Israel Exports Gas to Egypt

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Middle East is such a traditional region and yet, it's changing.
Israel is the cause of the change -- and it is very positive change.

Traditional ideas about energy sources were that the Arabs have it and Israel does not. For decades there were even jokes about it.

That's changing. As of mid-January, Israel will begin exporting natural gas to Egypt.

The agreement between Israel and Egypt was leaked to the media in October.

According to the details of the deal Israel will eventually provide 9 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Egypt. That process will begin in January of 2020.

Jordan has also signed natural gas contracts with Israel.

Our parents would never have imagined a day when Israeli companies would be providing fossil fuel energy to an Arab country.

Never would have imagined!

Micah@MicahHaplpern.com 

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Optics & PA Pay to Slay

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

“Optics” is a concept in politics and PR. The principle is that public perception of an action or inaction reflects directly on the cause or candidate. Leaders in democratic societies always want to optimize good optics and reduce the impact of bad optics.

Even dictatorships embrace the concept of optics. They, too, are concerned about international perceptions and pressure despite not preserving the rights of their residents.

Israel recently announced and now passed a new policy. They will close bank accounts used to pay terrorists and their families. Israel also announced that they will deduct $150 million from the tax money they collect on behalf of the Palestinian Authority at Israeli ports. The $150 million is the amount annually given to terrorist and their families. It is a concept known as “pay to slay.” The more you murder the more you get paid. A failed attempt to murder Israelis is rewarded less than a successful mass murder.

In response to Israel’s new policies, the PA has said that they will continue to pay those wounded, arrested or killed. They will find ways to pay their murderers – whom they call martyrs. It is their right to pay and they will not adhere to an Israeli blockade.

Palestinian Minister of Coordination of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh said that this, “is another step of escalation meant to impose a financial blockade on us … "We will continue to pay stipends to the families of the martyrs and the wounded - no matter what's the cost."

Several Palestinian ministries are responsible for this “pay to slay” policy. The Ministry of Prisoner Affairs, for example, is dedicated to work on behalf of Palestinians in Israeli jails.

There is very little that Israel can do to successfully incentivize Palestinians to stop their policy of mass murdering Israelis. The pay scale for terrorists is one of the highest pay scales within the PA.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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New Anti-Semitism

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

We are witnessing new anti-Semitism. It is spreading and spreading quickly.

Never would I have envisioned so many blatant attacks against Jews. Never would I have imagined that Jews would physically be attacked for simply being Jewish. Verbal and physical attacks have reached new heights and I do not see them diminishing, I see them increasing.

Last night’s terror attack in Monsey, when a machete wielding African American attacked a Hanukkah celebration wounding five people is another example of this new anti-Semitism.

Of course politicians decried the attack. But it is is silence from leaders – role models who need to speak out and really condemn these acts, that is deafening.

These attackers are no longer outliers, they are not marginal people. They are attacking every day and often in broad daylight.

Where are the religious leaders? Where are the African American religious leaders? Why are Jews standing all alone confronting this scourge? Why has the community at large not stood up and said these ideas and actions are not acceptable?

Could it be that these leaders are silent because it is they who stimulate the hatred and tolerate the hatred?

Religious leadership of America step forward! Jewish America needs you to step forward. If not for our sake, do it for your own sake. If you do not stand with the Jews of America, you are, in essence, telegraphing the message that you are complicit in this growing scourge of anti-Semitic attacks.
 
Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel Prepping for War

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

When Israel’s IDF chief of staff speaks, it is important to listen.

Aviv Kochavi recently spoke at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herziliya. His address had a far larger audience that simply those in the room - and he knew it.

The IDF chief of staff was speaking to Israel and to Israelis. He was speaking to Iran. He was speaking to Hezbollah and to Hamas. Believe me, everyone was listening. He was taking about the next war.

Kochavi said that Israel’s pre-emptive strikes in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza could push the enemy to attack and even tip the response to a full blown war.

To Israel and to Israelis, the chief of staff said that he was prepared for the next war. He said the next war will be costly to the home-front and to the soldiers.

He explained that to win, it will require boots on the ground. He said that Hezbollah’s storage piles have at least 150,000 rockets. He said that Israel must destroy Hezbollah’s ability to strike.

To Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, Kochavi said that Israel is prepared way beyond air strikes. He emphasized that Israel’s reputation for not having the fortitude to take losses is incorrect. He said that a real win requires Israel to use more than missiles and air force jets.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said that Israel will do what needs to be done to win.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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More Protests in Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is blocking mobile internet - again. They are doing it for the same reason they always do it – to make it more difficult for protestors to communicate and organize.

In certain Iranian provinces, the internet is totally shut down.

Iran is expecting huge demonstrations starting Thursday. Protestors are hoping for 250,000 people.
One of the motivational tools protest organizers use to get people out to the protests is video clips of others protesting. The obvious messaging and announcements of the protests are important but they only go so far in penetrating the intimidation and fear factor that Iranian leadership has perfected.

On the flip side, Iranian TV is broadcasting clips of protestors being beaten and shot while protesting.

Their message, too, is obvious. If you protest this will happen to you!

Now we wait and see. Will the Iranian masses swarm to the streets? Will Iranian leadership authorize the killing of masses of innocent protestors in order maintain their power?

By tomorrow we should have answers.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Message App Spies on US

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Spying, by way of a communications app, means that someone can see and hear everything and everyplace you go.

The UAE has literally forced everyone to use the messaging app To Tok. They have outlawed and blocked Skype, Facetime and other similar apps. That means that anyone in the UAE who communicates with anyone outside the UAE is being closely watched. It also means that all those outside the UAE who were communicated with, are now also being watched.

Even if you delete the app you are still being watched.

The UAE company behind the To Tok app is called Breej Holding. They are directly linked to and quite possibly the sponsor of the hacking group Dark Matter.

Dark Matter is responsible for numerous disruptions and hacks around the world. They are probably all connected to PAX-AI, a nefarious hacker company headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

This is very bad. This is an app sent out to hack and downloaded in the open market that lends government the ability to watch your every move. The kicker is the app was developed by evil hackers and put right onto the phones and tablets of unsuspecting people.

The NYTimes has uncovered this story. They ran an excellent piece explaining just how deep spying goes. The hacker and cyber security communities are buzzing and reeling from this discovery.

The app was removed from the App Store and the Play Store. That is a small consolation. The damage is done.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Cracking Down and Killing 1500

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is experiencing a phenomenon not typically seen in that country - huge protests.

According to Reuters Media which quoted three separate Iranian Interior Ministry sources, 1500 Iranian protestors and security officers have been killed since December 16th.

That would make this the bloodiest two weeks in Iran since the 1979 Revolution.
The sources say that orders came from the highest level of leadership to shut down the protests and the anti-government movement fueling the protests. In Iran, “shutting down” often mean kill.

The Supreme Leader has demanded that the protests stop now – if not he will hold the leaders of the protest responsible. According to a source in the inner circle of the government, the Grand Ayatollah said: “The Islamic Republic is in danger. Do whatever it takes to end it. You have my order.”

At first, Amnesty International and other groups originally estimated 300 deaths.

Then the US State Department upped that to 1000 deaths. Now the Iranians are giving even higher numbers. These numbers include 17 teens and 400 women.

Iranians are saying that over 200,000 people are taking part in the demonstrations against the government.

We don’t know how this will end, but we do know that, for Iran, this is transformative. Iranian leadership is running scared.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Athens Burns Israeli Flag in B-Ball Game

I've Been Thinking:

On Wednesday Israeli Basketball team Hapoel Yerushalim played in Athens against AEK Athens. It was part of a GameDay 9 Match.

400 Hapoel fans accompanied their team to cheer them on. The Israelis were met by and totally surrounded by security. The Israelis were not welcome in Athens.

The Athens fans burned the Israeli flag. They held up Hamas flags and pictures of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti, now serving time in sn Israeli prison. The Israeli's were stunned.

On one twitter post an Israeli can be heard saying how painful it was to watch her country's flag burn, but there was nothing that could be done.

At one point a large group of Athens fans converged on Israelis, chanting and shouting. Security stepped up and the crowd retreated.

The Israeli team made an appeal to the International Basketball Federation arguing that this kind of behavior does not belong in sports. Several investigations have begun. I hope that the Athens fans who behaved in this way are disciplined and that these kinds of fans are banned.

Basketball cannot fall victim to the violence and politics of European football and hooliganism.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Christmas in Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Christmas was celebrated in Israeli schools this year.

Arutz 7 reported that in a school in Herziliya, Christmas was given preferred treatment. I was stunned

A parent explained that: "Our son, who is in eighth grade, told us he doesn't understand why the school's staff is working to provide preferential treatment of Christian holidays at the expense of Jewish holidays. It seems that the school made a concerted effort to make the Christian holiday attractive, while neglecting and marginalizing Hanukkah."

The parent described school exhibits about Hanukkah and Christmas commenting that the Christmas display was well thought out while the Hanukkah display was drab and rundown.
Israel is the Jewish state. Israeli culture is Jewish.

While 2% of Israel is Christian and minority rights are very important, schools should teach about other traditions - celebrating them is a different story.

Interestingly, at 2% of the population, Christians are a smaller group than "other", which numbers at 4% of Israel's population in response to the question of religion. There are more "other" than Christians in Israel.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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More A/S in NYC

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Anti-Semitism is much more prevalent than we even imagined. People now feel free to shout and say and even physically hit Jews.

I'm not certain how it happened - but everything has changed in the span of a few years. What was deemed unacceptable just a few years ago in the United States has transitioned from an isolated incident into a common occurrence.

I just watched a Facebook video of Lihi Aharon, an Israeli who defended a Jew on a NYC subway and was attacked in the process. The video shows a black woman shouting anti-Semitic vitriol, vile statements about Jews and at the Jew - unaware that Lihi was also Jewish. She continues to shout even after police come and subsequently arrest her.

Included in the woman's tirade was that more Jews should have been murdered in Jersey City. She called out to the obviously Jewish looking man that he was not Jewish because he is white. That particular phrase is from the standard script of many Jew haters. They believe that Jews are not Jews, they believe that blacks are the true Jews. That is what the Jersey City terrorist/murderers believed.

This movement is gaining in strength. It has become much stronger and leaders, especially responsible Christian Black leaders, must stand up and work hard to set the record straight. This hatred must be stopped.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel's Numbers

By Micah Halpern

 

I've Been Thinking:

A new study from Israel's Census Bureau has posted a remarkable figure: 3.3 million people in Israel are immigrants.

That is a remarkable number, given the total numbers of Israel's population.

Israel's total population is just over 9 million and the Jewish population is just over 7 million. From the years 1990 to the present, 43.7% of Israel's immigrants made their way to Israel.

In real numbers, that means that nearly half the Jewish population and 1/3 of the total population came to Israel from elsewhere.

What a remarkable set of statistics.

Israel always saw herself as a refuge for Jews in trouble. Over the years the Jewish State has also become a magnet - a place where Jews do not just run in times of crisis, but as a place they move to in order to replace their home elsewhere in the Diaspora.

It is the Diaspora that is a temporary home - Israel is their permanent home.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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UK Blowout Election

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The British blowout election has many lessons to teach us.
Yes, it was a vote for Boris Johnson and especially his plan to exit the European Union - aka Brexit.

It was also a vote against Jeremy Corbyn and his new Labour Party.

Corbyn has not just embraced anti-Semitic rhetoric, not just articulated anti-Israel stances, the wannabe prime minister literally paid honor to a mass murderer - to the planner of the Munich Olympic massacre.

British electorate went to the polls not only to oust the EU, they went to oust Jeremy Corbyn. This was a clear disciplinary move.

Reading the results of the election the message was clear: Labour was informed that the new direction heralded by Cobryn did not bring votes. Cobryn failed.

This was about a vote against Corbyn’s new Labour Party.

Voters wanted to bring back the moderates - their message was loud and clear.

Micah@micahHalpern.com 

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Trump's Order Against A/S

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
President Trump signed an executive order that will withhold federal money from colleges and universities that do not stand up against anti-Semitism.

The US cannot either sanction or condone anti-Semitism or, for that matter, any form of hatred. The government certainly cannot financially subsidize that behavior – and that behavior is running rampant on campuses across the country, campuses that take money from the federal government.

For too long, anti-Semitism has run unchecked on campus.

This is not an issue of freedom of speech. This is not a first amendment issue. People’s hatred and their ability to spout that vitriol is, was and will continue to be protected.

This is something else.

This is about the United States government giving money to agencies that support hatred. And this practice will now be stopped. Obviously, it includes public colleges and universities, but private institutions of higher learning are also the recipients of significant sums of federal money and they, too, fall under this executive order.

This executive order could have huge implications. The president signed the order, now there must be follow up.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Rhouhani to Visit Japan

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

It looks official. Iran’s President Rouhani will visit Japan on December 19th where he will have talks with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

These are important talks.

Japan is a perfect country for Iran to use as a conduit to the West. They are a world force and yet small. They are pro US, but are Asian and their interests are in keeping Asia safe.
Iran trusts Japan. And at the same time Abe has a direct line in to the White House.

The meeting is an opportunity for Abe and Rouhani to speak frankly.

Very seldom is there a situation in which we can witness the behavior and eavesdrop on the conversation of Iran. The Iranians are, typically, either extremely defensive or simply creating a veneer.

This meeting may give us insight into the method and madness of the Iranian thought process.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Erdogan Again Spews A/S Lies

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Turkey’s President Erdogan is once again fabricating anti-Semitic lies about Israel.
Literally, right out of the Middle Ages, Erdogan is spreading evil canards about how Jews attack non-Jews.

He said, for example, that Israelis are just “mercilessly” murdering Palestinians on the streets.

These are statements from the official translated Turkish president’s website:

“We today face a Palestine on the streets of which innocent girls, fathers, mothers, elderly people, children and young people are openly executed and mercilessly murdered by Israel … What is more, Western countries and — I regret to say — some Arab states practically encourage this brutality of Israel. We, as Turkey, most of the time feel ourselves left alone in our objections to the oppression in Al-Quds and Palestine.”

True to form, Erdogan is fomenting anti-Semitism.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel is Not a Banana Republic

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel is scheduling a third election in one year.

Israel is not a banana republic, it is a strong democracy, and Israel is still in the laboratory stages.

Think about it. The United States is going through crazy political gyrations and no one is questioning its democratic foundations.

There are many who draw parallels between the leadership of Israel and the United States, between Netanyahu and Trump. There are some similarities but the differences are tremendous. What most critics are latching on to is that both Trump and Netanyahu face public hearings. Impeachment in the United States, trial in Israel.

Ahmed Tibi, Arab member of Knesset, said that his constituency will come out to vote in force this next election in order to oust Netanyahu. He said: "The Joint List will be strengthened and will gain more seats in the upcoming elections."

Tibi then added his opinion offering that both Trump and Netanyahu will removed from office and the world will be better. He said: "2020 will be the year of impeachment of two people without whom the world will be better - Trump and Netanyahu. We will replace Netanyahu with the election where some Arab voters will cast more votes than the last election."

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Merkel in Auschwitz

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
On Friday morning German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Auschwitz.

This was her first ever trip to Auschwitz and the third time a German head of state has visited. Merkel has visited other camps and has visited Yad VaShem which is Israel's Holocaust Museum located in Jerusalem.

The visit is significant. Auschwitz is the "camp of camps". It was at Auschwitz that the Nazi murder factory was most efficient, it was there that the Nazis murdered 1.1 million people.

That Germany has acknowledging their responsibly for the murder of the Jews of Europe, is an essential act. The Chancellor's visit to Auschwitz clearly broadcasts that message to all those who question the Holocaust.

In addition to her visit, Merkel committed an additional $60 million to maintain and preserve exhibits in the Auschwitz Museum. This brings the total gift of the German government to $120 million, all earmarked for preserving evidence that has been deteriorating over time.

Auschwitz impacts everyone. It is hard to imagine a single place where an industry of death was created in order to murder so many people, in such a short time, for no reason - other than being Jewish.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Bibi Meets w Pompeo

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Lisbon, Portugal where he met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. They spoke about Iran and the role of Iran in the Middle East.

Netanyahu said, "Iran is increasing its aggression as we speak" in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza. The Israeli prime minister thanked US President Trump for applying pressure on Iran.

Pompeo talked about Iranian protesters and how they yearn for freedom. He said, "These are people that are seeking freedom and a reasonable way to live, and they recognize the threat that's posed by the kleptocrats who are running the Islamic Republic of Iran."

It's obvious that the United States and Israel see eye to eye on Iran and the damage that Iran is creating in the region and around the world.

The question is: What now?

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israelis Help

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

There was an earthquake in Albania. Now 54 people are dead, 2,000 are injured and about 4,000, people have been left homeless.

Most of us can’t find Albania on a map. Yet, Israel sent off a team of earthquake specialists to help.
Israel has developed an expertise in helping countries and communities regain their equilibrium following a disaster.

The Israelis send teams across the world wherever there is a natural disaster. The teams include engineers, doctors, social workers, local specialists, master communicators and community organizers. Every team also has a dog or several dogs that have been trained as canine survivor sniffers who help find people who may be trapped as a result of the disaster and destruction.

There are multiple teams like this in Israel that are dispatched to save lives and help those who have survived in the wake of earthquakes.

This is a part of the character the Jewish State of Israel. Israelis help people in need. Official representatives of Israel travel all over the world helping people.

Micah@MicahHaleprn.com 

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China Russia Iran - Wargames

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Russia, China and Iran are planning join war games in the Straits of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean - on land, sea and air. This is an important move by the great powers in the world, countries that set themselves up as a check against the United States and US interests.

The link between Iran, China and Russia is incredibly dangerous.

In November, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: "We, the People's Republic of China and Iran are preparing naval drills for fighting terrorists and pirates in this part of the Indian Ocean,"

Iran announced this week that in December: a "joint war game between several countries, whether on land, at sea or in the air, indicates a remarkable expansion of cooperation among them."

Secretary of the National Security Council in Iran, Ali Shamkhani, explained why this is happening.
He said that: "The countries that have had the biggest share in creating tensions and insecurity in the region and plunged the region into chaos and destruction by waging multiple wars and spreading terrorism have never been after the Persian Gulf's stability and security, and only seek to fulfill their own interests and plunder the region."

The problem is that Iran has stimulated and sponsored some of these vile elements he describes. Talk about the fox guarding the henhouse.

Micah@MicahHaleprn.com 

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Trump Talks to Bibi

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

US President Trump spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday. The White House released an email statement following the call.

According to the White House email statement: "The leaders discussed the threat from Iran, as well as other critical bilateral and regional issues".

There has been some distance between DC and Jerusalem.

The tension has more to do with Trump's lack of patience with Israeli politics than with actions or statements.

Donald Trump does not understand why Bibi Netanyahu has been unable to secure the premiership despite his two two attempts. The US President thinks of Bibi as a winner and a great leader -- and yet, after two elections, his leadership is in question. A third election is on the horizon in Israel. It will probably be held in March.

 In the meantime, Israel has an interim PM … but that will not lift the tension or change the perspective of the US President.

Trump likes Netanyahu. More than anything else, Trump like success.

Donald Trump is not a patient man. In this case he is going to have to wait until March, Israeli politics do not march to his drum.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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DisUnity Among Arabs

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The actions and counter-actions during the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza, when Palestinian
Islamic Jihad launched rockets into Israel and Israel responded by targeting Islamic Jihad and not Hamas, was unique.

That Israel did not hold Hamas responsible for the rocket fire and that Hamas did not respond and defend Islamic Jihad, was also unique.

What requires more attention is the response of the Palestinians in the West Bank to the conflict.

West Bank Palestinians were, effectively, silent.

Thirty-four Gazans were killed and one hundred and eleven were wounded. There were no West Banks protests. No uptick in attacks against the army or against Israeli settlers. No increased terror attacks. There was a serious conflict going on in Gaza and no response from fellow Palestinians a few miles away.

This is not unique, in fact, it is very common. Palestinians of the West Bank do not share common goals or even family ties with Palestinians in Gaza.

Throughout the years of conflict, certainly since 2007 when Hamas brutally threw the Palestinian Authority out of Gaza, there has been little or no official or unofficial interaction.

In Arabic this cultural separation is called "Ya Wahdana"- "You are Alone." It comes from a famous poem by Mahmud Darwish describing the Palestinian situation in the larger Arab and Muslim world.
In this case, it refers to Gazans and Gazans only.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Hamas Cancels Riots

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

For the third week in a row the leaders of Hamas in Gaza have cancelled Friday’s March of Return.

The March is a massive weekly riot on the border between Israel and Gaza. Every Friday, for well over a year, Palestinians organized a violent set of attacks against Israeli soldiers. They rushed the border, threw firebombs, shot guns and slingshots at Israelis and launched balloons and drones with bombs.

Until now.

Now, for the third week, Hamas has called it off. The reason for the cancelations is clear. Hamas is holding up their end of a ceasefire, part of which included reducing tensions with Israel.

Let’s see if it lasts.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Arab Jornalists Tour Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A group of Arab Journalist toured Israel last week as guests of the Foreign Ministry. The journalists came from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Egypt. They spent five days in Israel.

This was the second trip of its type in six months. Unlike the last trip, none of the journalists in this group wanted to go public and make people aware that they were visiting Israel.

If you remember, in the last group a famous Saudi blogger went public and was subsequently assaulted on the Temple Mount went he went to pray at the Mosque of al Aqsa.

Ironically, this visit coincided with the London Conference, a meeting of forward thinking Arab leaders that endorsed a call for Arabs to stop boycotting Israel.

Two steps forward, one step backward - change is slow but it seems to be on the way.

MIcah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Pompeo Tell Arabs to Recognize Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Monday that the Arab world should stop boycotting Israel. He said that if they would just talk to Israel, the Arab world would gain so much.

Pompeo tweeted: “It’s time for Arab countries to abandon boycotts and engage #Israel,”

Pompeo tweeted. “#MiddleEast divisions = instability.”

Pompeo tweeted: “Arab thinkers who risk their lives to bravely advocate a regional vision of peace and coexistence shouldn’t face retribution. We need dialogue.”

Secretary of State Pompeo was referencing the Conference of Arab Thinkers in London that called on the Arab world to accept Israel. Leading, forward thinking, unafraid Arab thinkers from fifteen countries bravely gathered to assert that the time has come for Arabs and Muslims to embrace Israel.

Kudos to those who attended the conference. Kudos to Mike Pompeo.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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US Chiefs of Staff Visits Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, visited Israel on Sunday. He met with his Israeli counterpart, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi.

The IDF released a statement about the meeting. The official statement read that Milley’s visit was a sign of “the depth of the partnership between the forces and its importance in promoting regional stability.”

This is no small event. Tensions in the region are high. Iran is flexing its muscles all over. Their support for Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and in Syria is two examples of Iran’s involvement very lose to Israel’s borders.

Iran has forces and advisers on the ground in Syria. That is way too close for Israel’s and the United States’ comfort.

Add to that Iran’s nuclear expansion activities and their moves against the US drone and against Saudi oil sites. Iran is feeling very secure.

Israel and the United States need to be on the same page to be able to check Iran when necessary.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Arabs Against BDS

By Micah Halpern

 

I've Been Thinking:

The New York Times ran a piece recently about the Arab Council for Regional Integration, a conference that took place in London.

The conference consisted of a group of Arabs who came to the conclusion that rejection of Israel has failed and actually hurt the Arab cause. They determined that the time has come to not just recognize Israel, but to cooperate with Israel.

The conference was sponsored by the Center for Peace Communications, a US group and it featured Arabs from business, academia, the media and even from political families.

It is essential to realize that there are Arab leaders who understand that dealing with Israel can be mutually beneficial. That, even when the parties disagree, there are still benefits to meeting and creating deals that will help grow the region.

This is a major step forward.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Russian Tourists to Syria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Two Russian tour agencies are offering excursions to Syria.

The itineraries include Damascus, Aleppo and Roman remains of Palmyra, also known as the “Bride of the Desert.”

The cost of the 8-day trip is $1950, US dollars. This does not include flights, visa fees and insurance. Pricey -- but people are signing up.

According to the website of the Russian foreign ministry, they strongly advise against traveling to Syria.

So far in 2019, 334 Russian tourists visited Syria. That was three times the number of Russian visitors in 2018. It looks like Syria will host even more Russian tourists in 2020.

It is hard to imagine why any Russian, or anyone at all, would want to visit Syria. Then again, there are people who are actually excited going into war zones. There is a niche market for tourist who want to be the first or for those who want to explore dangerous areas.

These Russian tour agencies have tapped into that culture.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Shuts Internet

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iranians have been protesting over huge hikes in the price of gasoline.

There was a real chance that these protests were going to grow and expand and maybe even topple the Iranian regime. So Iranian leadership jumped in and reacted.

They sent in brutal police to intimidate the protestors. And the Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced that if the protests do not stop, they will step in. The threat was well understood.

I addition, on Saturday Iranian leadership shut off the internet. It was off for four days and when turned back on – only 4% of the internet actually resumed.

When the internet is turned off in Iran real communication is effectively squashed.
Iranian leadership had never before choked the internet to this extent. They liked what they saw. They saw how effective this method was.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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US Carrier thru Hormuz

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a US aircraft carrier, passed through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday along with accompanying ships.

The carrier group went through the Strait very slowly. The entire passage was tense.

On one side of the Strait is Iran.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have been very high.

The United States blames Iran for hijacking oil tankers and for shooting down a US drone. The United States is also claiming that Iran attacked oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Iran has threatened to attack a US military ship in the region.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and the carrier group are in the region to try to protect oil, shipping and other interests of the United States in the region.

Iran is monitoring every move.





Micah@MicahHalpern.com
 
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Russia Poaching US Clients

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Russia is expanding their weapons program.

The Russians are on the prowl for new clients interested in buying their fighter jets and missiles. Egypt has been enticed and they are in talks with Russia about augmenting their air force.

If the sale goes through, it would a violation of US contracts. Until now, ever since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been supplying Egypt with weaponry.

R. Clarke Cooper, Assistant Secretary of State in the US Bureau of Political- Military Affairs, issued a very bold and direct statement at the Dubai Air Show. The assistant secretary said that if Egypt buys Russian hardware: "It puts them at risk of sanctions and it puts them at risk of loss of future acquisition."

There are other sanctions that the US would apply. These would include spare parts and technology and anything that is connected even remotely to military assistance.

It would Egypt in the long run. But Russia really wants to break the US hold on countries like Egypt and is making their offers sound very attractive.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran: "We're Not AntiSemitic"

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
The Supreme Leader of Iran, the Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, announced that he is not anti-Jewish at all.

At an Islamic conference in Tehran The Supreme Leader told the participants: “Calling for the elimination of the state of Israel does not mean the elimination of the Jewish people.” The comments were posted to his official website.

He continued “It means that the people of Palestine - be they Muslim, Christian or Jewish - should choose their own government.”

Iran is responding to the claims that they are planning to destroy Israel. The Supreme Leader wants it to be clear that his attitude toward Israel is political and theological.

It is certain that The Supreme Leader does not really think that there should be an election to determine the political leadership of the area. He is making a gesture to rebut his vehement threats to destroy Israel.

When you plan to wipe out a nation of 7 million Jews that is called anti-Semitism. Most of those 7 million people are not religious - they are simply Jews and they will be targeted because they are Jews.

Micah@MIcahHalpern.com 

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Lessons from Gaza

By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:

There's an important lesson that Israel's enemies should have learned from the 48 hour long conflict with Islamic Jihad:  Israel was prepared, very prepared - prepared for the strike against Gaza, prepared to keep her citizens safe.

This conflict highlighted Israel's superior skill in striking their targets.  The speed with which Islamic Jihad ran to accept a ceasefire illustrated how surprised they were by Israel's surgical strikes.

BUT- Islamic Jihad is not Hamas and Islamic Jihad is not Hezbollah. 

Islamic Jihad is a small group of terrorists.  Their total membership is about 8000.  Hamas and Hezbollah are hybrid armies, well-trained armies.  They are hybrid because they function both as an army and as a terror force.

Israel was ready to widen its scope and engage Hamas.  And Hamas was well aware that if they were to support Islamic Jihad, Israel would certainly strike their targets and probably also advance on the ground.  That would be a certain setback, a debilitating setback, for Hamas.

Islamic Jihad still has a significant number of missiles and rockets especially long range sockets which they did not launch.  The reason they were not launched was the death of their operational leader at the hands of Israel.  As a result, immediate decisions could not be made.   

They were simply shooting rockets without direction.  Over 60% were not even headed towards Israeli targets. 

Israeli citizens heeded the directions of the Home Front Command.  They took cover in a responsible way.  Following safety directions saves lives.

Micah@MicahHapern.com 

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Cease Fire in Gaza

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A cease fire between Islamic Jihad and Israel went into effect at 5:30am.

As has become the custom, air raid sirens and rockets attacks persisted even after the cut off time.

The military exchange started on Tuesday and ended on Thursday. Thirty-two Palestinians were killed. Israel maintains that almost all were terrorists.

Islamic Jihad launched well over 450 rockets into Israel in a 48 hour period. That averages out to nearly 10 per hour - one rocket every 360 seconds on average.

Islamic Jihad threatened the international diplomats who were delivering messages from Israel. The threats were that intermediaries could get hurt because they are in the way and they are delivering messages from Israel.

It's over, technically, but it's never really over between Islamic Jihad and Israel.

Micah@MicahHapern.com 

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New Gaza Conflict

By Micah Halpern

Wednesday November 13, 2019
I've Been Thinking:
The conflict out of Gaza is unique in many ways:

It pits Islamic Jihad against Israel - Hamas has stood on the sidelines.
No one wants an escalation.
Hamas is pleased with the ceasefire that has been in place since May.

Israel's first strike was extremely surgical as have been their subsequent strikes. They are now taking out many above ground Islamic Jihad rockets.

Hamas does not control Islamic Jihad. They will watch, and smile, while Israel takes Islamic Jihad down a few notches.

In an effort to display unity, Hamas and Islamic Jihad released a joint statement saying that they are united. But it is not true. Their statement read: "We will not accept efforts by the occupation to resume their cowardly policy of targeted killings."

Islamic Jihad is unpredictable. Targeting their leader saved Israeli lives - never doubt that. The aftermath was predictable. But after a serious operation in which Israel depletes or destroys much of their weapons caches, the status quo and quiet will resume.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Russian Sub in Israeli Waters

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A Russian submarine was spotted in Israeli territorial waters. The sub ventured eight nautical miles in. That's a lot, given that the area spans only twelve nautical miles.

The story was broken by YNet news, the Yediot website. The incident took place three months ago.

Once Israel discovered the Russian sub, they contacted Russian leadership.

Russia and Israel have a mechanism in place to avoid conflict. They have a direct line of communication. Within minutes of activating the mechanism, the

Russian submarine returned to the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Luckily, this did not become an international incident.

Russia did not mistakenly wander into waters so close to Israel. There was a definite agenda. The closer the submarine got to Israel, the easier it would be to latch onto Israel’s computers and other electronic resources.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Discovers New Oil

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran’s president announced that the Iranians have discovered a huge new oil reserve.

President Rouhani said that they discovered a source containing 53 billion barrels of oil about 100 yards below the ground.

If true, this treasure trove would be only slightly smaller than the largest Iranian oil system which contains 63 billion barrels.

If true, this would move Iran into the # 3 slot in the list of countries with the greatest oil reserves.
If true, this discovery is so large that it would increase total OPEC reserves by 34%.

Add that to the announcement Iran made last month about a new discovery of natural gas. Something very big is happening in Iran.

The announcements are made publicly in an effort to reposition Iran in the eyes of supporters. The message Iran is sending out is that they are not down in the dumps – rather they are major players in the sphere of oil and natural gas.

The most important, albeit unspoken, point in these messages is that the United States is preventing Iran from tapping these resources. The United States will not permit Iran to extract and sell their badly needed natural resources.

The resources are badly needed by the world, the revenue is badly needed by Iran. These announcements help resuscitate Iran’s image.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel Gives Land Back to Jordan

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty on October 26, 1994.

The signing took place "somewhere: in the Arava Desert. I was there. It was historic and it was emotional.

Now, twenty-five years later, Jordan is walking back two elements in the treaty. The Jordanians are not breaking the treaty, provisions to reclaim certain areas were included in the original document and the Jordanians have decided to exercise that option.

# 1: Naharayim
Naharayim is an island, it is where the Yarmuk and Jordan rivers merge. The spot is a very important fresh water pumping and control station for the entire Jordan valley. Parenthetically, it is also the site where in 1997, a terrible massacre took place and seven Israeli high school girls were gunned down by a Jordanian soldier.

# 2: Tzofar 
Tzofar is a plot of land in the Arava. Once dry and barren, thanks to Israeli care and agricultural science, it is now cultivated and flourishing.

Both areas are reverting back to Jordan. The government of Jordan put forth the requests a year ago as clearly articulated in the 1994 peace agreement.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Pompeo in Shul

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the synagogue in Halle, Germany where last month a man threw bombs and shot people outside their synagogue. A Jewish massacre in the synagogue was averted only because those already inside the synagogue for prayers locked themselves in.

Secretary Pompeo wanted to take a stand against anti-Semitism. He also urged others to fight against anti-Semitism.

The secretary of state said, "Anti-Semitism is not just limited to certain places. We can find it everywhere… like in Pittsburgh. We must work together against this vicious attack on religious freedom.”

Pompeo is more than correct to fight anti-Semitism. Where he misses the point, however, is that hatred is not about religion and the practice of Judaism – the problem anti-Semites have is not universal hatred against religion, their problem is with Jews.

Anti-Semites have no problem with Judaism.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Saudis Spy Using Twitter

Thursday November 7, 2019
I've Been Thinking:

According to charges filed in San Francisco, Saudi Arabia is directly connected to spying on Twitter users in America between May 21, 2015 and November 18, 2018. Two dual citizens of the United States and Saudi Arabia and one Saudi national were charged with accessing Twitter details and delivering the data to the Saudis.

The case is shocking.

Two Twitter employees and one handler were responsible for collecting the data of 6,000 critics of the Saudi regime. Not just their names, and usernames - they also accessed the meta data, the material that can show the geographic location of the user.

They did it In exchange for money and gifts.

Ahmad Abouammo, one of the dual citizens, was a media partnership manager at Twitter. He received $300,000 and a $20,000 Hubolt watch, paid by an unnamed person referred to as Saudi National -1.

Ali Alzabarah, the second Saudi/US dual citizen worked at Twitter as a site reliability engineer. He was confronted for accessing private Twitter info which was outside his job responsibilities. The next day he resigned by sending an email from a plane. He was on his way back to Saudi Arabia with his handler.

With the info gained from these spies the Saudi government boldly put in a request to Twitter for information on 33 Twitter usernames in what they called an "emergency disclosure".

Twitter admits that the nature of the industry creates "bad actors" who will try to undermine its service and that the company "limits access to sensitive account information to a limited group of trained and vetted employees."

The company statement read: "We understand the incredible risks faced by many who use Twitter to share their perspectives with the world and to hold those in power accountable ... We have tools in place to protect their privacy and their ability to do their vital work."

This entire episode is very troubling. The redeeming point is that the Saudis were charged and that the government was named.

If you remember, the 9-11 hijackers were Saudis. Mysteriously, despite the fact that all flights in the US were grounded, private Saudi planes flew returning many Saudi nationals to the kingdom. The United States has and continues to block any move to investigate how the Saudis were involved.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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