Iran was For Brexit

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is elated about the Brexit vote.

The Iranians claim that they believe in democratic voting and so they supported the vote about leaving the EU. The Foreign Ministry statement read "As a democratic establishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the British people’s vote on leaving the European Union, and considers that as being in line with the will of majority of that country’s people to adopt their own foreign policy."

It sounds good, but it is truly irrelevant.

The real reason Iran supports Brexit is because the United States was in support of remaining.

In addition, the Iranians perceive England to be a huge trading partner and they want to expand their trade with Iran.

Every country has an agenda. Iran is no exception.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Germany to Lease Israeli Killer Drone

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel will lease 5 drones to Germany in a deal worth 600 million Euros.

There are two fascinating components to this deal. The first is that Germany did not lease or buy the US drones, but chose Israel instead. After all, the US Predator and Raptor drones are part of the United State’s highly developed weapons cache.
Israel has a wide range of drones and they are the leaders in technology in the field. The Germans are leasing the Eitan which is called the Heron TP.

It is huge, weighing over 5 tons. Its wingspan is 86 ft and it is 43 ft long. The Eitan can carry an additional 4000 lbs of equipment. (bombs).

And that leads to the second very interesting dimension to this deal. The
Germans said that the Heron can carry and shoot missiles, rockets and bombs. The Germans used older versions of these drones to attack in Afghanistan.

The Germans were revealing a well hidden secret

Israel has never admitted that they make drones that can be armed with weapons.
The Germans just disclosed that very important piece of information.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Germany to Lease Israeli Killer Drone

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel will lease 5 drones to Germany in a deal worth 600 million Euros.

There are two fascinating components to this deal. The first is that Germany did not lease or buy the US drones, but chose Israel instead. After all, the US Predator and Raptor drones are part of the United State’s highly developed weapons cache.
Israel has a wide range of drones and they are the leaders in technology in the field. The Germans are leasing the Eitan which is called the Heron TP.

It is huge, weighing over 5 tons. Its wingspan is 86 ft and it is 43 ft long. The Eitan can carry an additional 4000 lbs of equipment. (bombs).

And that leads to the second very interesting dimension to this deal. The
Germans said that the Heron can carry and shoot missiles, rockets and bombs. The Germans used older versions of these drones to attack in Afghanistan.

The Germans were revealing a well hidden secret

Israel has never admitted that they make drones that can be armed with weapons.
The Germans just disclosed that very important piece of information.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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US May Buy Iron Dome

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The US is considering buying the short range interceptor missile, the famous Iron Dome, from Israel.

The idea is to use the Iron Dome in Europe to protect against Russian missiles that could attack European cities. The US already has anti missile batteries in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia has interpreted this as a major threat against them and an increased US direct involvement in Central and Eastern Europe.,
US Major-General Glenn Bramhall of the US Army's Air and Missile Defense Command just visited Israel and discussed details of buying the Iron Dome or major segments of it.

Israel developed the Iron Dome with the financial help of the United States.

There were many conditions placed on the money. Israel cannot sell it to just anyone. But they can certainly sell it to the United States.
Interestingly, there have not been many potential buyers for the missile despite it 90% success rate against the rockets shot at Israel from Gaza.

The original Iron Dome was limited to a range of only 3 - 43 miles. But with improvements that expand its range to 95 miles this short range interceptor now encroaches into the range of a mid range interceptor allowing for a near total defense shield.

The United States is thinking critically and strategically with this military purchase.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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The Pope & Turkey

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Pope Francis just finished a visit to Armenia and, as expected, he ruffled Turkey's feathers.

When the Pope arrived he made a clear declaration condemning the Turkish- led Armenian Genocide as a planned attempt to murder Armenians.

In response the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Nerettin Canikli, called the Pope’s declaration "greatly unfortunate." He said that the Pope was showing a bias that resembled "the mentality of the Crusades."

Last year Pope Francis made a similar statement condemning the Armenian Genocide which resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians. As a result Turkey withdrew its ambassador from the Holy See for ten months, only now returning to their post in Rome. The Turks accused the Pope of spreading lies.

The Turkish claim is that people died on both sides and that it was the middle of WWI just as the Ottoman Empire was breaking down. They also simply say that the number 1.5 is a huge exaggeration.

Turkey is in the midst of trying to resurrect diplomatic relations with Israel. The day before the preliminary deal was signed Turkey hosted a formal meeting with the head of Hamas.

Turkey appears to have a warped sense of the code of conduct for the art of diplomacy and they just don't know how to get along with others.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Muslims Sworn into IDF

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Muslim soldiers were recently sworn in to the IDF.

Most of the soldiers are Bedouins. They were sworn into the Desert Corp. They will probably be trackers, a task that Bedouins have traditionally excelled in for decades.

These Muslim soldiers swore their allegiance to defend the State of Israel. They each received a weapon and a Koran.

The ceremony took place at the Memorial for Fallen Bedouin Soldiers in the Negev Desert in the southern part of Israel.

Israel wants and needs Bedouin input in the IDF and in Israel society.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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New ISIS Hit List

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

ISIS just released a new hit list of 8318 people from around the world and almost all 8000+ were from the US.
The United Cyber Caliphate put the list on line. The list includes names, addresses, and email addresses belonging to 8,318 people.
Names come from the United States, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, Trinidad, and Tobago. On Vocativ reports of the 7,848 Americans listed, 1,445 had addresses in California, 643 in Florida, 341 in Washington, 333 in Texas, 331 in Illinois, and 290 in New York.
An interesting point is the Vocativ also found that 4000 names and details were found on an earlier hit list from Linkedin created in 1999.
This new ISIS list was unique in its own way. While it was a list of enemies - earlier lists were actually entitled hit lists. This list was not.








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Israel Turkey Mend Relations

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel and Turkey will normalize relations this weekend. The information was leaked yesterday. This will bring a final conclusion to six full years of diplomatic conflict between the two nations.

There will be an official announcement at a joint meeting between Israel and Turkey and then ambassadors will once again be dispatched.

Israel had earlier agreed to compensate the families of the ten Turks killed in the Israeli operation that stopped the flotilla of Turkish ships from breaking the sea barricade against Gaza.

Israel announced that they "regretted what happened." At the time, that was not enough for Turkey - they wanted an apology. Israel did not want to issue an apology. That would have meant that Israel's actions were wrong and unjustified. And of course Israel does not think they were wrong or unjustified.

Six years later Israel issued an "apology". There are two reasons for the change in terminology. One is that Israel wants Turkey back on board. The second reason is that six years is enough time for the people of Israel not to be upset and may not even see the difference in meaning between regret and apology.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Gaza To Permit Israeli Watermelons

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
In Gaza this summer the price of watermelons is going through the roof. And in Gaza, watermelons are a staple of the summer season. They are eaten in the evening, the afternoon and just about every other time all summer long.

Right now, the price of the melons is prohibitive. So the Hamas Ministry of Agriculture came up with a plan to lower the cost of watermelons for the people of Gaza.

Hamas is letting in Israeli watermelons. For three days the market will be flooded with Israeli watermelons in the hope that the Israeli melons will flood the market and bring down the price.
I'm a bit skeptical.

Three days is not a lot of time and while it will most probably artificially alter the price, it will then re-adjust and come back to normal.

Or, the Israeli watermelons will prove superior in taste and quality and they will become even more expensive lifting the price of both Gaza’s and Israeli watermelons.

The final possibility is that the demand will be so great that Gazans will want more Israeli watermelons and other produce and Hamas will let in more and more. If that should happen then the price of watermelons will drop as the market will naturally force down the price of produce.

The plan may just work. Then again, maybe not.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Hackers Hit Airlines

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
I read with amazement a report by the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) that most commercial aircraft and airports are susceptible to hacks.

I was astonished to find out just how many hacks have grounded flights around the world.

The worst part of it all was that when I investigated the hacks, I discovered that they were very simple hacks.

About a year ago a hacker grounded and disrupted Polish Lot Airlines. And when a Spanish cargo plane crashed it was discovered that three of the four computers on board were totally wiped clean.

Four people were killed in that crash.

There are all kinds of hacking. Some are just for fun. Flights where everyone is served a vegetarian meal is harmless - and maybe even healthy. But a hack is a hack is a hack.

We need to make certain that our planes and airports are in our control and not under the control of some outside power.

You never know what power may be lurking behind a hack - even an innocuous hack..

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Is Pumbing Much More Oil

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is now producing oil at a rate that makes them a major player in the oil world.

In January, when the sanctions were lifted, Iran produced 1.3 million barrels a day. By April, they were producing 2 million barrels per day.

May's figures put Iranian oil production at 3.64 million barrels per day.

Several problems emerge.

One problem is that Iran is making such serious headway that they are creeping up into the Saudi market.

A bigger problem is that fewer people are buying the oil. The market is weakening and just because the Iranians are pumping oil, it does not mean they have someplace to unload it.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Buys 220 Passenger Planes

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

This past week Iran signed a deal with Boeing for 100 passenger jets. And a few weeks earlier Iran signed a deal with Airbus for 118 planes.

This is enormous. The newest Iranian plane was a 1994 Airbus. Their fleet is so old that most of the planes are from the 1970’s - from before the revolution.

The condition of Iran's planes and their safety was so poor that they are not allowed fly over Europe.
This is all the results of the sanctions that did not allow spare airplane parts to be imported to Iran.

Before this purchase Iran only had 46 jets. Now they will have nearly 220 brand new planes and the EU has already approved flight plans with the new planes.

The price of the planes will total about $60 billion. It is an investment that will have huge benefits for Iran.

We are seeing more and more doors opening for Iran. We are witnessing massive changes. It signals that there will be almost no way to snap sanctions back on sanctions Iran. Actually, just the opposite.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Obama Caused ISIS Attack in Orlando

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday Senator McCain said that President Obama was responsible for the ISIS terror attack in Orlando.

What he meant was that the policies of the president led to the creation of ISIS and that with different policies there would never have been the rise of ISIS and, consequently, there would never have been an attack on Orlando.

President Obama visited Orlando yesterday and met with victims and families of the victims.
He told them that they, or their loved ones, were killed and shot by a single individual. This is so dishonest.

The president paralleled this terror in Orlando with Aurora, Colorado Newton and Connecticut. How wrong. This was terror not a crazed individual. This terrorist was part of ISIS.
ISIS does not require or need membership - it just requires watching internet videos or reading a website.

Those who believe the president simply do not understand the nature of ISIS and the modern face of terror.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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ISIS Squad On Way to Europe

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
An ISIS Terror squad is en route to Belgium and France. They are traveling through Turkey and Greece.

The intelligence message was sent to Belgium and the Belgians sent it on to France. They are evaluating the information.

Neither country yet increased their threat level. They explain their inaction by saying that France and Belgium constantly get alerts and cannot change their status on a whim without evaluating the threat.
The say that their threat level is already at 3 or 4. It is very serious but not the highest

The description of the ISIS squad is very clear and the targets are obvious.
Not raising the threat level is irresponsible at best and possibly even criminal.

We hope that the plans of the terrorists will be foiled. But unless France and Belgium tighten their defenses, attacks will be successfully carried out.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Muslims Supporting Orlando Terror

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
The dark web has been full of praise for the terrorist Omar Mateen.
There have been some condemnations, but those are relatively tepid.

The essence of the praise arcs over two topics. One is the attack against the infidel. The other is the attack against gays.

One blogger wrote that the terrorist will have a place in Jannah. Jannah is Arabic for heaven. The word has the same root as Gan in Hebrew which means garden, as in the Garden of Eden.

Another writer, this one named Ahmed, is very verbose and graphically praises the terrorist.

He writes "He is a hero -- Let me kiss your hand ... Finally a martyr died in place where people deserved to die not in a Mosque"

"Those who apologize are stupid donkeys. I hope a Civil War breaks out and kills the Americans"

"Allahu Ahkbar - Allah brought the battle to their doorstep ... This made me very happy."
These were some of the less inflammatory praises heaped on Mateen. The other stuff is really ugly.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Its's Called Terror

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Terror hit Orlando. Do not be deceived. It was ISIS terror. It was Islamic terror.
Not to call it terror is not simply a mistake but it is also a hindrance.

Not to call it terror is an obstacle in confronting terror.

One needs to know what one is confronting in order to stop it.

Terror, Islamic terror in particular and ISIS terror in the West especially in the United States, is a very particular terror.

This terror cannot be confronted in the same way that normal police activity and investigations deal with terror.

To confront Islamic terror, authorities need more latitude. But if you don't acknowledge acts as being Islamic terror, that latitude will never be given. And our risk of attack is heightened.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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US Calls on Israel Not to Respond to Terror

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
The United States State Department issued a statement on Thursday about Isrel and the Palestinians.

According to the statement: Israel "must" avoid an increase of tension with the Palestinians in the aftermath of the terror attack perpetrated in central Tel Aviv that resulted in the murder of 4 Israelis and left another sixteen people murdered.

Excuse me? Israel "must"!

Does the US Department of State expect Israel to kiss the Palestinians for this? What would a responsible US response be in such a situation?

Israel always exercises restraint. Otherwise there would be wanton killing and counter attacking. And when Israel does launch an operation is it a surgical strike and carried out with the utmost care to avoid civilian casualties.

Palestinian terrorists, on the other hand, embark on missions to murder and injure as many civilians as possible.

It is hard not to be incensed by these boneheaded official directives cum statements issued by the United States.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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PA Condemns Terror

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The terror that rocked Tel Aviv killing four innocent people and injuring another sixteen is still very raw.

In an official statement the Palestinian Authority rejected the act of terror but made no mention of Tel Aviv. That was not an oversight. It was a deliberate omission because Tel Aviv is a modern Zionist city created in 1909 next to the Arab city of Jaffa.

The condemnation statement was issued in writing from the office President Mahmoud Abbas. It read: the PA "reaffirms its rejection of all operations that target civilians from any background regardless of the justifications."

The statement continued: "Achieving a just peace and creating a positive climate is what (will) contribute to removing the causes of tension and violence in the region."

The statement concluded saying: "Achieving peace requires everyone to stop taking any action that will increase tensions and resorting to violence."

According to a recent study, Palestinian support for terror is down slightly from three months ago when a similar study was done. The study focused on stabbings.

Three months ago 58% of Palestinians supported stabbings, now 51% support stabbings.
Three months ago 65% of those asked thought that violence would lead to an Intifada that would lead to improvement in their lives in a way that negotiations would not. Today 58% believe in that theory.

Sometimes small gains are the most important.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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NATO & Security

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

For more than a year I have been arguing that the Western world lacks a true understanding of the terror threat.

Now, finally, NATO is discussing the appointment of an assistant director of intelligence. They are finally thinking about creating a position specifically designed to confront ISIS.

There are those who are in favor and those who are still opposed to creating this new position. It is not yet clear whether NATO will indeed create the position and allot for the clout and the funds and the personnel necessary to create a division to confront ISIS through the establishment of a unified intelligence system.

Should it ever come into existence, the new division must place emphasis on cyber terror, cyber trolls and intel. They will need to get up close and personal in the dark web and watch ISIS very carefully.

One major problem that NATO will confront if this unit were to be created is that the unit will step on the toes of other, non-aligned, nations. That issue will need to be resolved.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Putin & Bibi Meet

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Putin and Netanyahu met again today in Moscow.

This is their fourth meeting in six months.

Netanyahu has met with Putin more often than he has met with US President Obama. That small fact speaks volumes about relationships within this triangle.

Unlike the emergency meeting six weeks ago when, on the eve of Passover, Netanyahu ran to Russia to clarify and correct some communication problems with the Russian and Israeli air forces, this meeting was more diplomatic. The trip involved meeting the Jewish community. It was an official diplomatic outing which also combined cultural and social events.

Of course, there were official and obligatory press conferences and photo ops.

Putin wants to be a major force in the Middle East. He has set up operations in Syria and is continuing in his effort to expand his influence.

In order to be effective Putin needs a very good and strong working relationship with Israel. That is now his mission.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Ramadan Has Begun

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Ramadan, the month-long fast in Islam, started yesterday.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The objective of the fast is to gain introspection, self-improvement and atonement.

1.6 billion Muslims around the world are said to be fasting. That is over 22 % of the 7 billion people on earth. I'm not certain how many Muslims actually fast, but even if it is half that number, it is still a huge and significant number.

During Ramadan Muslims break their fast each night at sundown. As an aside, our English word breakfast originates because we break our fast every morning after not having eaten all night. Muslims break fast after not having eaten all day.

In the Koran the original Muslim fast was only one day long. It paralleled the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. But after the Jewish tribes of Arabia rejected Muhammed's message, he changed the single day-long fast into a month-long fast.

That change along with other changes was designed to break from Judaism and "one up" the tradition on which Islam was based.

It was at this time that Islamic prayer turned its back on Jerusalem and began praying towards Mecca. It was also when Islam moved from praying three times a day to five times a day.

ISIS is calling on Muslims around the world to attack infidels during Ramadan. ISIS and other terrorists see this month of introspection and atonement as well suited for attacking their enemy, the Western infidel, who abused and attacked Islam.

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Another Hamas Tunnel Digger Arrested

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
The IDF has allowed the publication of a report on the arrest of a 17 year old Palestinian boy from Gaza to go public. He was a tunnel digger, the third Hamas tunnel digger to be arrested by Israel in the past few weeks.

The 17 year old was arrested last month after he infiltrated into Israel. The boy had no weapons - but he was a treasure trove of information about Hamas, especially their tunnels.

The boy told his interrogators about his training and about the purpose and design of the tunnels. He described how the exits are all situated around schools and mosques. This we all knew, it was just confirmation, but much more information was gleaned from the interrogations.

This terrorist had no contact with the other two tunnel diggers who are also in Israeli custody.
There is clearly a large cadre of tunnel diggers and they are spread throughout Gaza.

The big mystery is why these three Gazans crossed the borders. What did they hope to accomplish? In the case of this young boy, he had no weapons and no direction. He was caught upon his exit.

It is entirely possible that these boys are dupes, sent over by Hamas
to test the response time of Israel to a border crossing. You can never tell when dealing with Hamas.

And you can never be too careful. Hamas leaders are very casual about using their people as human guinea pigs.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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ISIS Has a Plan B

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The West is successfully striking at ISIS in Iraq and in Syria.

ISIS is taking serious hits. Recent victories by the West in Fallujah, Hit and Ramadi as well as a pounding from increased air strikes have begun to take a toll on ISIS.

Recruitment for ISIS is at an all time low. To rectify that situation, ISIS is in need of a huge public attack and a real victory.

But ISIS has a plan B.

Plan B is already in operation. ISIS has already pulled out much of their forces from Iraq and Syria and established a new front and base of operations - in Libya and in Yemen.

ISIS knows that they need to move on and that they are out-skilled and out-gunned in Iraq and Syria.
Their downsized recruits and recruiting tell the story.

ISIS will now romanticize their struggle in Libya and in Yemen.

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Abbas Will Speak with Israel's New Foreign Minister

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking.

A delegation of Israeli mayors met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday.

The timing of the meeting is very important -- the Paris Conference, which is Europe's attempt to solve the peace issue between Israel and the Palestinians, begins today.

Israel has also empowered Egypt to create and initiate a peace conference.

The mayors were optimistic with the result of their meeting with Abbas as were the Palestinians.
The great surprise was that Abbas said that he would speak to Israel's new minister of defense, Avigdor Lieberman.

Abbas said that even though Lieberman referred to Palestinian leadership as "diplomatic terrorists" he also spoke positively about the Two State Solution. Abbas said that he was not dealing with Lieberman's past, just his present and his future.

Palestinian President Abbas is under huge amounts of pressure to meet with Israel. These comments are telling. They show an openness on Abbas' part and a willingness to sit down and negotiate with Israel.

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Presidential Election

I've Been Thinking:

The most common question I get nowadays is about the presidential candidates.

The big question on people's minds is which candidate is better for Israel. Everyone wants to know which candidate is better on security. Of course, people also want to know which candidate has the best chance of winning.

Now that we are down to two candidates - even though the third party option has also emerged --- it is time to clarify some essential points of presidential politics.

The excitement about these issues will grow as we approach summer and the conventions which will be held at the end of July.

The conventions formulate and cast the candidates in the context of their parties.

Conventions ground the candidates and force them into a platform. For better or for worse, no matter which party you cheer for, the convention merges the candidate with the party.

We need to watch and see if either candidate wants to abandon ship or the party.

Until the conventions are over it is impossible to answer questions - even questions as simple as who is best for Israel's security, for US security, and who has the best chance to win.

Patience is the name of this game.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Israel Bolsters Northern Border

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel is worried that ISIS and Hezbollah are building fronts from which to strike and attack their northern border.

So the Israelis are implementing a strategy that is reminiscent of Lebanon in the 1980's and 90's. Israel has created and is now expanding a 'liaison unit' for their northern border.

The job of the liaison unit is to reach out and create positive and essential relations with villagers and leaders in Syria. So far, it has been a very effective plan. Locals have informed upon and even convinced ISIS, al Qaeda and Hezbollah not to attack Israel.

Since the conflict in Syria began, thousands of wounded Syrians have been picked up by the IDF inside Syria and brought to Israeli hospitals. The wounded are treated, healed and sent back. These people have become important liaisons, too.

When Israel carried out this plan in Southern Lebanon, it began with humanitarian aid and health care and then moved to helping the locals fight for themselves.
Eventually the Southern Lebanese Militia was actually under the authority of the head of Israel's Northern Command.

That situation created a safer Israel - until it all collapsed.

I hope that Israel will learn from its mistakes.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
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