Tag Archives: Israel

Hackers Strike Israeli Websites

Anti-Semitic hackers attacked Israeli websites Tuesday after an international hacking collective threatened to launch an “electronic Holocaust.”

The hacking campaign is timed to strike the country during Israel’s annual “Holocaust Remembrance Day.”

The hackers struck the websites of Israeli musicians and non-profit groups according to the Israeli Computer Emergency Response Team.  The hackers replaced the sites with photos of Muslim holy sites and photos of ISIS terrorists holding their militant flag.

“We are always here to punish you! Because we are the voice of Palestine and we will not remain silent!” the message read.

The cyber terrorists had vowed to take down Israeli government sites, banks and other public institutions.  However, their attempts to breach advances security measures apparently failed as no major disruptions were reported by any major organization.

Israel’s national cyber bureau admitted they boosted defenses before the beginning of the announced attack.

French Fact Sheet On Iranian Deal Shows Iran Could Get Bomb

A French government fact sheet on the Iranian nuclear deal, not meant for public view but leaked to the Times of Israel, shows that Iran could be able to quickly generate material needed for a nuclear bomb.

The deal allows Iran use of the IR-2 and IR-4 centrifuges, which can rapidly create highly enriched uranium that is needed for nuclear weapons.

In addition, the deal allows Iran to continue their research and development on the IR-4, IR-5, IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges.  The IR-8 centrifuge could enrich uranium at 20 times the speed of the current IR-1 centrifuges.  The document released by American officials did not specify this fact.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been assailed by American officials after he said the deal was “very bad” for Israel and paves the way for Iran to create a nuclear bomb.  The French document appears to back up the claims of Netanyahu that were criticized by American officials.

This is the second time documents have conflicted with the American “fact sheets” on the Iranian deal.

Israeli analysts noticed differences between the American and Iranian fact sheets just days after the announced deal.  Ehud Ya’ari of Israel’s Channel 2 News noticed that while the U.S. says restrictions on enrichment last 15 years, Iranians say it’s only 10.  The Iranians also said that they can continue R&D on centrifuges, which the French document confirms, and the American documents say is not permitted.

Israeli Officials Downplay Obama Statements Of Support

Israeli officials responded to an interview by President Obama claiming he supports Israel by saying his platitudes are irrelevant if Iran gets a nuclear weapon.

Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel’s Channel 2 that while President Obama’s claim it would be a “fundamental failure” of his presidency if Israel is weakened is “pleasant-sounding”, “no assistance and no backing will help if Iran acquires nuclear weapons.”

Steinitz, a colleague of Netanyahu, released a government fact sheet outlining 10 differences in the deal between Israel and American views.  Among the questions were what would happen to Iran’s stockpiled enriched uranium and why the lifting of sanctions was not connected to changes in Iranian behavior.

The document concludes “the alternative to this framework is a better deal, one that will significantly dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, bring about a cessation of its aggression in the region and terrorist activities around the world, as well as end its efforts to destroy Israel. The framework deal does not block Iran’s path to the bomb. By removing the sanctions and lifting the main restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in about a decade, this framework paves Iran’s path to a bomb. The result will be a dramatic increase in the risks of nuclear proliferation and an increase in the chances of a terrible war.”

U.S. officials dismissed the Israeli fact sheet and statements regarding the deal.  Obama advisor Ben Rhodes said the deal “is the best deal that can emerge from these negotiations” and refused to even consider adding the clause the Iran affirms Israel’s right to exist.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu told CNN that while he respects the president, the deal is a threat to the Israeli people.

“I trust the president is doing what he thinks is good for the United States. But I think we can have a legitimate difference of opinion on this,” Netanyahu said.

President Obama admitted Tuesday to NPR, without acknowledging Israeli’s claims from the beginning about this fact, that at the end of the deal Iran would have an “almost zero” breakout time to a nuclear bomb.

President Obama: Weakened Israel Would Be Failure For Presidency

President Obama gave an interview to the New York Times that was published Sunday saying that he would consider it a failure if the nation of Israel was more vulnerable because of his actions as president.

“Look, Israel is a robust, rowdy democracy. … We share so much. We share blood, family. … And part of what has always made the U.S.-Israeli relationship so special is that it has transcended party, and I think that has to be preserved,” the President told the Times’ Thomas Friedman.  “There has to be the ability for me to disagree with a policy on settlements, for example, without being viewed as … opposing Israel. There has to be a way for Prime Minister Netanyahu to disagree with me on policy without being viewed as anti-Democrat, and I think the right way to do it is to recognize that as many commonalities as we have, there are going to be strategic differences. And I think that it is important for each side to respect the debate that takes place in the other country and not try to work just with one side. … But this has been as hard as anything I do because of the deep affinities that I feel for the Israeli people and for the Jewish people. It’s been a hard period.”

The President even said he took things personally when people would comment he and his administration were trying to undermine Israel.

“It has been personally difficult for me to hear … expressions that somehow … this administration has not done everything it could to look out for Israel’s interest — and the suggestion that when we have very serious policy differences, that that’s not in the context of a deep and abiding friendship and concern and understanding of the threats that the Jewish people have faced historically and continue to face,” the President said.

The agreement has been met with scathing criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who says the deal paves the way for Iran to have a nuclear bomb.  Netanyahu also alluded to the idea that the deal was not done with Israel’s interested in mind.

President Obama acknowledged that Netanyahu and the Israeli people “have every right to be concerned about Iran. This is a regime that at the highest levels has expressed the desire to destroy Israel, that has denied the Holocaust, that has expressed venomous anti-Semitic ideas and is a big country with a big population and has a sophisticated military. So Israel is right to be concerned about Iran, and they should be absolutely concerned that Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon.”

The President continued to say the United States’ interest in the region is not oil but rather that all nations in the area live together in peace.

The Apple of God’s Eye

When Lori and I stepped off the plane in Israel this past September there was a feeling which swept over us that is difficult to describe.  I felt a familiar feeling of home, sincere awe and excitement!  Lori had never been to Israel before and it had been her heart’s desire for many years.  She too felt this indescribable emotion of being home. The scriptures clung to our hearts as we both took in a deep breath of air. We both knew that this visit was God’s doing and absolutely His timing.  Continue reading →

U.S. Government Reveals Israel’s Top Secret Nuclear Program

The Pentagon has declassified a Defense Department document that reveals the extend of the Israeli nuclear program.

The release breaches an agreement between the two nations to not reveal Israel’s nuclear ability.

The move is seen as retribution by the administration toward Israel for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress.  The document revealed Israel’s capabilities while blocking out the sections on the document related to France, Italy, West Germany and NATO nations.

The report states that Israel is “developing the kind of codes which will enable them to make hydrogen bombs. That is, codes which detail fission and fusion processes on a microscopic and macroscopic level.”

The document says that Israel’s ability is “an almost exact parallel of the capability currently existing at our [American] National Laboratories.”

The release is the first time the United States has confirmed that Israel is a nuclear power.

Netanyahu Scores Big Election Victory

Many news outlets proclaimed that it was a race that was too close to call.  The evening was filled with commentators speculating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be struggling to put together a coalition government.

Weeks of uncertainty.  A possible path for Netanyahu’s main rival Isaac Herzog to become PM.

In the end, it wasn’t even that close.

israelelection1With 99 percent of the vote counted, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party scored a decisive victory over his leftist counterpart’s party giving Netanyahu his fourth term as PM.  Likud is in line for 29 or 30 seats in the Knesset with Herzog’s ZIonist Union at 24 seats.  This means that Netanyahu will be able to quickly put together a ruling coalition and get a new government in place.

The result was stunning for many observers who had been showing polls of Netanyahu behind by as many as 4 to 5 seats at the lowest point.  Pundits said that even if Netanyahu somehow pulled out a victory he would be weakened politically both internationally and within Israel.

No one saw this strong a win coming for Likud.  By comparison, the last election had Likud teaming up with another party to gain 36 seats.  Likud gets 30 alone in this election.

“I am proud of the Israeli people that, in the moment of truth, knew how to separate between what’s important or what’s not and to stand up for what’s important,” Netanyahu told enthusiastic supporters at Likud’s election party at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds. “For the most important thing for all of us, which is real security, social economy and strong leadership.”

netanyahu2Likud minister Silvan Shalom said that it would be likely a coalition of “63 to 64 seats” would be formed in the coming days behind Prime Minister Netanyahu.

“Israel said today a very clear ‘yes’ to Prime Minister Netanyahu and to the Likud to continue leading the State of Israel,” Shalom told reporters. “We’ll do it with our allies. We’ll have a strong coalition that is able to deal with all the important issues.”

Analysts say that Netanyahu’s push to the right in the last days of the campaign, including his change in position refusing to back a two-state solution, helped fuel the unexpected victory as it drew voters from other conservative parties.

 

Israelis Go To The Polls

Israelis will go the polls today to choose a new government.

Polls show that current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trailing in the polls to a group that has stated their intent to work with the Palestinian Authority and other Arab groups throughout the region to create Palestine and give up land.

However, the last polls which were released Friday had enough undecided voters to swing the election in either direction.

As much as 70% of Israel’s eligible voters will go to the polls.

The election is expected to be decided by the 20 percent of the population made up of Arabs.  The Arab community has long complained of discrimination by Israeli authorities and expressed their desires to join with groups like Hamas and Hexbollah.

One voter told the Associated Press he was backing Netanyahu because he saw it as a way to defend the nation.

“He is not great, but he is better than anything else out there,” she said. “I can’t vote for the left … It’s a Jewish country, not a Palestinian one,” Meshy Alon said.

In Israel, voters vote for party, not individual candidates.  No party has ever won a clear majority in the 120 member parliament, meaning it can take weeks to form a coalition government.

Franklin Graham: Persecution Is Coming

Franklin Graham is sounding the alarm to American Christians that their religious freedoms are being eroded while believers around the world are being persecuted.

“I believe we’re going to see persecution in this country,” Graham said during an interview on “Fox and Friends Weekend” on Sunday. “We’ve already seen many laws that have been passed that restrict our freedom as Christians. I believe it’s going to get worse, and we see no question gaining influence in Washington by those that represent the Islamic faith. We do have a problem in this country and we are losing our religious freedom and we’re losing it a little bit day by day.”

It’s the latest in warnings being given by Graham, who says the current government situation is the most hostile ever toward Christians.

Graham noted how the Obama administration routinely rebukes and condemns Israel while they actively defend Islamic nations who are out for the destruction of Israel.

Graham said that Christians need to stop shying away from expressing God’s view in the arena of ideas because we have the right to stand up for God’s way.

Netanyahu Delivers Strong Warning To Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, looking and sounding like a strong, firm leader of a nation, delivered a strong warning to members of Congress concerning negotiations with Iran over nuclear weapons.

“We have been told that no deal is better than a bad deal. Well this is a bad deal. It is a very bad deal. We are better off without it,” Netanyahu said.  “We are being told that the only alternative to this bad deal is war. That is just not true. The alternative to this bad deal is a much better deal.”

Over 50 Democratic Party lawmakers, including Vice President Biden, boycotted the speech.

The speech drew multiple standing ovations from the combined houses of Congress and many of the legislators could be seen shaking heads in agreement with virtually all of the Prime Minister’s speech.

“The greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.

“That is exactly what could happen if the deal being negotiated is accepted by Iran. That deal would not prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons. It would all but guarantee that Iran gets those weapons, lots of them.”