has emerged from the arm-wrestling contest with a slight advantage. First of all, in an effort to get Obama off his back, Netanyahu had to accept the idea of "two states for two nations." Second, Obama dismissed Netanyahu's call that stopping Iran's nuclear project must precede any political move. Third, and most important, Netanyahu failed to establish relations of trust and intimacy with the president and the administration. He has no tacit agreement on policy. And it's not that he doesn't want it: Netanyahu's bureau is envious of the total coordination that existed between Ehud Olmert and the Bush administration.

The reports that emerged from Obama's meeting with America's Jewish leaders did not refer to even a single good word said by the president about the prime minister. Not even praise for Netanyahu's speech at Bar-Ilan University. Obama distinguishes between Israel and its prime minister. Nor did the leaders of the Jewish community come to praise Netanyahu and regale the president with his exploits. At the end of the day, Israel needs the United States far more than vice versa.

Prime minister Yitzhak Shamir also heroically resisted pressure on the settlements from president Bush, the elder, and from his secretary of state, James Baker, until missiles began to rain on Tel Aviv in the first Gulf War. America came to Israel's defense, but it exacted the price when it dragged Shamir to the 1991 Madrid Conference and helped topple him from power.

Still, Obama seems to have gone too far in his demand for a total settlement freeze, and he will have to swallow at least some of his pride. The moment America declared Israel's security a sacrosanct value, Netanyahu knew he would not face a threat of delays in the supply of spare parts for the air force, a tactic the previous administration resorted to, along with demanding the dismissal of top defense officials, when it wanted to punish Israel for selling arms to China. Netanyahu was also proven right in his belief that the Saudis would not come up with any generous gestures and that the Palestinians' refusal to renew the negotiations would play into his hands. There is nothing like Arab rejectionism to take the heat off Israel.

Obama made a mistake in ignoring Israeli public opinion. In so doing, he allowed Netanyahu to cobble together a political consensus against a settlement freeze, and to portray him as an unfriendly president who is toadying to the Arabs.

Olmert comes to Help of PM Netanyahu - slams US focus on West Bank settlement construction

(Jpost).Former prime minister Ehud Olmert denounced the focus of the US administration on Israel's West Bank settlement construction, saying that Americans must return their attention to negotiations in order to work towards peace.

In an Op-Ed titled 'How to Achieve Lasting Peace' published in the Washington Post on Friday, Olmert said that "the issue of settlement construction commands the agenda between the United States and Israel."

Calling the emphasis on settlements "a mistake," Olmert warned that not only does it not contribute to the peace process or relations with Arab states, but that it "has the potential to greatly shake US-Israeli relations."

While Olmert admitted that "settlements are a known issue of contention between Israel and the United States," he went on to describe understandings reached between the two states over the issue. He cited in detail agreements reached by former prime minister Ariel Sharon that include the prohibition of building new settlements or the provision of new land for construction, as well as the limitation of construction to certain building lines and the dismantling of "unauthorized outposts built after March 2001."

Olmert insisted that persistence to reach a complete freeze to construction was both "impossible to completely enforce" and "will not promote Palestinian efforts to enhance security measures; the institution building that is so crucial for the development of a Palestinian state; better movement and access to the Palestinians; nor an improved economy in the West Bank. Nor will it weaken the Hamas government in Gaza.

"It will not bring greater security to Israel, help improve Israel's relations with the Arab world, strengthen a coalition of moderate Arab states or shift the strategic balance in the Middle East," Olmert continued.

"Only a political process that demands courageous decisions from leaders on both sides will bring a solution to the issue of settlements," he said.

Moreover, Olmert placed blame on the Palestinian leadership for refusing to accept his proposal that offered "a solution to all outstanding issues: territorial compromise, security arrangements, Jerusalem and refugees.

"It would be worth exploring the reasons that the Palestinians rejected my offer and preferred, instead, to drag their feet, avoiding real decisions. My proposal would have helped realize the "two-state solution" in accordance with the principles of the US administration, the Israeli government I led and the criteria the Palestinian leadership has followed throughout the years… I believe it is crucial to review the lessons from the Palestinians' rejection of such an offer."

"Settlement construction should be taken off the public agenda and moved to a discrete dialogue, as in the past," Olmert urged.

Read full article in Washington Post

Berman ‘deeply disappointed’ by Abbas for rejecting Netanyahu Proposal for Unconditional peace talks

(jta.org).The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Commitee is urging Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to accept Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to meet "anywhere" to discuss peace, saying he's "deeply disappointed" by Abbas' response to Netanyahu's offer of "unconditional" talks.

“As everyone familiar with Israeli politics knows, Netanyahu has taken a politically courageous and substantively important step in endorsing the idea of ‘two states for two peoples,’ and he has also taken significant steps to ease travel and access in the West Bank by dismantling numerous checkpoints and roadblocks," said Berman in a statement. "Nevertheless, Abbas is demanding that Netanyahu establish a settlement freeze as a condition for a meeting. This is a condition Abbas never required of Netanyahu’s predecessor Ehud Olmert. Moreover, in the context of bilateral talks, Abbas could raise his settlement concerns directly with Netanyahu – concerns which, Abbas knows, are being discussed intensively between U.S. and Israeli officials."

“For the sake of re-establishing an Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and helping to create an environment of peace, I call on President Abbas immediately to accept Prime Minister Netanyahu’s proposal for unconditional talks on peace.”

Testing our Strength - Palestinians fire Kassam after long lull

For the first time in over a month, Palestinian terrorists on Thursday evening fired a Kassam rocket at the western Negev,The rocket landed in an open area in the Sdot Negev region and did not cause wounded or damage.

The previous rocket attacks on the southern Negev came in mid June, when Palestinian fired two projectiles in the space of 24 hours.

Netanyahu considering a UN speech at annual Assembly

(Ynet).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering heading an Israeli delegation to the opening of the United Nation's General Assembly session scheduled for September, which world leaders including US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are scheduled to attend.

The session will open on September 23, and the Prime Minister's Office has instructed the Foreign Ministry and Israel's delegation to the UN to prepare for the possibility of Netanyahu's arrival.

If he does attend, the prime minister will speak before the General Assembly and use the opportunity to promote his vision for regional peace and meet with Arab leaders.

The Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday that Netanyahu was yet to make a final decision on whether or not he will attend, and that the matter also depends on the progress diplomatic talks with the United States.

If Israel reaches an understanding with the US on settlement construction by September, according to assessments, Netanyahu is more likely to head off to the UN assembly

Clinton warns Iran: U.S. will protect its friends ,But let's talk before its too late

In a wide-ranging policy address to the Council on Foreign Relations,U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged that the U.S. will "not hesitate to defend our friends, our interests, and above all, our people vigorously and when necessary with the world's strongest military."

"Our willingness to talk is not a sign of weakness to be exploited," she said. "This is not an option we seek nor is it a threat; it is a promise to all Americans."

"Direct talks provide the best vehicle for presenting and explaining that choice," Clinton said. "That is why we offered Iran's leaders an unmistakable opportunity: Iran does not have a right to nuclear military capacity, and we're determined to prevent that. But it does have a right to civil nuclear power if it reestablishes the confidence of the international community that it will use its programs exclusively for peaceful purposes."

"Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. It can assume a responsible position in the international community if it fulfills its obligations on human rights. The choice is clear. We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now. The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely," she said.

Man with a plan - A succesfull day in Knesset

(Allyn Fisher-Ilan-Reuters).Israel’s annual political exercise of passing a budget reached a successful conclusion on Wednesday, albeit a few months behind schedule given that 2009 is already more than halfway through.


Another plus for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is that he was able to make history without much diplomatic risk, but by getting Israel’s fractious parliament to back the nation’s first two-year spending plan. The new budget totals 316.5 billion shekels ($80.7 billion) for 2009, and an additional 325.3 billion shekels ($82.9 billion) earmarked for next year, 2010. The final budget vote (it had to pass three) took an amazingly brief amount of time — just four and a half hours – about half of what was expected. The unanticipated brevity was made possible when Kadima, the largest, centrist, opposition party obliged by lifting a series of budgetary amendments from the agenda, removing the need to hold a list of additional tedious roll-call votes.

Netanyahu had to be present for the duration of the voting, as he couldn’t afford to leave the plenum before the budget passed, without risking the possible breakdown of his carefully stitched ruling coalition that passed the measure within hours of a Cinderella deadline. Under the law, Netanyahu had to get the budget passed by Thursday or his government would have fallen – according to a Parliamentary measure of a few months ago that extended the deadline for getting the state budget passed. So wearying was the process that some votes were done by show of hand, instead of the customary electronic push of a button, just to give lawmakers some exercise, the Ynet Web site said. Netanyahu was seen whiling away the more boring moments by busying himself with a book about Napoleon.


They had good reason to seek a diversion. Kadima had filed a whopping 4,000 amendments or spending proposals, and many were actually brought to a vote before the party agreed to drop the remainder. All these proposals had been destined for rejection, and some were for the smallest of sums, which begged the question, why the bother?“Well we could just sit back and not play the game and all and just wait for the next elections,” Kadima’s spokesman Shmuel Dahan said replying to my question. “We were doing our job, and trying to demonstrate that this budget is a bad one for the country.”

PM's associates: Next target – dismantling Kadima‪

(Attila Somfalvi‬-Ynet). In the wake of the State Budget's approval Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's close associates are setting their sights on the next target: Facilitating a split within the ranks of their main rival, Kadima.  

The PM's associates told Ynet that the so-called "Shaul Mofaz Bill," which would allow 25% of the members of one Knesset faction to split and join another, is meant to prompt a Kadima split. "Should the Mofaz bill be passed, it will mark a significant strategic victory," a senior official in Netanyahu's office said.  

The PM's associates are claiming that at this time already, seven Kadima Knesset members will agree to leave their party and join Netanyahu's coalition, even if Mofaz himself decides to shun the move for the time being.   The prime minister's associates said that in the near future they will be exerting intense pressure in a bid to approve the Mofaz Bill, in an effort to undermine the opposition.  

Hysteric Kadima slams Netanyahu after successful budget vote

After the Knesset vote on the Economic State Budget ended successfully on Wednesday evening,(Giving Netanyahu some peace and quiet in a Stable coalition as no immediate threat confronts the Government for the next 18 Month till Dec. '10, and Elections look like way out sight)Kadima issued a statement saying "the budget passed, but the callous decrees of Netanyahu will stay."
"Beginning this evening, every Israeli who turns on the tap, lights a cigarette or fuels their car - will be financing the coalition deals of Netanyahu and his political partners and polishing the chairs of the most bloated government in Israel's history," the statement said.

Finaly some Pride and satisfaction - Knesset approves biennial State budget

Netanyahu and Shtienitz can smile with Pride and satisfaction, and be calm until Dec. 2010 - The Knesset voted in favor of the 2009-2010 State budget Wednesday. The vote, which followed a heated, lengthy debate, was carried 58 to 36.

The Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed the long and boring hours of voting by reading a book about Napoleon.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said that the budget's approval was "a day of celebration for the all the citizens of Israel. The government and the Knesset have proven that they have courage, vigor and financial leadership. This is the most socially-oriented budget of the past decade."

"Tonight, the Knesset approved by a large majority, a social budget and expressed its confidence in the government's economic policy which will lead the economy to growth and to an end to the financial crisis ad will give expression to the social needs of the State of Israel," said Coalition Chairman Ze'ev Elkin (Likud). "All of the opposition's attempts to harm the proper passage of the budget failed and the coalition proved its steadfastness and stability.

Earlier MK Mofaz criticized : Gov't lost touch with the people
Despite having just recently urged his party to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) took the opposite position Wednesday, slamming the government for "completely losing touch with the people."

Mofaz took the podium during a government budget discussion: "I was looking for hope and a future for the young and the elderly, but all I saw (in the budget proposal) was cutbacks.

"Cutting taxes will benefit only those with high wages. Indirect taxes will hurt the weaker socioeconomic echelons and for the first time in history, the state's revenues from indirect taxes will exceed direct tax revenues. This is a shameful
legacy," he said.

*Finance Minister Yuval Shtienitz:
"This is the first biennial budget in the history of the state of Israel and of the entire western world ,and this is day of pride to all of us".

Shtienitz added and said : "I heard the ambiance of the opposition members and the critics of the budget but this is day of pride that Israel proved today that it has courage , freshness, Understanding and economic leadership".

"When this government started its role 105 days ago, we entered with a shattered situation,a decrease of 70 billion shekel in the forecast of earnings of the state,
negative growth and a increase in the unemployment rate, and we received a state without a budget and without a economic program".

"Its true that we raised taxes, for example the increase of general vat and the tax on the water that was required due to the situation, But this is the most social budget in the last decade,that will restrain the rise of the unemployment rate and catapult the economy ahead. This is good budget for the state of Israel".

New Left Tactic - Let Obama override Israeli leadership and convince Public in his Policy

As Obama and the lefties failed to press Netanyahu with all the amount of pressure they could to freeze settlements, and make confessions even before the Palestinian leadership agrees to meet for Peace negotiations, they move forward with a new plan and tactic - to use Obama's rhetoric that he uses time and time to gain popularity, and convince him to come to Israel, speak to the Israeli public directly, override their Leaders and convince them that his policy serves Israel's best interest..and it looks like he is going to accept it as he expressed in his meeting with the Jewish leaders this week: guys we are going to israel.

Here is a editorial from Haaretz:
Since his election, U.S. President Barack Obama has reiterated his commitment to Israel's security and to advancing peace and normalization between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

During his six months in office, Obama has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the idea of a Palestinian state and to freeze construction in the settlements. In exchange, he promised to ask the Arab states to take steps toward a normalization of relations with Israel, such as opening diplomatic representations and flight routes. Netanyahu adopted the two-state solution, albeit while specifying certain conditions, but he continues to refuse to stop development in the settlements.

In "closed" talks with associates and foreign visitors, Netanyahu has blasted Obama, asserting that the president's pressure on Israel is aimed at placating the Arabs at Israel's expense. Netanyahu united Israel's political establishment behind him to support his refusal to halt construction in the settlements, and his position has found public support.

Now the U.S. administration must convince the Israeli public that it has a friend in the White House, and that the administration's positions correspond with Israel's national interests.After talking to the Arabs, the Muslims and the Iranians, in speeches and on television, it is only right that Obama address the Israeli public and persuade the people to support reviving the peace process with the Palestinians and Syrians and halting the destructive settlement enterprise in the West Bank.

Bill Kristol/“Serious Self-Reflection”

(William Kristol-weeklystandard) Haaretz reports today: “Obama to U.S. Jewish leaders: Israel must engage in self-reflection”

And not just any old self-reflection. According to the article, Obama told Jewish leaders at the White House yesterday that Israel would need "to engage in serious self-reflection."

“Serious self-reflection!” It’s really good that Barack Obama is reminding the leaders and people of Israel to engage in that. I hope they’re up to it. After all, what do Israelis know about reflecting on, and living with, the life and death consequences of political decisions? What do Bibi Netanyahu and Ehud Barak and Moshe Ya’alon -- either as individuals or as leaders -- know about war and peace? These are guys -- and the Israelis are a people -- who just coast along, taking an easy path, never debating, never thinking, never questioning, never second-guessing...and never making or asking their fellow citizens to make sacrifices.

Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, and David Axelrod, on the other hand -- they’re seriously self-reflective individuals. Look at their wide experiences at peace and in war. Look how they’ve had to grapple with life and death decisions for decades. For them, it’s not just talk and spin and positioning. The American president and his advisors -- they’ve made personal sacrifices, they’ve come to grips with the tough choices over their decades of accomplishment in public life. They’ve got the standing to lecture the people and leaders of Israel on the need for self-reflection.

And so they did.

Dominican Republic strikes “diplomatic balance” with Israel

(dominicantoday).Dominican Republic seeks to strike a “diplomatic balance” in its forthcoming relations with Israel and the Palestinians, said president Leonel Fernandez Tuesday during an official visit.

Fernandez and Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a work meeting as part of the United Nations general assembly, slated for New York City in September.

In a private meeting held Tuesday in the Prime Minister’s offices in the Knesset, Fernandez and Netanyahu dealt with topics of interest for both countries and Netanyahu stated his willingness to collaborate with the Dominican Republic in the areas of education, technological transference, improving dairy production and the installation of greenhouses across the Caribbean nation and trade

I’ll take another 100 Days of this please..

(hashmonean)......In the face of serious adversity, Netanyahu’s government has had to make concessions. But in the overall picture we have held the line in Israel regarding important issues, rolled back some dangerous concessions put forth by Olmert & Livni already accepted by the world as defacto realities, and brought world timelines regarding Iran more in line with Israel’s. In the near term we may also be able to show who the real obstacles to peace really are, as crazy as it seems that we should require to endeavor at that in the 1st place. These are solid feats for 100 days thus far, and for Israel to build on.

The critique from the opposition is that Netanyahu is ‘Zig Zagging’. My close friend served in an engineering unit for the IDF tasked with dangerous mine work on the Northern border. If you ask him, and he’s clearly an expert he will tell you that too avoid a zig & zag when crossing a mine field will lead to very ugly results for everyone involved. It’s called being a good politician, it’s called strategy, it’s called good leadership, and to measure the situation Israel is facing with a hostile US government and World all around us, without analyzing these realities & Netanyahu’s efforts to task & deal with them is absurd.

Once again, Bibi grabs the ball and leaves little playing room on the field – By calling out Abbas to meet for peace talks, whom is refusing. You gotta love this guy – ‘Never say Never’ Netanyahu can QB with the best of ‘em

I can only conclude that the far left & far right in Israel are again pulling their hair out and spinning wheels. That’s good news for the other 70% of Israelis solidly in support of Netanyahu until now. It means he’s doing something right.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE....

Amiad Taub/The dogs bark and the coalition gallops- Netanyahu one of the most strong Prime Ministers

(Amiad Taub-Nana)The decision to cancel the Finance Ministry's intention to impose a vat on vegetables and fruits indicates Benjamin Netanyahu at his optimum and proves that changed and learned from his mistakes of his previous incumbency as Premier. Whoever claims that it was a political zigzag and a caving in to pressure of Knesset members from the rear lines,are watching with ended eyes how the Man who received less mandates then Livni-Kadima managed to pass successfully into the start of his incumbency. avoiding Mines like the US demands of Settlements freeze with the aid of his good friend Ehud Barak,was successful to adjust a stable coalition where the Partners work together in peace.

...At the end of the day all the factions of the coalition a total of 76 Knesset members, support the budget when even the so called rebel Miri regev nicknames Netanyahu "A courageous real Leader "...

Young Knesset members like Hotobeli and Regev noticed very quickly that independent initiatives are pretty only to the the media that awaits impatiently for any fissionable coalition,and the right media that lives again in the virtual movie of " the rebels of Sharon ", but pretty less in Merkaz HaLikud or the Senior Likud Ministers, experienced and strong that smell where the Force and power is situated, Also the public apology of Knesset chairman Ruby Rivlin, in front of Netanyahu on things that he said against him in interview to the newspaper " Ma'Ariv ", testifies the political strength of Netanyahu.

In contrast to the forecasts of the prophets at the left ,it looks like Netanyahu is likely to surprise all of them and manufacture one of the most stable governments in the past century.

A transmission of a budget for two Years with guarding on the coalition inner relations, and in this present coalition it requires alot of maneuvers and it aint so simple, receiving compliments from Barak and Leiberman and the public support of the central Figures in Likud in his Economic political policy ,together with a demonstration of praiseworthy political abilities, change Netanyahu to one of the most strong Prime Ministers that there were in Israel in the past twenty of the years.

Knesset approves Economic Arrangements Bill with a majority of 63

The Knesset plenum approved in Third reading the Economic Arrangements Bill after consecutive discussion that lasted 27 1/2 hours ,63 knesset members voted in favor of the bill, 45 opposed it.

During the 28 hours of deliberation over the bill Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin became upset over the conduct of many MKs, who yelled out 'for' and 'against' in attempts to confuse their opposing peers.

"We are in the Knesset, not a kindergarten," he told the parties present. "There are diversions. The guidelines say an MK shall not confuse another MK, and also that it is not difficult to confuse MKs."

The government is now tasked with the approval of the State Budget, on which deliberations are scheduled to begin Wednesday 9 am.

The debate on the Budget Law is set to begin on Wednesday morning at 9 AM, and the vote is set to begin six hours later. Due to the expected filibustering, the vote is not expected to end before late Wednesday night, and possibly only on Thursday morning.
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Knesset budget vote process begins until Thursday morning

Following the presentation of MKs objections, the vote on the economic arrangements bill began today, since the morning and is expected to last all day until approval,
The coalition has been able to muster 67 or 68 MKs for most of the votes, with about 48 MKs voting in opposition.

The final vote on the 2009-2010 state budget is expected in the early hours of Thursday morning with the debate in the plenum beginning tomorrow.
Watch Knesset Channel live
Pictures and captures:

1> Mofaz and livni sit next to each other and don't exchange a word

2> Finance Minister Shtienitz with Education Minister Sa'ar

3> Opposition in Action 1

4>Opposition in action 2

5>Prime Minister looks relaxed

6>Opposition tries to embarrass the PM with a vote on VAT for fruits & vegetables

Obama considering a visit to Israel

(IMRA).Yediot Achronot Washington correspondent Orly Azulai reports in today's
edition that during the course of President Barack Obama's Monday meeting
with leaders from some American Jewish organizations it was suggested that
he visit Israel since "such a visit could help greatly to cause Israeli
citizens to feel that the president is committed to their security. In the
middle of the meeting Obama turned to his aides and said "guys - we are
going to Israel"."

.." During the course of the meeting, Alan Solow, the chairman of the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said that
there is great importance in President Obama talking directly to the Israeli
People, as he did in Cairo when he spoke to the Moslem world. Also the
representative of [Americans for] Peace Now, Debra DeLee, repeated the
request and said that a visit to Israel would strengthen the feeling that
Obama is committed to the security of Israel and its future as a Jewish and
democratic state. "Everyone speaks about the Arab street," said Lee
Rosenberg, President-elect, AIPAC, "but there is also an Israeli street and
you also have to speak to it.

Blair: Israel not getting enough credit for it's recent measures towards the Palestinians

(JPOST).Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair said Monday that Israel was not getting enough credit for its many recent measures to improve conditions for the Palestinian population in the West Bank, such as the removal of roadblocks and checkpoints.

Blair was speaking during a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Vice Premier Silvan Shalom.

The quartet envoy voiced his appreciation for the efforts and expressed hope that they would continue, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Yoel Marcus / Netanyahu is proving himself, let him do his job

(Yoel Marcus-Haaretz)....One hundred days are meaningless. Nobody expected David Ben-Gurion to proclaim Israel's independence in 100 days or to achieve anything concrete 100 days afterward. We've had good leaders and bad leaders, without having to count. Dalia Itzik didn't have to wait 100 days in order to announce that "Bibi is squeezable and crushable." Nor does the media convey a true picture of Bibi's performance in his first 100 days.

One hundred days or not, with or without Sara, the truth is that Bibi has brought color back to Likud's cheeks. He raised his party from 12 Knesset seats to 27, an unprecedented success, while Labor is a wink away from becoming a semi-colon in the state's functioning. True, Kadima has the advantage of one additional Knesset seat, but Bibi managed to establish a stable government that does not depend on anyone's whims. Even Avigdor Lieberman and Benny Begin have turned into lambs.

But the media is replete with stories about the goings-on among the advisors, spokespeople and secretaries in the prime minister's bureau. Not only are there too many ministers, some say that dozens of personal aides are wrestling with each other over who will do what and who is more important than whom.

But all this is trivia. Bibi is at the helm during a fatal crossroads in the state's life. He is locked in an unprecedented clash with an American president who doesn't play with mannerisms of love for the Jews. An expose by Orly Azoulay in last weekend's Yedioth Ahronoth cites a "source close" to U.S. envoy George Mitchell, saying "Obama is not Bush and if Israel isn't with him in the move he's leading, he won't harm it, but it won't enjoy that special status that is critical for it." This is not simply worded. Never has an Israeli prime minister been under such a harsh threat as Netanyahu is from Obama.

Bibi has formed a functioning government, which in a time of need could be boosted by Kadima. The ideological move he is spearheading is different from that of the previous government. If impeded, he will not succeed. If we don't let him work, we won't know whether this is a different Bibi. We can criticize him for deviating from a political or ideological line, but don't tug the hem of his jacket, and leave him alone with the shtetl nonsense. Let Bibi work.

President Obama to Jewish Leaders: Every Time I’m on Al Jazeera They Show Me at the Western Wall with a Yarmulke

(ABC).In the Roosevelt Room this afternoon, President Obama met with 16 leaders of the American Jewish community for approximately an hour, discussing the Middle East peace process, Iran, health care reform and global hunger.

Ira Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, tells ABC News that the president -- joined by White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and senior adviser David Axelrod, both of whom are Jewish -- spoke for approximately 10 minutes about his strategic vision for Mideast peace.

“He talked about Israel as a Jewish state with no hesitancy,” Forman said.  “He also reiterated what he has said before about the fundamental bond between Israel and the United States and the fundamental commitment the US has, no matter what disagreements there are, to Israel’s peace and security.”

One  participant said that the perception is that the Obama administration is applying more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The president, Forman said, argued that the media sometimes plays up disagreements between the US and Israel – the US pressuring Arab countries is a “dog bites man” story, the president said -- and he assured the participants that he has applied just as much pressure on the Palestinian Authority as he has on Israel in steps towards peace. The president said that in Arab media he’s depicted as being too pro-Israel - Every time I’m shown on Al Jazeera they show me at the Western Wall with a yarmulke on, President Obama said. “And you look good in it, too,” one participant in the meeting joked.

Another participant argued that Israel negotiates for peace from a stronger position when its leaders feel there is no public disagreement between Israel and the US. The president disagreed, Forman said, saying that  while it’s essential that Israelis are convinced of America’s deep commitment to Israel’s safety, his administration has to be honest about family disagreements. But he reiterated that progress in the peace process isn’t just Israel’s responsibility, and said Israel deserves credit for recent steps including opening up roads and providing more access for Palestinians in the West Bank. Forman said the president showed a real comfort level in the meeting, joking and politely disagreeing on occasion.

(AP)....Obama met with the leaders, who have fretted that he is being too critical of longtime ally Israel and too lenient toward Palestinians and their Arab neighbors. They privately complained that Obama delivered a speech to the Muslim world during a trip to Cairo but skipped a stop in Jerusalem.

"I think people were very direct with the president in expressing their views. ... I think the president was very candid in responding," said Alan Solow, the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

Participants shared their concerns that his public call for Israel to follow through on its pledges to stop settlements went too far — especially during an Oval Office session with reporters. Obama replied that he's telling his Israeli friends in public the same thing he has said during private meetings, according to those in the Roosevelt Room on Monday.

Some participants in the meeting flatly told Obama that only when the United States are Israel are in lockstep support is any progress made. Obama replied that there was no distance between the U.S. and Israeli positions for the last eight years, and that no progress was made under President George W. Bush.

"Where people pushed back, the president stood firm," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of J Street, a pro-Israel and pro-peace political action committee and lobby.

"I think I share some of the same anxiety that others might have shared. ... But I'm prepared to give this new president an opportunity — not just prepared, but I support him taking a slightly different approach than we're used to," said Rabbi Steven Wernick, executive vice president and CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Participants and White House officials said Obama didn't introduce any new proposals during the discussion but spent the bulk of the time seeking comments and trying to allay concerns.

Obama did, however, return to a favorite complaint: that U.S. journalists were seeking conflict, overemphasizing the importance of Israeli settlements and missing achievements in peace talks.

"He said that there's more progress than appears in the negotiations," said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

PM at Maccabiah opening ceremony: 'Come and be one of us, every day of the year'

"Our brothers and sisters from every continent, from North America, from Europe, from Africa, South America, from Asia and from Australia, you come here representing 65 different countries, but above all, you represent one united nation, the nation of Israel," Netanyahu told the athletes to loud applause.

"I thank you for coming, I thank you for participating, but I ask you to do one more thing. I ask that you make aliya, not just for the Maccabiah - come and be one of us, every day of the year."

"To those of you who haven't learned Hebrew yet," he continued, switching to English, "I say, welcome to Israel! This is your country, this is your home. So enjoy the games, and then come back and make aliya."