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The PLO's desperate defenders

BY CAROLINE GLICK, JPOST— By most accounts, the Fatah-Hamas unity deal signing ceremony Wednesday was a grand affair. Hamas terror-chief Khaled Mashaal jetted in from Damascus. PLO/Fatah/Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas flew in from Ramallah. The ceremony was held under the auspices of the newly Muslim Brotherhood-friendly Egyptian intelligence services. UN representatives and Israeli Arab…

Prayers for Independence Day

A translation of the Al HaNissim prayer said in Conservative synagogues on Yom Ha’atzmaout: “We thank You for the heroism, for the triumphs, and for the miraculous deliverance of our ancestors, in other days and in our time.  In the days when Your children were returning to their borders, at the time of a people…

How much do Hamas and Fatah really trust each other?

BY EDMUND SANDERS AND PAUL RICHTER, JWR— Rival Palestinian factions celebrated the signing of a reconciliation pact they hope will end their four-year split and accelerate efforts to form an independent state. But the agreement faces fierce opposition from Israel, complicates American-led efforts to forge a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, and still…

Israel's increasing vulnerability

BY JOHN BOLTON, WASHINGTON TIMES— Although Osama bin Laden’s well-deserved death has demonstrated America’s re- solve to vindicate our national security, the world is still far from safe. In the Middle East, optimistic predictions that authoritarian regimes would fall like dominoes, ushering in new democracies and greater prospects for peace, are rapidly disappearing. Not only…

The Hamas and al-Qaida Parallel

BY MICHAEL FREUND, JPOST— With the demise of Osama bin Laden, Israel and the Western world can breathe a collective sigh of relief. After nearly a decade of dead ends and false leads, America finally succeeded in tracking down and eliminating al-Qaida’s charismatic and evil founder, setting a commendable example of counterterrorism at its best.…

Video: Celebrating Israel’s 63rd Birthday

Video: Ben Gurion declares State of Israel

The Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel read aloud by Israels first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion.

The Miracle of Israel's Rebirth

BY EARL COX— It’s time to say, “Happy 63nd Birthday!” to our special and revered friend Israel, which is still one of the youngest nations of the world and exhibits the strength and action of youth in many, many ways. As America’s most valued friend and ally in the Middle East, we must not forget…

Video: National Anthem Hatikva

The words to Israel’s national anthem Hatikva were written around 1878 by Naphtali Herz Imber, an English poet.  Samuel Cohen, an immigrant from Moldavia, put the lyrics to a folk melody from his home country.  In 1898, the Jewish newspaper in Israel (before the state was established) ran a competition for an official national anthem.  There were no winners from…

Picture Gallery: Israel’s First Independence Day

David Ben Gurion reading the Declaration of Independence at the Tel Aviv museum. Assembly singing Israel's national anthem Israel declares independence Ben Gurion signing declaration People outside the Tel Aviv Museum dancing and waving flags Declaration with signatures

Competing visions of 'Never Again'

BY CAROLINE GLICK, JPOST— If the Jews had been permitted to leave Europe, the Holocaust could have been averted. But the only place that wanted us wasn’t allowed to take us. The nations of the world closed their gates. Only the Jews in the Land of Israel wanted the Jews of Europe. But the British…

Israel congratulates the US

BY ISRAEL TODAY— Israel on Tuesday congratulated America on finally catching up to and eliminating Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, and noted that the targeted killing was very reminiscent of Israeli counter-terror operations for which Jerusalem is so often criticized. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement praising the determined American war…

Fatah military wing calls Fatah military wing calls

BY PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH— The military wing of Fatah, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, published a long statement in reaction to the killing of Osama bin Laden calling it a “catastrophe.” They said that those who killed Bin Laden were “gangs of heretics.” Fatah’s military wing promises that the Jihad fighters will not be deterred in…

Holocaust Survivor Testimony: Andrei Calarasu

BY ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS— Andrei Calarasu is one of the six torch lighters who participated in the official openeing ceremony of this year’s Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day. Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority presents his story. Andrei was born in 1922 in Botosani, Romania as Bernard Grupper, son of Zalman…