Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Tuesday, Dec. 27 '16, כ"ז בכסלו תשע"ז
HEADLINES:
1. 'WE ARE NOT A PROTECTORATE'
2. TRUMP: THE UN IS 'SO SAD'
3. ISRAEL CEASES COOPERATION WITH ANGOLA OVER UN VOTE
4. GINGRICH TO CONGRESS: CONDEMN OBAMA OVER ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTION
5. RUSSIA: ONLY DIRECT TALKS CAN BRING PEACE
6. WATCH: CELEBRATING HANUKKAH - AND ALIYAH - AT THE AIRPORT
7. SHARANSKY: REFORM JEWRY THE 'FINAL DEFENSE' BEFORE ASSIMILATION
8. WATCH: CHABAD HANUKKAH CANDLE LIGHTING AT NBA GAME
1. 'WE ARE NOT A PROTECTORATE'
by Benny Toker
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) told Arutz Sheva that she believes the recently-passed anti-Israel UN resolution will be rescinded by the incoming Trump administration.
"This resolution is an international attempt to impose on Israel a solution to a conflict which, at the moment, is unsolvable. Because this solution does not correspond to reality, in the end it will be cancelled by the Trump administration, with the help of Israel," Hotovely said.
She added, "Unfortunately, the international community simply encourages the Palestinians to run farther and farther away from the negotiating table such that, even insofar as their interests are concerned, this resolution advances nothing."
According to Hotovely, Israel is preparing for additional anti-Israel steps in the coming month. "In mid-January a very large summit is expected to take place in Paris, an initiative that the French are advancing. The PM expressed clearly that he will not take part in any international activity that seeks to impose a solution on Israel while the other side is completely uninterested in negotiations."
"We foresee more international developments - and I say that these developments won't change a thing in reality. The world is, at the moment, encouraging an impossible solution which further harms the fundamental right of the Nation of Israel to build in its Land."
Hotovely says that especially now the time has come to apply Israeli law to Judea and Samaria. "My position was always that we need to apply Israeli law to Judea and Samaria. I think 50 years is enough to wait to determine this."
"We need the words that we say publicly about our right to build to be backed by Israeli law. Is this an historic opportunity? Indeed, it is - and we need to know how to utilize it wisely. We need to build it together with the incoming American administration, in a way that we get down to the details of how exactly we will create a reality in which both the Palestinians are addressed and the needs of Israel are included."
Hotovely said that the UN Security Council resolution simply needs to be rejected. "How, exactly, are you supposed to honor a resolution which says that the Jewish majority is residing on occupied land? How is it possible to honor a resolution which completely ignores Jewish - and world - history? It is a despicable resolution, I think that there have been enough scandalous UN resolutions that were cancelled or didn't have any influence on reality."
I say that as far as we, as a State, are concerned, it is very important that we be clear about the fact that we are not anybody's protectorate. We will do what is good for us, for the Jewish Nation. This is the idea of a sovereign nation - for this the Maccabees struggled. For identity and for sovereignty. And it is also our struggle," she said.
She called on the gloating opposition to calm down. "They should reflect on why they have been in the opposition for so long. They need to understand that the Nation of Israel is sick and tired of their false visions. There are enough sensible people among them who repent for their sins and say 'we erred and the solution that we proposed was impossible.' We see that there is understanding that we are on a path that led us to international tragedies and to a place which is completely impossible. We have responsibility, we have been in power long enough to show our own way - and this is the responsibility that rests on our shoulders now."
2. TRUMP: THE UN IS 'SO SAD'
by Ben Ariel
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday took to Twitter to criticize the United Nations.
"The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" he tweeted.
[twittervideo:2022490]
Though he did not specifically mention it, the tweet comes following last week's vote at the UN Security Council on a resolution condemning Israel's presence in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.
The tweet marks the third time in recent days that Trump has referred to the UN following the vote at the Security Council.
On Saturday, the President-elect said he would work to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority despite the fact that the vote made it more difficult.
"The big loss yesterday for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!" wrote Trump.
On Friday, just after the resolution passed, Trump tweeted, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th", in reference to the fact that the Obama administration chose to abstain at the vote and allow the resolution to pass.
3. ISRAEL CEASES COOPERATION WITH ANGOLA OVER UN VOTE
by Tal Polon
As part of a series of recent acts demonstrating his displeasure with countries that voted for the recent anti-Israel UN resolution, PM Netanyahu is instructing that Israel's Foreign Ministry Cooperation and International Development arm stop its activities with Angola, which voted for the resolution.
As joint activity with Angola is currently sparse, the move is largely symbolic.
In addition, the arrival of an Angolan internist who was to arrive for a course in Israel is to be cancelled, according to Ynet.
Although it voted for the resolution, Angola had originally promised Israel that it would abstain from voting.
Earlier, the Angolan ambassador was summoned for reprimand, along with the ambassadors of other countries that supported the resolution.
Hours after the passage of the resolution, Netanyahu recalled Israeli ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal, two countries which sponsored the resolution, and cancelled aid to Senegal.
The PM also cancelled a visit in Israel with the Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Groysman scheduled for today due to the Ukrainian vote in favor.
4. GINGRICH TO CONGRESS: CONDEMN OBAMA OVER ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTION
by Ben Ariel
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich urged Congress on Monday to condemn the Obama administration for allowing the resolution against Israeli "settlements" to pass the UN Security Council.
In a series of tweets, Gingrich also urged the incoming administration of Donald Trump to work to undo the damage caused by the United States abstaining in the vote, thus allowing the resolution to pass.
"Why is the Obama team waging war against Israel? Why are they taking steps to isolate and then kill a democracy and an ally? Congress should pass resolutions January 3-4 condemning Obama attacks on Israel and demanding he not participate in French or UNSC attacks," tweeted Gingrich.
"President-elect Trump must prepare a comprehensive offensive for Jan 29 to undo the damage to Israel the Obama team is inflicting," he added.
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In the wake of the vote at the Security Council, there have been calls for the United States to cut off funding to the UN until the resolution is reversed.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced on Saturday he will propose a measure to pull U.S. funding for the UN unless the UN Security Council repeals the resolution it passed condemning Israeli settlements.
"It's that important to me," Graham told CNN. "This is a road we haven't gone down before. If you can't show the American people that international organizations can be more responsible, there is going to be a break. And I am going to lead that break."
"I will do everything in my power, working with the new administration and Congress, to leave no doubt about where America stands when it comes to the peace process and where we stand with the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel," Graham added, noting that American funding accounts for 22% of the UN's budget.
The move appeared to receive the backing of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) who tweeted on Saturday night, "No US $ for UN until reversed."
Republican lawmakers blasted Obama shortly after Friday's vote, with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) saying the decision to abstain in the UN Security Council vote was "absolutely shameful."
"Today's vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel. Our unified Republican government will work to reverse the damage done by this administration, and rebuild our alliance with Israel," Ryan said in a statement.
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said Obama's abstention "has made us complicit in this outrageous attack" and added that the abstention "emboldens" Israel's enemies.
5. RUSSIA: ONLY DIRECT TALKS CAN BRING PEACE
by Elad Benari
Despite being one of the 14 member-states of the Security Council to vote in favor of the anti-Israel resolution last week, Russia said on Monday that the only way to achieve a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) is through direct negotiations.
"Our experience shows convincingly that a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is only possible through direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis without any preconditions," said a statement from the foreign ministry in Moscow.
"It is with this aim in view that Russia has been working and will continue working as a member of the Middle East Quartet of international intermediaries to facilitate such negotiations. We would also like to reaffirm our readiness to host a meeting of the leaders of Israel and Palestine in Moscow," added the statement.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said several months ago that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to host an Israeli-Palestinian summit to revive peace talks that have been stalled since 2014.
Several days later, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Putin held a telephone conversation in which they discussed the peace process, among other things, though a Kremlin spokesman later clarified there was "nothing concrete" yet on a meeting between Abbas and Netanyahu.
Several weeks ago, Russia said it was waiting for Israeli and PA proposals on holding a direct meeting between Abbas and Netanyahu.
Russia's efforts come as France is also trying to reignite stalled peace talks through an international summit which will convene in mid-January.
Israel has long opposed the French initiative, saying that the only way to reach a peace agreement is through direct talks with the PA.
The PA, however, refuses direct negotiations with Israel and has instead chosen to impose preconditions on such talks.
6. WATCH: CELEBRATING HANUKKAH - AND ALIYAH - AT THE AIRPORT
by Yoni Kempinski
[youtube:2022527]
This morning, Minister of Aliyah and Absorption Sufa Landover held a Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony in Ben Gurion International Airport with 121 new immigrants who arrived on a special flight with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
The immigrants, who arrived from Ukraine, gathered at the airport with Landover and Chairman of the International Fellowship Jeff Kaye for a celebratory Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony at the airport. The new immigrants sang Hanukkah songs and celebrated their first Hanukkah as Israelis.
Landover told the new immigrants: "Today we are celebrating two holidays together - the holiday of your aliyah to Israel and Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a time of miracles, and aliyah to Israel is a miracle for the Jewish Nation and the State of Israel - as it is a miracle for every new immigrant who decides to tie his fate to the Land of Israel."
"You landed in Israel during the Festival of Lights, and I wish that your lives here in Israel will every day be filled with light, like the lights that flicker every night in streets and houses.
"Because every one of you is a small light who makes up part of the great light of the Nation of Israel and the State of Israel," Landover said.
7. SHARANSKY: REFORM JEWRY THE 'FINAL DEFENSE' BEFORE ASSIMILATION
by Hezki Baruch
Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Jewish Agency and one of those advancing the "Kotel plan" for creating an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall complex, participated today in a Knesset meeting which dealt with the relationship of the State of Israel to Diaspora Jewry.
He noted that it was important to develop greater openness towards different Jewish streams such as Reform, and revealed a bit of the behind-the-scenes deliberations with the Prime Minister regarding the Kotel plan.
"With all the anger about the Kotel plan, the Prime Minister, who proposed the plan, invested a lot of energy into it, and maybe expected different behavior from the haredi partners."
"Netanyahu told me that he is not ready to bring the plan to the government, only to have the coalition collapse as a result, leading to a different government," Sharansky said.
He added: "It would help if there were less ignorance on the part of MKs about who 'the Reform' are. Our approach needs to be broad - every MK needs to know everything. Ministers saying that the Reform aren't Jews influences the entire Jewish world - and harms the diaspora."
"Many assert that the Reform cause assimilation, but this is not correct: it is the final defense before assimilation," he said, voicing his opinion on the matter.
Pew Research Center surveys show that the number of Reform Jews in the US declines by several percentage points each year while the number of Orthodox Jews is on the rise, although there is still a gap between the absolute numbers. Over 50% of Reform Jews marry non-Jews with a small percentage electing to raise their children as Jewish.
8. WATCH: CHABAD HANUKKAH CANDLE LIGHTING AT NBA GAME
by Yoni Kempinski
[youtube:2022506]
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