A guide to the Palestinian statehood bid: for, against, and undecided

The unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state is ultimately the creation of another Gaza or northern Lebanon in the heart of Israel. When Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza and northern Lebanon, the respective territory became not a basis for an entity that could develop healthy economic, political and social relations with Israel, but rather fertile ground for shooting rockets deeper into Israeli territory and infiltrating its borders to commit acts of violence on civilians--official strategic policies advanced by parties that were democratically elected, i.e. supported by the population, in the case of Gaza.

Moreover, as 45 years have passed since the said territory was won by Israel in a war they did not want (keep in mind: Palestinians, along with Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon were enemies of Israel prior to 1967, when Israel had those dreamy pre-67 borders), the West Bank is now home to nearly one million Israelis, who have since built vibrant and extensive infrastructure, cities, schools, transportation systems, community centers and agriculture. In the present security context, the declaration of a Palestinian state outside of the context of a peace agreement with Israel is a declaration of war on a sovereign country.

In the days leading up to Abbas' formal application for UN membership at the UN this Friday, Israeli and Palestinian officials are busy tallying up pledges by countries to vote for and against the bid. The potential upcoming and critical votes on the matter, and the expected outcomes, are as follows:

UN Security council vote

On Friday, September 23, Mahmoud Abbas will submit the membership application to the UN Secretary General after his address to the General Assembly. Still, the UN Security Council vote on the bid may be delayed for several weeks. If a vote should happen, the bid would require a majority of 9 out of 15 votes in favor in order to pass. As it stands, out of the 15 members of the UN so-called Security Council, six or seven have pledged to support the Palestinian bid. Palestinian foreign minister Raid Malki said that officials are now busy trying to convince two or three more members in favor of accepting Palestine as a member state.

Permanent members: The UN security council is composed of five permanent members: China, France, Russia, Britain and the US. Britain and France have thus far not announced an official position, although have said that Palestinians should approach the EU rather than the UN. China and Russia are likely to support the bid. 

Non-permanent members: In addition to the five permanent members, the General Assembly periodically elects ten non-permanent members, who take part in the council for two-year terms. The current non-permanent members and their position on the bid are as follows:

In favor (6): Brazil, India, Lebanon, South Africa (China, Russia)

Against (2): Germany (US)

Will abstain (1): Colombia 

Undecided (6=have not yet made an official announcement, as of 9/20): Portugal, Bosnia, Nigeria, Gabon (Britain, France)

[Note: as a result of Palestinian pressure, YNet reports that Gabon and Nigeria are set to endorse the bid, although no formal announcement has been made]

In other words, the fate of Israel could lie in the hands of a West African nation most people never new existed, with a population of 1.5 million.

General Assembly vote

If Gabon and Nigeria indeed endorse the bid, and if Palestinians (h"v) enlist the support of either Portugal, Nigeria or Bosnia (this article says Portugal is likely to endorse), amounting to a majority in the Security Council, then the US will most likely be forced to use its veto power to kill the motion.

However, this still leaves the Palestinians with the option of going to the General Assembly, by invoking Resolution 377, which states that if the Security Council fails to exercise its responsibility for the "maintenance of international peace and security," the General Assembly can in effect bypass the Security Council decision. Legal experts have emphasized that the wording of the resolution does not have the backing of international law, but Israeli officials are not taking chances.

Should the Palestinians go to the General Assembly after facing a US veto, they would require two-thirds of 193 votes in order for the membership bid to pass.

Some are warning that the Palestinians may bypass the Security Council entirely and head straight for the General Assembly, should their chances there be better. 

Indonesia

This is where countries like Indonesia come into the picture. And specifically, efforts by countries like Indonesia to not only back the bid, but lobby other countries to support it.

On Tuesday, after a meeting with Kazakhstani and Portugese officials, Indonesia's foreign minister announced that the country is actively seeking opportunities to ensure Palestine's bid for UN membership.

Also on Tuesday, Indonesian officials upgraded the status of the Mount Tambora volcano to Level 3, after volcano activity increased, raising the risk of the emission of toxic gas to neighboring villages, and forcing evacuations of these areas.

The Mount Tambora volcano was responsible for the largest and deadliest volcanic eruption in history, in April 1815, in which nearly 100,000 people were killed.

In April, Tambora showed signs of awakening. In August, it made headlins for spewing thick white smoke into the sky.

Throughout the month of September, earthquake activity has increased.

Explosion at French nuclear site

Source: France Info

An explosion at the Marcoule nuclear site in southern France has killed one and injured four. The blast was caused by a furnace fire in a radioactive waste site in the town of Codolet. Officials say there are no leaks of radioactive material, but a security perimiter has been set up around the plant.

Update: French emergency services warn of risk of radioactive leak.

UK may shut down social media in times of "disorder"

What is the line between criminality and legitimate social protest? How will the government's response to the London riots affect the country's student protests in the future? European governments are well aware of the difficult economic times that lie ahead, as well as the social unrest that accompanies them. Armed with instant communication apparatuses, protesters are able to convene and organize within hours in large numbers across distances. Once the government has an open channel to tap or pull the plug on social media networks, who will oversee which protests are deemed 'disorderly' enough?

BBC reports:

England riots: Government mulls social media controls

Curbs on social media and texting are being considered by the government 

The government is exploring whether to turn off social networks or stop people texting during times of social unrest. David Cameron said the intelligence services and the police were exploring whether it was "right and possible" to cut off those plotting violence. Texting and Blackberry Messenger are said to have been used by some during this week's riots. Rights groups said such a measure would be abused and hit the civil liberties of people who have done nothing wrong.

The prime minister told MPs the government was exploring the turn-off in a statement made to the House of Commons during an emergency recall of Parliament. Mr Cameron said anyone watching the riots would be "struck by how they were organised via social media". He said the government, using input from the police, intelligence services and industry, was looking at whether there should, or could, be limits on social media if it was being used to spread disorder.

Under social media, Mr Cameron includes Facebook, Twitter and specific technologies such as text messaging. The semi-private BBM messaging system on the Blackberry is said to have been widely used during the riots. Home Secretary Theresa May is believed to be meeting representatives from Facebook, Twitter and RIM (maker of the Blackberry) to talk about their obligations during times of unrest.

 Meanwhile, look out! Your personal phone numbers are now on Facebook.

Estonian Defense Ministry Shooting

On Thursday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. a shooting took place in the Estonian Defense Ministry in Talliinn. Police have entered the building, and additional shots were heard. Eyewitness reports claim a security guard was taken hostage.

Estonia is one of the Baltic states whose independence from Russia was formally recognized in 1991. On Tuesday S&P upgraded Estonia's international credit rating to AA, n response to strong growth figures.

Like Wildfire: Tunis, Tel Aviv and Tottenham

A carpet store burns on Tottenham High Road on Aug 6, 2011

Dec. 17, 2010: Mohammed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old Tunisian vegetable seller set himself on fire after a policewoman confiscated his unlicensed cart and spat on him after he refused to pay a fine. Bouazizi's act and the socioeconomic situation it highlighted spawned anti-government protests across Tunisia, and one month later, the 23-year rule of Tunisia's Ben Ali came to an end. Demonstrations subsequently spread across the Arab world, successfully toppling Egypt's Mubarak, bringing war against Libya's Qaddafi, and an ongoing uprising against Syria's Assad.

July 14, 2011: When 25 year-old film editor Daphni Leef was evicted from her Tel Aviv apartment and found herself unable to find an affordable alternative, she decided to pitch a tent on one of the city's most luxurious boulevards, and invited her friends to do so as well via Facebook. Three weeks later, more than a quarter of a million lower- and middle-class Israelis marched across Israel demanding a new economic order and a reeling back of imported capitalism in favor of the ideals of a welfare state inherent in the nation's historical revival. Nearly one month after the first tent was pitched, thousands of tents have sprung up in improvised tent cities across the country--some inhabited by idealistic students, others by families claiming they have hit rock bottom--a situation no humane government can ignore for long. Plans are underway for a million person march in September--proportionally speaking, the equivalent of 45 million Americans on the streets.

August 4, 2011: Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of three, was shot dead by police officers of Scotland Yard's special black-on-black crime unit. Fifteen minutes prior to the shooting, Duggan sent a message from his blackberry saying "the Feds are following me". Two days following the shooting, a group of around 200 of Duggan's relatives and local residents of Broadwater Farm marched to the Tottenham Police station to inquire into the circumstances of the man's death. After waiting hours to speak with a higher-ranking officer, the mob became impatient and set two nearby police cars on fire. Rioting, looting and arson spread throughout London and other cities around England, striking a chord among working-class Britons alienated by a society burdened by budget cuts and lurking xenophobia. In a country once marked for its obsession with order and the rule of law, police across the Kingdom have admitted that they are not able to regain control of Britain's streets in the face of "unprecedented" levels violence.

* * *

What do all three phenomena have in common? All three began with one incident involving a "random" citizen in their 20's whose life circumstances and/or reaction to them incited a generation, a country or a region to radically and abruptly shift the balance of power between people and government. In much of the Arab world, citizens seeking democratic government resorted to violence in the face of a tyrannical ruler with a military backing. In Israel, protests have thus far been peaceful demonstrations aimed at toppling the current government or radically changing the society's priorities. In Britain, the uprising has stemmed from a class of people who fail to find means within the democratic system to voice their grievances.
 

Secondly, the internet has played a major role in all three social phenomena. One small event takes on larger-than-life proportions with the help of social networks and instant communication and distribution of information, proving that the Facebook generation are only glued to their touch screens until further notice. In response, governments and law force agencies understand they must play the same game in order to suppress/restore order, using tactics such as shutting down internet and cellular networks such as in Egypt and Syria, or pressuring cell phone companies to provide sensitive information on large numbers of customers' call logs, messaging activity and contact lists such as in Britain most recently.

Third, all protests reveal what governments have done their best to hide--no politician, in any part of their term, wants their population to realize that global food prices are rising, regardless of legislation. Europe is facing zero or negative economic growth prospects, and governments across the continent are cutting left and right in an attempt not to lose all. The effect of months and years of government cuts is not sudden but rather gradual--the breeding of generational economic hardship--relative to years past--that lies dormant until the match is lit.

Surely, the context, legitimacy and desirability of these uprisings vary widely, and many will say there is no room for comparison. No one can deny, however, that governments across the world are standing aghast at the power of their populace to mobilize and challenge the conventional rules of the game, with consequences no short of havoc, revolution or prelude to world war. None of the above phenomenon are anywhere near their climax, and none have abated without tossing embers nextdoor. In coming weeks, let us remember that Jerusalem lies not only at the geographical intersection of Europe and Asia but also at the heart of two typologies of uprisings, and that just as what happens globally is bound to ripple in Israel's bays, so Israel's waves can be a beacon for the human spirit seeking the air of freedom and dignity, in any language. 

כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה' מירושלים

Stadium roof collapses in Holland

Part of the roof at a football stadium under renovation in the Netherlands has collapsed. There are people trapped under the rubble and at least five are reported injured. Update: One person was killed by the collapse and 14 were injured.

The Twente Stadium is scheduled to hold a European Cup match in late July or Early August.

By sea and by air

Israeli police are preparing for the possibility that hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists will arrive on flights to Israel from across Europe later today, after Greece refused to let the Gaza-bound flotilla depart from its port. Police currently have information that a flight from Germany with 150 pro-Palestinian activists is scheduled to arrive this evening, followed by 130 activists on flights in the afternoon tomorrow. 

Foreign airlines have been asked to present their lists of passengers to Israel before takeoff, and suspicious persons will be detained at Ben Gurion and be put back on planes to their own country. If several activists are clustered on one plane, police will ask the plane to land on an outer runway and will proceed to question all passengers. Many police monitoring airport order will be undercover, so as not to allow activists to lure police into using force, as in last year's Marmara incident.

Police expect to extend security measures for several weeks. A Palestinian activist told Haaretz:

We are receiving European, South American and sometimes Japanese activists all the time - sometimes via the Allenby Bridge and sometimes from the airport - to work on a variety of projects for the community. Some take an active part in the struggle against the fence and against the settlements. This is something people want to make a big deal about because of the number of people coming.

In recent weeks, Israel's borders have been threatened, first by ground, when Syrian activists attempted to break a border fence in the North of Israel, then by sea, with new plans to sail ships into Israel's regional waters, and now by air, attempting to manipulate Israel's openness to the world and take commercial flights into the country to cause disorder. What other country feels threatened by groups of international activists--from supposedly friendly countries, who do not require visas--arriving at its airports, deceiving its personnel and infiltrating its society?

If these were peaceful activists, Israel would have no problem letting them in, as it has let in thousands of activists from around the world for years. Yet make no mistake; the current infiltration of activists is Marmara 2, where peaceful activists use their guise of non-violence to approach as close as possible to the shore, only to lash out, knowing no boundary to their misdirected rage. When a plane of 150 foreign activists aimed at your destruction arrive at the border of your country, however civilized and friendly their home country might be, no sovereign nation should have any second thoughts: the free entry and exit of persons in and out of a country is for the sake of travel, study, business, and pleasure--opening up the Holy Land for all who crave to experience its uniqueness, not for those whose gaze is fixed on its destruction by any legal or illegal means necessary.

May the borders of Israel be strengthened from within. 

כי חזק בריחי שעריך ברך בניך בקרבך

השם גבולך שלום, חלב חטים ישביעך

He has strengthened the bars of your gates, and blessed your children within you 
He has set peace at your borders, and feeds you the best of wheat 

Flotilla activists take over Spanish embassy in Athens

The Acropolis of Athens. Beis HaMikdash, anyone?

In keeping with international law, Greece has banned all ships from the Gaza-bound flotilla from leaving its ports. In response, twenty-one Spanish activists from the Gernica ship took over the Spanish embassy in Athens on Tuesday.

An article covering the incident mentions that the Spanish embassy is located across from the Acropolis, an archeological site holding ancient temples built for the various Greek gods. Greece may be warming up to Israel (who knows why), but there's a long cheshbon between the Jewish people and Greek civilization, most of which takes place in the realm of ideas. Whereas Jewish thinkers such as the Rambam elevated many elements of Greek philosophy, the effect of the clash between philosophy and the true, simple faith of a Jew is a force with which our people have wrestled for centuries, and which lasts until today.

With the help of Gimmel Tammuz, the Jewish people will be freed from all foreign influences, and will elevate the philosophies of all peoples to their true source - Hashem, the One, all-powerful God who is One with His creation. The fact that the Rebbe instituted the daily study of the Rambam demonstrates Chabad's unique ability to unite mind and heart in the service of Hashem.

Beis HaMikdash, in contrast with the Acropolis of Athens (lehavdil elef havdalot), will be a House for all People and a dwelling-place for the One true God of Israel on earth, from which blessing will flow to the Jewish people and through them to the entire world. May it be built speedily in our days.

A freilichen Gimmel Tammuz to all!

Violent protest in Athens and other signs of economic doom

Three headlines in today's news do not bear well for the 'first world' as we know it --

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou offered to step down late Wednesday after protests against austerity cuts and government bailout in downtown Athens turned violent, as demonstrators demolished walls and threw bricks and furniture and officers in riot gear struggled to regain control of the city's main square.

Meanwhile, US Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernake warned that the US must raise its debt ceiling if it wants to avert economic disaster. According to Bernake:

"Failing to raise the debt limit would require the federal government to delay or renege on payments for obligations already entered into."

"Even a short suspension of payments on principal or interest on the treasury's debt obligations would cause severe disruptions in financial markets and the payments system."

In addition, Mr Bernanke said US government debt risked being downgraded, creating fundamental doubts about the nation's creditworthiness. Long-term damage to the "special role" of the dollar and of treasury securities in global markets was also possible, he said.

Instead of allowing a default, Democrats and Republicans needed to develop a credible long-range plan to rein in the nation's budget deficit, Mr Bernanke added. An increase of $2.5 trillion would allow the government to operate until early 2013. (BBC)

And according to Reuters, the economic prospects of the "rich-world" have darkened in the wake of a US slowdown and fiscal problems in Europe.

Fischer and the IMF - Queen for a time like this?

On Saturday (please G-d not on Shabbos), Bank of Israel governor and former IMF chief economist Stanley Fischer announced that he too will be joining the race for managing director at the IMF, in the wake of Strauss-Kahn's resignation. Fischer will run side-by-side with French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and Mexican central bank chief Agustin Carstens. If (b"H) he wins, Fischer will assume the premiere global finance position in an era during which the world is struggling to recover from economic crisis.


Fischer is highly regarded by colleagues in domestic, national and global finance worldwide, also the WSJ predicts he may have trouble garnering support from Arab countries, whose vote counts as well. Born in Rhodesia in present-day Zambia in 1943, Fischer obtained his B.Sc. and Ms.C. in Economics at the London School of Economics, and his Ph.D. in Economics at MIT. In the years 1988-1990 Fischer served as Chief Economist at the World Bank, and from 1994-2001 served as Deputy Managing Director of the IMF. After his time at the IMF, Fischer became Vice Chairman at Citigroup until 2005, his last position before assuming the role of Governor of Bank of Israel, which he holds until this day. In a less-known fact, Fischer, an American citizen, made aliyah in order to assume the premiere position at Israel's national bank. Under Fischer's leadership, the Bank was ranked first among central banks worldwide for its efficiency.


The first hurdle for Fischer in his pursuit of the Fund's managing director seat is his age - 67 - which is two years beyond the IMF maximum according to the group's bylaws. The second is winning support of Arab states and emerging markets in Latin America and Asia. On a positive note, Israel's Fischer is in fact highly regarded by Palestinian banking officials. Former head of the Palestine Monetary Authority called Fischer the most qualified candidate to date. The French candidate Lagarde is currently the favorite in Europe, which holds around 35% of the IMF votes. According to the WSJ, one scenario is that the vote will be split between Lagarde and Carstens, in which case IMF officials may turn to him as a compromise pick.


Although Fischer is only midway through his second term at Bank of Israel, Haaretz quoted Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Fischer's election would be an "certificate of honor'' for Israel. Could Hashem have orchestrated Strauss-Kahn's anything-but-graceful fall from the top for this opportunity? We hope Fischer will b"H ascend to victory and heed the timeless wisdom of Esther --

For if you remain silent at this time, 
Relief and rescue will arise for the Jews from elsewhere, 
And you and your father's household will perish; 
And besides - 
Who knows whether you became Queen precisely for a time like this?

כִּי אִם-הַחֲרֵשׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת רֶוַח וְהַצָּלָה יַעֲמוֹד לַיְּהוּדִים מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר, וְאַתְּ וּבֵית-אָבִיךְ תֹּאבֵדוּ

וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם-לְעֵת כָּזֹאת, הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת

עלה והלצח פישר

Explosion in Minsk subway kills at least 11 (updated)

An explosion has occurred in the Oktyabrskaya subway station in Minsk, Belarus, where two of Minsk's subway lines intersect, 100 meters away from the government's main building, during rush hour. RT reports that at least 11 people have been killed and 103 have been injured.

NEW: According to RT: "Local police are not allowing journalists near the place of the incident, cameras have been banned and cell phones are being confiscated if used. No filming whatsoever is being allowed, and law enforcement is acting ruthlessly, a Gazeta.ru newspaper reporter informed from Minsk."

According to the Telegraph, the US has called Belarus "Europe's last dictatorship". Last December, Belarus' president Lukashenko was given a fourth term in office, fueling mass protests. The government responded with a violent crackdown on protesters, which led to sanctions by the West. The Washington Post observes that this blast occurs on background of a potential Belarus-Russia economic deal, and that a subsequent crackdown on the opposition could further distance Belarus from the West, playing into Russian interests.

Ever since a violent police crackdown on protesters last December, the government of Belarus has been imposing increasing tough measures on its opponents. Up to 50 people face trial and years in prison for participating in the protest, while some of their lawyers have been disbarred and advocacy organizations warned or shut down.

The explosion took place just as Lukashenko is facing the prospect of bargaining with Moscow for a $2.7 billion loan to help keep his struggling economy afloat. In the past week his government has been making friendlier gestures toward the West than at any time since December, presumably to strengthen his negotiating position with Russia.

A severe crackdown now in the wake of the explosion would run the risk of cutting him off from the West altogether—to Russia’s benefit.

In his book 2048, Dan Passig claims it's only a matter of time before Russia and the US have another confrontation (and that this has everything to do with Israel). According to Passig, countries like Belarus who border Western and Eastern Europe will begin to emerge at the forefront of this struggle.

Half a million march in London

The UK Daily Mail reports that half a million people marched in London on Saturday in mass demonstrations against proposed budget cuts by Britain's Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. Masked and hooded anarchists threw ammonia-lightbulbs and paintbombs at police officers, smashed the windows of hotels and banks, and ignited fires around the city.

Daily Mail: Union leader warns 'anything is possible when people are angry'

Britain must brace itself for a crippling series of strikes, protests and widespread civil disobedience, the leader of the country’s biggest union warned yesterday. Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said the anger felt by millions of hard-working families towards the Government’s cuts ‘needs to find a release’. In a call to arms, the 60-year-old said: ‘I don’t believe that we should rule anything in or anything out.’ He said the painful impact on people’s lives of everything from unemployment to pay cuts and changes in working conditions, means many are ‘surviving, not living’.

Last week, Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi hinted that the old world order is crumbling into pieces all across the world, preparing the way for the geulah.

World war 3?

Has Obama just started WW3?

Latest Updates: 

• Qaddafi: This will be a long war; Libya will destroy "this entire Christian pact." (YNet) 

• The African Union called on Sunday for an "immediate stop" to all attacks on Qaddafi's forces.

• Libya's Gadhafi calls on Africans, Arabs, Latin Americans, Asians to stand by Libyan people against the enemy (Reuters)  

• Qaddafi warns Mediterranean has turned into a "battlefield"

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said the Mediterranean has turned into a "real battlefield" after Western air strikes. He has even opened arms depots for his people to defend the country. Gaddafi, in a brief audio message broadcast on state television, condemned the allied Western attacks on Libya as "barbaric, unjustified Crusaders' aggression." He vowed to retaliate with military and civilian targets in the Mediterranean, warning that the interests of Mediterranean and North African countries were now "in danger." "The Mediterranean region has become a real battlefield," he said. "Arms depots have been opened and all the Libyan people are being armed" to defend the country against Western forces. (Nine News)

In light of the West's military intervention in Libya, I am reposting some information on Libya in end-of-days prophecies in the Bible, followed by some potential scenarios.

Libya is one of the countries featured in Ezekiel 38, which describes the war of Gog and Magog, the global struggle which Ezekiel foresees preceding the final redemption of the Jewish people and the world. Among the nations who rise up are:

פָּרַס כּוּשׁ וּפוּט, אִתָּם; כֻּלָּם, מָגֵן וְכוֹבָע

Persia, Kush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet

Persia, which also features in the Purim story which Jews read and commemorate this month, is modern-day Iran, which has made no secret of its stride against Israel at any cost. Kush is Ethiopia, which is also experiencing unrest. In the book of Genesis, Put is the name of the third son of Ham, son of Noah, brother of Kush, Egypt and Canaan. Put is identified in biblical history as the father of the Libyan nation.

In the books of Ezekiel, Daniel and Nahum, Libya joins forces with Egypt, Gog and Tyre against Israel in the end of days, and falls.

כִּי-קָרוֹב יוֹם, וְקָרוֹב יוֹם לַיהוָה:  יוֹם עָנָן, עֵת גּוֹיִם יִהְיֶה.

וּבָאָה חֶרֶב, בְּמִצְרַיִם, וְהָיְתָה חַלְחָלָה בְּכוּשׁ, בִּנְפֹל חָלָל בְּמִצְרָיִם; וְלָקְחוּ הֲמוֹנָהּ, וְנֶהֶרְסוּ יְסֹדוֹתֶיהָ.

כּוּשׁ וּפוּט וְלוּד וְכָל-הָעֶרֶב וְכוּב, וּבְנֵי אֶרֶץ הַבְּרִית--אִתָּם, בַּחֶרֶב יִפֹּלוּ 

For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a day of clouds, it shall be the time of the nations. 

And a sword shall come upon Egypt, and convulsion shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt; 

And they shall take away her abundance, and her foundation shall be broken down. 

Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all the mingled people, and Cub, and the children of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.

In other words, Libya plays a major role in a final showdown between Israel and her enemies.

How will Qaddafi react to the West's attack? If Qaddafi can shoot at his own people, what will he do when everything is at stake against in his final grasp for power against his ultimate Western enemies, against whom he has amassed power for years on end?

Qaddafi doesn't have many friends left, but there are a few nations who fall in the category of his all-too-convenient enemies' enemies:

Update: Turns out Qaddafi does have at least one friend - Louis Farrakhan yimach shmo who has asked Obama 'Who do you think you are?'

Other countries who could potentially oppose the Western alliance:

- Russia: Russia abstained from the UN vote, and expressed concern at the decision to intervene in Libya. Could Russia side with Qaddafi if things get out of hand?

- Iran: Several weeks ago, Iran's US ambassador warned against foreign intervention in Libya. If a coalition forms against the Western powers, Iran will be the first to provide weapons, regardless of whether they are rallying around Qaddafi or not. And this is where it gets scary. If Iran gets involved, is Israel is harm's way (h"v)?

- The Arab world - Qatar and the UAE are part of the international coalition attacking Libya, and the Arab League is the body that initially pushed for the no-fly zone. But the pro-West Arab elite is not without enemies, especially among non-state actors. Will anti-West forces in the Arab world, such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda, see an opportunity to side--publicly or privately--with Qaddafi?

- Venezuela - On Saturday, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez criticized Western military action in Libya, claiming the West's "men of war" are ultimately seeking control of Libya's oil fields. Is it just a coincidence Obama is in South America now, or does he know that South America is a minefield of financial and military support for radical anti-Western leaders?

- Turkey - During a visit to Germany in February, Turkey's PM Erdogan said a NATO intervention in Libya would be "unthinkable" and "absurd". Turkey has enjoyed flexing its political and diplomatic muscle in the region even, and especially, when its interests conflict with the US. According to Professor David Passig, as Turkey gains power, it will split from the U.S. and become self-sufficient as a regional power and as a support for Arab states in the region. Is this Turkey's moment?

Update: Turkey has announced it will make the necessary contribution to enforce the UN-approved no-fly zone, citing that the resolution is binding on all countries.

This war may have begun with all the moral clout on the side of the Western attack, but it could easily unravel into a "struggle against the West", if a rising anti-Western power seizes the opportunity for control over lucrative oil resources and status on the world stage. Keep in mind - Obama started this war without congressional approval or stated support of the American people. As the saying goes - We know where wars start, but we rarely know where they will end. This war started on Purim, but we have no clue where it is going.

BREAKING: US fires missiles into Libya

Times are GMT+2 (Jerusalem, Libya)

23:32 Drudge report headline reads WAR NO. 3: US FIRES MISSILES INTO LIBYA

22:46 110+ Tomahawk missiles from US, British ships have struck 20 Libyan targets (Breaking News - Headline only) 

21:57 BREAKING: US launches cruise missiles against Qaddafi's air defenses

The U.S. Navy fires the first U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan leader's Muammar al-Qaddafi's air defenses Saturday, a military source tells Fox News.

The U.S. military strikes clear the way for European and other planes to enforce a no-fly zone designed to ground Qaddafi's air force and cripple his ability to inflict further violence on rebels, U.S. officials said.

21:46 BREAKING: US launches first military strike inside Libya (NBC)

Obama will be delivering a statement shortly from Brazil (how convenient), followed by a White House press conference, which will both be available live here

21:30 U.S. has 3 submarines preparing for operations against Libya - official. Developing. (MSN)

Earlier today, French planes opened fire and destroyed several of Qaddafi's tanks and armored vehicles.

US, Britain, France, Italy prepare for air raid on Libya

Update: Again Shabbos is coming in as a global crisis unfolds...Shabbat shalom, and have kavanah to bring mashaich while you eat your shabbos meal!

 Update: The Telegraph reports:

Moussa Koussa, the Libya foreign minister, announced that the ceasefire would be "immediate" and would result in "an immediate stop to all military operations".

"(Libya) takes great interest in protecting civilians," he said, adding that the country would also protect all foreigners and foreign assets in Libya.

The announcement came as David Cameron said RAF warplanes would be in places in the "coming hours".

From an earlier article:

RAF warplanes will be in place “in the coming hours”, the Prime Minister told MPs.

As Gaddafi’s forces regain ground from rebel forces, Britain “cannot stand back” and let the Libyan dictator kill his people indiscriminately, he said.

“Any decision to put the men and women of our armed services in harm’s way should only ever be taken when it’s absolutely necessary,” Mr Cameron said. “But we simply can not stand back and let a dictator whose people have rejected him, kill his people indiscriminately.”

RAF Tornadoes and Typhoons will take part in operations over Libya, Mr Cameron said. British refuelling and reconnaissance aircraft will also be deployed.

“In the coming hours they will move to airbases where they can start to take the necessary action,” he said.

Update: Canada to send six CF-18 fighter jets to join American, British, French and other forces.

Update: Germany will not take part in a military operation against Libya. Qaddafi has warned he will strike civilian targets in response to foreign intervention.

The UN Security council has approved a no-fly zone over Libya and has authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians there. The measure passed 10-0, with Russia and China abstaining. According to the BBC, British and French warplanes could make air raids on Libya as early as Friday night UK time, although the raids may be spearheaded by Qatar or the UAE.

This can only mean one thing. Another global crisis unfolding right as Shabbat comes in in Israel (Carmel fire, fall of Mubarak, the Japan tsunami...)

But seriously, there's more. According to the Wall Street Journal, Egypt is also shipping weapons to Libyan rebels, and Obama knows about it. In other words, what we have here is a potential alliance between Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Libyan rebels, France, Britain and the US--against Qaddafi. Will Russia and China bolster Qaddafi behind the scenes? How will this play out for Saudi forces in Bahrain? Will Qaddafi do teshuva?

What we have unfolding is a very messy Middle East in an already tense global environment, as nuclear threat from Japan looms. The world is changing, fast. 

Note that Egypt and Libya both play a role in the Gog and Magog final showdown as described by Ezekiel, although that war ends up being against Israel.

European stocks close early following technical problems

LSE building at Paternoster Square in London

According to Market Watch, the London Stock Exchange announced early on Friday that trading on its main platform was halted due to a technical problem. On Tuesday, Borsa Italiana was forced to suspend trading for most of Tuesday due to technical difficulties.

UK Philosopher Legitimizes Palestinian Terrorism

UCL Professor Ted Honderich:
"Palestinians have a moral right to their terrorism"

On the eve of International Holocaust Memorial day, in the wake of the Al Jazeera leaks, UCL professor Ted Honderich has published a letter in the Guardian granting legitimacy to mass killing of Jews, based on their 'greed' and 'lack of decency':

The revelations in detail (Report, 25 January) of the intransigent greed, the escape from decency, of Israeli governments in negotiation with our selected leaders of the Palestinians, serve one purpose among others. They provide a further part of what is now an overwhelming argument for a certain proposition. It is that the Palestinians have a moral right to their terrorism within historic Palestine against neo-Zionism. The latter, neither Zionism nor of course Jewishness, is the taking from the Palestinians of at least their autonomy in the last one-fifth of their historic homeland. Terrorism, as in this case, can as exactly be self-defence, a freedom struggle, martyrdom, the conclusion of an argument based on true humanity, etc.

Honderich makes a distinction between Zionism, defined as the creation of Israel in its original borders, and neo-Zionism, the expansion of Israel beyond its original borders, child of 1967, against which terrorism is legitimate.

Honderich's argument is seriously flawed. In 1967, it was Israel's enemies themselves who instigated war. Days before the Israeli strike, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran, an move defined in international treaties as an act of war against Israel, and Syria began deploying its troops along Israel's northern border. Until 1967, Israel was content with the borders that resulted from the 1948 war--a war also instigated by its Arab neighbors.

If Israel's enemies sought its destruction in 1967, what makes Honderich think their hatred of Israel today is suddenly based on ethical grounds? This is the error of the left, eager to victimize and demonize, in disregard of historical fact.

Moreover, after the 1967 war, despite massive territorial gains, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt for the sake of peace. Yet regarding the West Bank, the U.S. and Israel encountered the unflinching Arab rejectionist stance of the Khartoum resolution: "No peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with it." The Arab world, then and now, could not come to terms with the very existence of Israel, preventing any way forward that did not involve grounds for Israel's destruction in the future.

Honderich claims his arguments are not anti-Semitic. Yet despite his naive characterization of Israel's foreign policy predicament, he defends the West's attack on Afghanistan as moral and condems the 9/11 attacks. Only from Israel does he deny the right to self-defense.

Iran: Peace for our time, take 2?

Reuters reports: 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday he hoped for further talks with world powers concerned about Tehran's nuclear programme, a day after two days of negotiations ended in stalemate and with no clear agreement to meet again.

"If the other party is determined and committed to law, justice and respect, there is hope that in the next sessions good results would be achieved," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech to a crowd in the city of Rasht.

As the Iranian regime continues to buy time to develop its arsenal, the West is advised to open a history book, or at the very least, heed warnings from its allies in the Arab world. In 2009, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Armed Forces Emirates Prince Mohammed bin Zayed wrote a memo to the US, in which he urged the United States not to ‘appease’ Iran and desrcibed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as ‘Hitler,’ according to Meir Javedanfar from the Diplomat.

Similarly, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to ‘cut off the head of the snake’ and strike Iran’s nuclear program. King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain has said: ‘That programme must be stopped. The danger of letting it go on is greater than the danger of stopping it.’

Talmud to be translated into Italian

Today's Daf Yomi (Daily Page of Talmud) from e-daf.com

According to JTA, the Talmud will be translated into Italian for the first time in history, after Italian cabinet ministers and Rome's chief rabbi sign on to 'Project Talmud'.

The Italian government's recognition of the Talmud's cultural value is noteworthy, considering its legacy. On September 9, 1553, Rosh Hashana 5314, the Talmud was confiscated and burned publicly in Rome, Italy, under the auspices of Pope Paul IV and the backing of Pope Julius III. Following the incident, Talmud burning spread through much of Italy.

S Korea buries 1.4 million pigs alive in foot-and-mouth outbreak

In a move drawing international criticism, South Korea buried 1.4 million pigs alive to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock. Pictures are available here. 

The mass pig burials are part of South Korea's orders to cull close to 2 million pigs, deer, goats and cattle in over 4,000 farms across the country in order to slow the spread of the highly contagious disease. Among pigs and cattle, S Korea has said it has culled about 15% of its livestock. To assist in the destruction of livestock, 68,000 soldiers have been mobilized. In the past 50 days, there were 120 outbreaks of foot and mouth disease across South Korea farms, despite extensive quarantine efforts by the country.

A healthy white-tailed deer / Scott Bauer

Meanwhile, South Korea's farm ministry has ordered the culling and burial of 3.57 million ducks and chickens to contain the spread of avian influenza, after confirming 26 cases of bird flu in the country. The outbreak was first confirmed on December 31 in Cheonan. While foot-and-mouth disease is not transferable to humans, avian flu can (h'v) mutate to a form that could be easily transmitted between humans.

South Korea is claiming North Korean livestock have also been hit by foot-and-mouth disease, but North Korea has not yet confirmed.

In South Korea, the price of pork jumped by 43% after the massive slaughter. Losses are expected to exceed 1.26 billion.

Meanwhile, across the globe, over 700 cattle, sheep, goats and pigs have been culled in Bulgaria after two outbreaks of foot-and-mouth were detected. Yesterday, 200 cattle, sheep and pigs were culled in a southeastern Bulgarian village. Last week, over 500 animals were culled near Bulgaria's Turkish border to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease. 

In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease to Turkey, Bulargia will rebuild the barb wire fence along its Turkey border.  The fence, originally built during the Cold War, to separate Waraw Pact member Bulgaria from NATO member Turkey, was taken down in 2004.

In a separate incident, nearly 2,000 pigs died in a fire near Melvin in northwest Iowa.