Learn, Pray and Write

US pushes Israel on West Bank settlers
By JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press Writer Sun Nov 18, 5:41 PM ET
JERUSALEM - The U.S. is pressuring Israel to meet a long-standing obligation to freeze all West Bank settlement construction ahead of a high-profile Mideast conference, rejecting Israel's stance that it be allowed to continue building in existing communities, Israeli officials said Sunday.

Learn and pray for the Jewish People, Jerusalem and Israel.

It's also time to join the letter writing campaign. The peoples' opinion does matter. The OU Institute for Public Affairs has created a very good website about Yerushalayim. I highly recommend that you read it. There are no real chidushim but it certainly re enforces much of what we already know. Reading the articles lessens the distance between the heart and the brain.

In addition there's a page of email and snail mail addresses along with fax numbers of all the people that need to be contacted in the US and Israeli government. I highly recommend respectful and appropriate letter writing to our government representatives.

Olmert's new outline

1. "We won't hold negotiations on our existence as a Jewish state, this is a launching point for all negotiations," Olmert said.

2. The first stage of the road map calls on the Palestinians to dismantle terror groups. The sides had agreed recently that talks would proceed according to the document. In recent weeks, politicians from the right, especially MK Yisrael Katz (Likud), have taken to accusing the government of holding negotiations outside of road map dictates.

Olmert essentially confirmed those accusations. "There is a new outline," he said. "The traditional position has been that there will be no road map implementation without the first phase. I came to the conclusion that we are somewhat able to change the tradition."

Another new line in the sand. And just like the last one (the PA was to remove terrorists and terrorism from their midsts) was redrawn so too can this one be redrawn.

The only good about this is that it gets down to the basic issue issue - the existential existence of a Jewish country in the middle east. It the heart, brain and soul of the Arab-Israeli conflict. All the LFP ideas (land for peace) blew the ship off course. So far the PFP policy has led to continuing death and destruction via terrorism. It's more aptly named LFT - Land For Terrorism. The issue is much deeper than a game of Monopoly.

Yes, Olmert if you talk like a clown...

By Dion Nissenbaum, McClatchy Newspapers Mon Oct 29, 10:24 AM ET
JERUSALEM — The last time Israeli leaders sat down for meaningful peace talks with Palestinian negotiators, then- Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert led a march around the Old City's ancient walls to protest any plans to divide his adopted home.

Olmert in 2000...

"No concessions on Jerusalem ," Olmert said on the eve of the 2000 Camp David summit. "For 33 years, Israel has said there will never be a compromise on Jerusalem . Do you think we were joking?"

Olmert in 2007...