Methodist Friends of Israel

Sun 22nd August: Clinton announces Israel-PA talks, but they already look doomed

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the weekend announced the impending resumption of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel hailed the development as a significant achievement, but the Palestinians were already throwing cold water on the talks before they ever began.

Clinton told a press conference in Washington that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had been invited to the US capital in September 2 to officially relaunch direct talks, and that she believed the negotiations on a final status peace agreement could be “completed within a year.”

Netanyahu’s Likud Party issued a statement welcoming the final resumption of negotiations without preconditions. “It took a year and a half to persuade the international community and the Palestinians that direct dialogue is the only way to try to reach a solution to the conflict,” said Likud spokesman MK Ofir Akunis. “This is further proof that when you stand up for your principles and do not give in, you can attain diplomatic achievements.”

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From time to time we shall feature a work in Israel that doesn’t receive world-wide publicity, but ought to!

Save a Child’s Heart

This is a work I have personally seen at the Wolfson Medical Centre in Israel. The free medical care given to children from around the world is amazing. Without the aid given by Israel many, if not all, of these children would not only have a much poorer quality of life but would have a shorter life expectancy.

This work is breaking down barriers as folk see Israel helps even those who hate her and want to destroy her. What is even more remarkable is that many of the medical staff give their time and skills free of charge!

“Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is a hospital-based project offering all of its varied services in cooperation with the Wolfson Medical Centre (WMC) in Holon, Israel. The Wolfson Medical Centre is a governmental non-profit hospital, whose management and medical personnel are fully committed to the success of the SACH program.

The staff

A fully fledged paediatric cardiac medical team, including cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, heart-lung machine technicians and nursing staff, are on call for the program 24 hours a day. All the members of this outfit, numbering approximately 70 persons, volunteer a substantial part of their time to the SACH program, as they do not receive any remuneration for services they render to SACH through the WMC.”

To find out more about this wonderful work, go to www.saveachildsheart.org and then make it more widely known.

Sun 15th August: Israeli soldiers ordered to show sensitivity during Ramadan

Israeli soldiers stationed in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”) have been ordered to refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in front of Palestinian Arabs during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

An IDF spokesman said: “The soldiers were instructed to show greater consideration toward the residents, and to refrain as much as possible from eating, drinking and smoking in public in front of the population, especially at the crossing points, and to be alert and accommodating.”

The IDF will also keep several major checkpoints open later in the night during Ramadan to accommodate those who travel to feast with their families after sunset.

Devout Muslims observing Ramadan fully refrain from eating, drinking or smoking during the daylight hours. They then feast after sunset.

The IDF order, which is issued every year, contradicts the international media-supported image of Israeli soldiers as routinely oppressive and inconsiderate.

Sun 15th August: Gilo Security Wall Comes Tumbling Down – for Now
by Hezki Ezra & Yoni Kempinski

The IDF has begun removing the wall which was put up in 2001 in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo when it came under intense near-daily rifle attacks from the adjacent Arab neighbourhood of Beit Jalla. Israel National News TV was on the scene Sunday and spoke with the IDF representative and local residents.

“We were approached by the Jerusalem municipality, which requested that we remove this wall.” explained IDF Home Front Command’s Brig. Gen. Chezi Revivo “After a professional assessment of the current situation at the IDF Home Front Command, the Home Front commander issued an order to dismantle this wall.”

One of the local residents told Israel National News TV that he is very scared now that the wall is being removed; “It must not be moved now! Do you think that they’re not waiting for this? Tomorrow morning there will be firing towards here, and when that happens and someone dies, we’ll talk again.”

However, the head of the local administration of the neighbourhood chose to express complete support in the act: “When the security authorities decided that it was necessary, we were behind them,” he said. “When they decide today that it can be removed, then we still back them up and believe in them.”

And what will be if, G-d forbid, the attacks are renewed? The IDF will not be putting these cement pieces too far away, in case of need. “We’re trying to keep everything in order, according to how it was placed here” explained Birg. Gen. Revivo, “but we of course hope that we won’t need to put this puzzle back together.”

Sun 15th August: Best Ever Year for Tourism
(Israelnationalnews.com)

The year 5770 of the Hebrew calendar, which comes to a close in three weeks, is the best-ever Hebrew year for incoming tourism: about 3.1 million tourists visited Israel during 5770 – 18 percent more than in 5769, when the number of tourists was 2.6 million, and 10 percent more than recorded in 5768.

During the past few months, the Tourism Ministry has been preparing to welcome the 260,000 tourists who are expected to visit Israel during the Jewish holidays in September as well as the tens of thousands of Israelis who are expected to visit tourist, leisure and entertainment sites around the country.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov has toured the country in recent months to investigate the readiness and levels of cleanliness and maintenance of hotels and tourism attractions. The minister will also visit additional hotels in the coming days in Eilat, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, where particularly high levels of occupancy are expected, in order to check their readiness, levels of cleanliness and maintenance for the upcoming Rosh HaShanah New Year holidays.

Inspection teams from the Ministry will carry out inspections in tourism areas where high tourist traffic is expected during the Jewish holidays in order to ensure a pleasant vacation for tourists and Israelis alike.
Minister Misezhnikov said that the focused marketing efforts of the ministry in the last year have succeeded in significantly increasing incoming tourism and improving Israel’s image as an attractive tourism destination. “The Tourism Ministry will increase its marketing activity in the coming year in order to progress the ministry’s target of bringing another million tourists to Israel by 2012 and 5 million by 2015,” he added.

www.IsraelNationalNews.com
© Copyright IsraelNationalNews.com

Tues 17th August: Mortar Fire Wounds 2 Soldiers; IDF Has Not Yet Retaliated
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in a mortar attack on the western Negev Tuesday morning, barely 12 hours after mortar shells and rockets were fired Gaza and exploded in an open field of a kibbutz in the same area. The soldiers were carrying out engineering tasks along the security fence when they were attacked.

The Salah al-Din Brigades, a military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist organization, subsequently claimed responsibility for firing the two mortars.

IDF helicopters evacuated the victims to nearby Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. Israeli media generally ignore the attacks when no one is wounded, but this time reported on the latest explosions following the news that soldiers were wounded.

The government and military adopted a policy in the past year to retaliate after every terrorist attack from Hamas-controlled Gaza, and a response is likely in the next 24 hours.

Monday night, one Islamic Jihad terrorist was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the IDF after soldiers discovered a cell trying to plant bombs along the Gaza security fence, where IDF jeeps conduct regular patrols. One soldier was lightly wounded in the skirmish.

More than 115 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israelis since the beginning of 2010, and more than 400 rockets were fired from Gaza since the end of Operation Cast Lead early last year.

Hamas has alternately increased and reduced the number of Kassam rocket attacks. The latest escalation may be timed to interfere with the apparent likelihood that the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority will agree to direct talks with Israel over a proposed new Arab country within Israel’s borders.

Tues 17th August: Central Israel Oil Discovery: 1.5 Billion Barrels
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Estimates of the amount of oil in the Rosh HaAyin discovery have rises to 1.5 billion barrels, and there is more oil off-shore, but it is not yet known how much of the “black gold” can be extracted for commercial use.

The new estimate, along with the gas and oil finds off the Mediterranean Coast, raise the likelihood that Israel will be self-sufficient for energy for the next three decades and even become an exporter of gas. The amount of oil at Rosh HaAyin represents a tiny percentage of Israel’s oil consumption, but development is continuing in the area as well as in the Dead Sea.

Economists have noted that the discoveries will have a huge impact on society, creating more jobs and strengthening the shekel against word currencies.

Investors in the project at Rosh HaAyin, located on the edge of Samaria and several miles east of Tel Aviv, have been waiting anxiously for months for news about the amounts oil underground at the Megged 5 oil well. The full engineering report will not be available until mid-September, but the company has decided to adopt the recommendation in the initial report.

Oil samples were found as having high quality with very little sulphur, and the amount of water in the samples was less than 10 percent.

It added, “A reasonable estimate of the amount of oil…is 1.525 billion barrels of oil” but warned that the final estimates may be lower, with a chance that they could even be higher. The report does not include estimate of other sections in the field.

Previous reports estimated that daily production could reach 382 barrels a day. The latest company statement said it is will not be known before next month the new estimated production rate, but it should reach at least 450 barrels a day.

Thurs 19th August: Algeria, Lebanon sending blockade runners to Gaza

Israel’s Channel 10 TV news reported on Thursday that a ship from Algeria is on its way to attempt to run the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The ship, which is sponsored by the Libyan government and organized by a private group called the Muslim Wise Men, has several prominent religious and political leaders aboard in addition to food, educational materials and medical supplies.

Meantime, the Lebanese ship the “Miriam,” named after the Virgin Mary and carrying aid and some 70 female activists, will set sail from Lebanon on Sunday in hopes of breaking the Israeli blockade, even though Cyprus has warned the vessel will not be allowed to pass through its waters. A senior Cyprus official said today his nation has a “moral and legal responsibility” to those entering its waters, and that a blockade-busting ship could endanger lives along with “regional peace and stability,” a clear reference to the deadly Mavi Marmara incident in late May.

Lebanese leaders have refused to meet with the flotilla sponsors, indicating the mission does not have their blessing. Israel has eased the Gaza blockade in recent weeks to allow everything in except weapons and dual use materials, but anti-Israel activists still appear determined to make their point. Former British MP George Galloway, whose group Viva Palestina is preparing its own aid flotilla for September, said this week:  “We are at a moment when pressure can be brought to bear as never before to frustrate Israel’s moves to crush the Palestinians.”

Thursday 19th August: Israel preparing massive underground bomb shelters

Israel is planning to build massive new underground bomb shelters in train stations and other public facilities, and will upgrade older shelters, all for use in case of anticipated missile barrages and chemical or biological attacks. “The State of Israel is preparing to build additional large underground spaces which would be able to absorb tens of thousands of people and protect them from non-conventional weapons for a long period of time,” Major-General Ronny Seri, head of the Home Front Command’s fortification department, told Yedioth Ahronoth on Tuesday. The new spaces are being built with state of the art air filters, medical facilities and communications lines. The new train station in southern Jerusalem will be equipped with a shelter 80 meters underground to protect up to 5,000 people against a chemical or biological attack. The subway in Haifa, a new underground parking garage in Holon, and the recently renovated Habima theatre in Tel Aviv are also being planned for use as emergency public shelters against unconventional attack.

Thurs 19th August: Palestinians indicted for selling Jewish products

The Palestinian Authority of “moderate” leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad on Tuesday decided to indict four Palestinian Arabs accused of selling Jewish-made products in their stores.

Fayyad, the PA’s current prime minister, recently enacted new laws forbidding the import, sale or promotion of goods or services that originate in Jewish towns and villages in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”).

Those found guilty of violating the boycott face a punishment of 2-5 years in prison and a $14,000 fine. They are also likely to have their business licenses revoked.

The Palestinian Authority is using the boycott to choke the economy of the Jewish settlements, which constitute the fastest growing sector of Israeli society. However, the new, which also bans Palestinians from working in the Jewish communities, is having a far bigger impact on the Palestinian economy. The 7,000-10,000 Palestinians that currently work for Israeli building contractors will soon be out of work, and stores are being forced to stock more expensive goods imported from neighbouring Arab states.

Fri 20th August: Jewish groups to help Pakistan flood victims
By GIL SHEFLER
08/20/2010 02:13
Organizations raising funds for Muslim nation.

Jewish organizations have begun raising funds for flood relief in Pakistan, the world’s second most populous Muslim nation.

In the past week, organizations such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the American Jewish World Service and World Jewish Relief have asked donors to give money to help the estimated 20 million Pakistanis suffering from the effects of the torrential rain and flooding.

“By harnessing our vast experience in international disaster relief and tapping our network of partners on the ground to assess the most pressing needs, JDC will quickly respond to those affected by the floods in Pakistan,” JDC CEO Steven Schwager said in a press release on Wednesday.

William Recant, assistant executive vice president at JDC, who is charged with overlooking the relief effort to Pakistan, told The Jerusalem Post how his organization planned to distribute donations.

“We’re looking to work with traditional partners such as Heart to Heart, which sends medical volunteers; the Blue Crescent operating out of Turkey, who we’ve helped a few years ago to build a school in a distant region of Pakistan, and the Afya Foundation, which collects medical supplies in hospitals throughout the New York area and sends containers of medical goods,” he said.

JDC has been involved in humanitarian efforts in Pakistan twice before, in response to earthquakes that struck the South Asian country in 2006 and 2008.

The first time JDC reached out to Muslims in need was in 1999, when it helped Kosovan refugees returning from Macedonia after the civil war in their country ended.

Meanwhile, the UK-based World Jewish Relief called donors to help buy the 800 kits containing rehydration salts, mosquito nets, blankets, kitchen equipment, a floor mat and a plastic sheet for shelter it plans to distribute to those in need in Pakistan.

The Jewish organizations’ response to the crisis in Pakistan illustrates the well-established change in the pattern of Diaspora Jewish giving in recent years. There was a time when raising money from Jewish donors for people in need in a predominantly Muslim nation wouldn’t have been on the agenda of a Jewish organization.

Up until about two decades ago funds were exclusively related to Israeli or Jewish causes.

However, Jewish organizations across the board now support a large and growing number of non-Jewish causes in Israel and around the world.

Recant cited two reasons for this change. First, he said the media has raised awareness among Jews and non-Jews to international humanitarian crises by “placing it in our faces.”

He said the second reason is the willingness of governments to cooperate and the increased ease in transporting aid around the world.

“Today, unlike 20 years ago, we can get goods into the country,” he said. “There is real coordination.”

Such aid is controversial in certain quarters, with some Jewish leaders arguing Jewish money should be given only to Jewish causes.

Recant said that so far, no Pakistani recipients have rejected Jewish aid on political or religious grounds and the government of Pakistan has willingly accepted and acknowledged support from Jewish organizations.

The JDC added that money raised for Pakistan and other international crises, like relief for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or the earthquake in Haiti earlier this year, is entirely separate from its core activities supporting Jewish communities around the world.

He said helping Muslim flood victims in Pakistan complied with the Jewish tenet of tikkun olam, or repairing the world.

“Doing this work in an interfaith basis working with Christians, Muslims and others, it’s incredible,” Recant said. “And the fact that the Jewish community is sitting at that table has been tremendous.”

With thanks to Israel Today, ICEJ, Arutz Sheva, Jerusalem Post, Israel International News

By Thomas L. Friedman

I just saw a remarkable new documentary directed by Shlomi Eldar, the Gaza reporter for Israel’s Channel 10 news. Titled “Precious Life,” the film tracks the story of Mohammed Abu Mustafa, a 4-month-old Palestinian baby suffering from a rare immune deficiency. Moved by the baby’s plight, Eldar helps the infant and mother go from Gaza to Israel’s Tel Hashomer hospital for lifesaving bone-marrow treatment. The operation costs $55,000. Eldar puts out an appeal on Israel TV and within hours an Israeli Jew whose own son was killed during military service donates all the money.

The documentary takes a dramatic turn, though, when the infant’s Palestinian mother, Raida, who is being disparaged by fellow Gazans for having her son treated in Israel, blurts out that she hopes he’ll grow up to be a suicide bomber to help recover Jerusalem. Raida tells Eldar: “From the smallest infant, even smaller than Mohammed, to the oldest person, we will all sacrifice ourselves for the sake of Jerusalem. We feel we have the right to it. You’re free to be angry, so be angry.”

Eldar is devastated by her declaration and stops making the film. But this is no Israeli propaganda movie. The drama of the Palestinian boy’s rescue at an Israeli hospital is juxtaposed against Israeli retaliations for shelling from Gaza, which kill whole Palestinian families. Dr. Raz Somech, the specialist who treats Mohammed as if he were his own child, is summoned for reserve duty in Gaza in the middle of the film. The race by Israelis and Palestinians to save one life is embedded in the larger routine of the two communities grinding each other up.

“It’s clear to me that the war in Gaza was justified — no country can allow itself to be fired at with Qassam rockets — but I did not see many people pained by the loss of life on the Palestinian side,” Eldar told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “Because we were so angry at Hamas, all the Israeli public wanted was to [expletive] Gaza. … It wasn’t until after the incident of Dr. Abu al-Aish — the Gaza physician I spoke with on live TV immediately after a shell struck his house and caused the death of his daughters and he was shouting with grief and fear — that I discovered the [Israeli] silent majority that has compassion for people, including Palestinians. I found that many Israeli viewers shared my feelings.” So Eldar finished the documentary about how Mohammed’s life was saved in Israel.

For the full report go to:  The New York Times 7th Aug 2010

Selected Anti-Semitic Incidents from around  the world in 2010 (with thanks to the Anti Defamation League).

Argentina
July 21, 2010 – Junin — Anti-Semitic graffiti was spray painted at the local offices of the political party Coalicion Civica Reencuentro, with swastikas and the words “Death to the Jew,” an apparent reference to the president of the party, who is Jewish. The incident followed a death threat received by the party president days earlier.
July 20, 2010 – Corrientes — Swastikas were spray-painted on the door of the residence of a Jewish former legislator. A stone was thrown at a window.
April 1, 2010 – Santa Teresita – Swastikas and anti-Semitic phrases, such as “Morten Juden” (Death to Jews), were spray painted near a hotel where more than 200 people were celebrating Passover. Unknown vandals in motorcycle also shouted similar anti-Semitic slogans when passing by the hotel in the night of March 31.
January 13, 2010 – Mar del Plata – Vandals spray-painted a swastika near the entrance of the Miramar Synagogue, and a rock was thrown at one of its windows, shattering the glass pane.

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Sat 7th August: The IDF fired at a Lebanese fishing boat that was sailing in a restricted zone Saturday night, after a warning to return to Lebanese waters was ignored.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

The Lebanese army issued a statement in response to the incident, stating that Israel “continues” to violate UN Resolution 1701, and that the IDF fired shots into Lebanese territorial waters.

The IDF confirmed that it fired “warning shots” when the boat did not heed a request to leave the restricted area.

The incident occurred just days after fatal border clashes between IDF and LAF forces last Tuesday left one Israeli and four Lebanese dead.

Sun 8th August: A “women-only” ship, complete with a nun and a heavily pregnant mother, has cleared political and technical obstacles and is set to sail for Gaza, presenting Israel with a new challenge. The ship is supposed to leave Tripoli by Sunday night, its co-coordinator, Hizbullah-backer Samar al-Hajj, told the London Guardian.

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So you want to boycott Israel?

As I said in my recent editorial, we are increasingly hearing calls to boycott Israel.  I have no problem with any person exercising his, or her, right to boycott anyone they wish.  I only ask that, if they do so, they do it honestly and don’t simply boycott what will not inconvenience them.

Following are some areas in which Israel is leading the way. The lists are by no means fully comprehensive but aim to show just what a boycott should mean in the realms of science, technology, computers, medicine, the environment and accepting aid in disasters. I have not mentioned the role played in music, entertainment, art etc.   To boycott Israel means not using mobile phones, computers, many medicines and medical procedures to mention but a few.

The facts are taken from the following: Beyond Images; Israel21c; The Israel Project; Eye 2 Israel

High Technology

• The first cell phone in the world was developed in Haifa, Israel.
• Israel developed the first camera chip used in cell phones.
• Israeli companies invented the SMS and voice mail systems.
• Israel holds the most High-Tech industries per population.
• Invention of Safety Centre, a device to assess driving habits and improve    them. Helps cut accidents.
• Iron Dome – a mobile system that detects  incoming short range missiles and assesses where they will land. If the target site is unpopulated no counter attack is mounted, if it will hit a populated area then small, guided missiles are fired to destroy the incoming missile mid air
• The Arrow missile “Interceptor” is another Israeli project. This is a first of its kind – the only one that can intercept a ballistic missile. The arrow manoeuvres and destroys the attacker missile.
• The IDF’s creative thinking has produced the Air Mule, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which helps with medical rescue and evacuation.
• Urban Aeronautics has developed  propellers  which are installed inside the aircraft instead of outside.  This enables  the aircraft to carry out different operations in narrow places that are inaccessible to conventional planes and helicopters.
• Invention of  largest unmanned aircraft named Eitan. Can fly up to 45,000 feet carrying  high-tech cameras and sensors  which will give more precise information of ground activity during conflicts or in general monitoring of nations eg Iran
• Israeli invention of  “Earthquake Alert”, a home device to give early warning of earthquakes. Analyzes movement and determines if it is because of an earthquake or some other cause
• Xaver 400 /800. These devices give 2D (400) or 3D (800) images below rubble.  Used in searching for people following earthquakes who otherwise might not be found, or in hostage situations where the police need to see what is happening within buildings
• Israeli company Satec, a world leader in electrical power products, has developed a system called ExpertPower for monitoring and preventing power breakdowns and blackouts. The system monitors energy distribution and use, and provides real-time reports via the Internet to assist in avoiding power system overloading.

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Sat 31st July

A Qassam missile, fired from Gaza, hit a children’s hydrotherapy centre situated in Sderot’s Sapir College. The centre, that was totally destroyed, provides therapy and workshops for special-needs children who live in the Western Negev and is used by children from the entire country.

On any other day, a catastrophe would have taken place, killing all the children at the centre. During week days, the Centre closes at 10 p.m. and is packed with hundreds of children and therapists.

The missile strikes of Sat 24th July, Fri 30th July (reported last week) and Sat 31st July were not reported on the news bulletins or Ceefax. The counter strike by the Israelis was, with a brief reference that it was in retaliation for a missile strike on Ashkelon.

Mon 2nd August: Missiles fired at Israeli resort town of Eilat

Terrorists operating out of the Sinai Peninsula fired five missiles toward the resort city of Eilat at the southern tip of Israel on Monday morning.

Two of the missiles landed in the neighbouring Jordanian resort and port city of Aqaba. One of those missiles hit the beach adjacent to the Intercontinental Hotel and wounded four people, one seriously.

Two of the missiles landed in the Red Sea, and another hit just behind the main row of luxury hotels in Eilat.

Tues 3rd August

The Israeli and Lebanese armies engaged in an exchange of fire along Israel’s northern border on Tuesday.
According to Israeli military sources, the incident was sparked when Lebanese soldiers confronted Israeli troops conducted routine operations along a disputed section of the border. The Lebanese refused to depart the area and instead opened fire on the Israelis.

In the Lebanese version of events, it was Lebanese soldiers who were operating in the area, and the Israelis who refused to leave. The Lebanese said they fired warning shots to scare off the Israelis, but were instead met by Israeli tank fire.

To the surprise of many Israelis, the United Nations on Wednesday confirmed that Israeli soldiers were unjustly attacked by Lebanese Army forces during routine maintenance along the border a day earlier.

Location of Tuesday's incident marked in red, clearly on the Israeli side of the border.

A member of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) released a statement noting that the Israeli army had notified the world body of its intention to conduct maintenance work very close to the Blue Line, which is the internationally-recognized border.
Israel regularly cuts down large trees in the area between the Israeli security fence and the Blue Line (which is still sovereign Israeli territory) in order to deny Lebanese terrorist forces cover for attacks on Israeli border towns.

“I can confirm that we received notification from the IDF about the work and we passed the information on to the Lebanese Army,” a Hungarian diplomat working with UNIFIL stated.

But the Lebanese used the information to set up an ambush. As the Israelis began their work, again, on Israel’s side of the UN-demarcated border, Lebanese army snipers opened fire, killing the Israeli unit’s commander and critically wounding one of his deputies. Israeli tanks returned fire, and were attacked by Lebanese anti-tank missiles. Israeli artillery then pounded the area.
Israeli army commanders noted that Arab journalists were already present on the Lebanese side of the border, proving that the clash was a planned ambush.

Israel continues to be a leader in cutting edge technology

A new sniff-sensing device designed in Israel may help the severely paralyzed to communicate, surf the Net and steer their wheelchairs.

Sniffing is a precise motor skill that is controlled partly by the soft palate, which in turn is controlled by several nerves that connect directly through the braincase.

A stroke patient locked into her body for seven months unable to move or communicate was able to write an email to her family using a new device developed in Israel that allows severely disabled people to communicate and steer a wheelchair by sniffing.
The revolutionary new device identifies changes in air pressure inside the nostrils and translates these into electrical signals which can then be used either to write messages or to move a wheelchair.

Simple to learn, cheap to produce

One patient who had been locked into his body after a traffic accident 18 years ago, wrote that the new device was much easier to use than one based on blinking. Another 10 patients, all quadriplegics, succeeded in operating a computer and writing messages through sniffing.

In addition to communication, the device can function as a steering mechanism for wheelchairs: Two successive sniffs tell it to go forward, two out mean reverse, out and then in turn it left, and in and out turn it right. After 15 minutes of practice, the researchers found that a patient paralyzed from the neck down could navigate a wheelchair through a complex route – sharp turns and all – as well as a non-disabled volunteer.

Sniffs can be in or out, strong or shallow, long or short; and this gives the device’s developers the opportunity to create a complex ‘language’ with multiple signals.

With thanks to Israel Today, ICEJ, Israel 21c and the Jerusalem Post

We publish here a letter from Gerald Oberman:

To: The General Secretary of the Methodist Church and Connexial Team.

Dear Sir,

In your annual conference you have passed a policy calling for a boycott of goods from “illegal” Israeli West Bank settlements”.  You claim this is not anti-Semitic. But how else do you explain this strange obsession with Israel? What about the Chinese occupation of Tibet, or the Sudanese slaughter in Darfur, persecution in Zimbabwe and elsewhere?  Politically, one could probably compile a case for a boycott against just about every country on the planet, but the only country in the world being subjected to a call for a boycott is Israel.

The so-called West Bank has been Jewish for more than 3000 years. A large part was known as Judea. Jesus, a Jew, was born there. Who do you imagine lived in Judea, if not the Jews? Who lived in Hebron but the Hebrews? The name Bethlehem is Hebrew. Only the Jews, of all the people in the world, living in their own land, are besmirched by being called illegal settlers.

Israel is monstrously depicted as Apartheid, notwithstanding the fact that one fifth of her population is Israeli Arab with full rights. The Palestinians claim the West Bank as theirs and require the land to be Juden Frei.

And just who are the “Palestinians”? Palestine has never existed as an autonomous entity. There is no language known as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. There has never been a King of Palestine. Palestinians are Arabs, indistinguishable from Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc. The “Palestinian” leader Yasser Arafat was an Egyptian. They have no claim on the West Bank. Israel is not wrongfully “occupying” or “settling” anything.

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Sat 24th July: Four rockets and two mortar shells were fired out of the Gaza strip into southern Israel.  Fortunately all missiles landed just outside the villages so no one was hurt.  Because of the professional nature of the manufacture of the rockets Israel believes they were imported.  Israel has been warning for years that weapons have been being smuggled into Gaza but the world has not listened.

Friday 30th July: A Grad missile, fired from the Gaza strip, hit a residential area near the centre of Ashkelon.  Windows were smashed and two people were taken to hospital suffering from shock but, fortunately, no one was injured or killed.  A request has been made for the speeding up of the construction of protected rooms and shelters because of the frequency of missile attacks.  Two more missiles were fired from Gaza into Israel on Friday afternoon and an explosive device was defused near the Gaza border fence.

To the best of my knowledge none of the above attacks have been mentioned in our news bulletins.