Eid al Adha Changed

By Micah Halpern

Friday July 31, 2020

I've Been Thinking:

Eid al Adha is one of two most important holidays in Islam. The other is Eid al Fitr, But Eid al Adha takes precedence, it is actually the more important of the two.

Eid al Adha translates from Arabic as the Festival of the Sacrifice, it is found in the Koran in section 30, or Sura 30, lines 100 to112. It is the parallel story of the Binding of Isaac from Genesis 22. This holiday is also known as Eid al Qurban. Qurban is a synonym for sacrifice.

In the Koranic version of the story, Allah challenges Ibrahim’s faith and commands him to take Ishmael, his son, and offer him as a sacrifice. In the end, Allah intervenes and stops the sacrifice. and Ibrahim’s faith has been proven. The Koran’s rendition is a near exact replica of the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Bible.

At the end of the Koranic story, a sheep is replaced for Ishmael. In the Bible, a ram takes the place of Isaac.

Eid al Adha is as much a feast as it is a holiday. The feast is traditionally a four day celebration of food and prayers with family. An entire sheep is slaughtered and prepared. Two thirds of the sheep is eaten by the family, the third share is gifted to the poor.

But we are not living in normal times. And many Islamic traditions, like almost all other traditions and behaviors, have had to shift and morph to accommodate COVID-19. This year, because of COVID coupled with a crippling financial crisis, the Islamic population on the West Bank has scaled down their celebrations.

The sale of animals has dropped more than 50% according to some slaughterhouses and animal sellers. Some families are abandoning the traditional sheep and instead, pooling their funds and buying a larger animal, such as a cow. The celebration and the tradition has been changed.

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Iran & Turkey Make Friends

By Micah Halpern

Thursday July 30, 2020

I've Been Thinking:

In a formal agreement, Turkey and Iran have decided to let us know that they have decided share information.

The official spokespeople of Iran and Turkey had a video conference and agreed to share this news and other materials.

These two countries, which share a border, are taking serious steps to coordinate.
They want to set up a block against the West, especially against the United States and Israel.

Iran has been expanding their foreign policy efforts. They are trying to pry people away from the West. Turkey is perfectly poised as a partner. Over the last two years Turkey has been moving further and further away from the West and the US and Israel.

Iran realizes this and is extending a hand in friendship to Turkey.

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More Mysterious Explosions in Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Another mysterious explosion took place in Iran.

This time six fuel trucks exploded while in a parking lot in Dolat Abad. Simultaneously!

The trucks were in the industrial area of Kermanshah. They were filled with fuel. They burned for a long time.

The deputy head of the Kermanshah Fire Department said that while a few people were injured, nobody died in the explosions. He said that the explosions are under investigation.

The questions are obvious. How are all these mysterious explosions happening? Who is responsible for these fires? What is the link between all the explosions that have plagued Iran’s sensitive and secure areas?

One theory is Israel. Or maybe the United States. Or local saboteurs. Or maybe, a combination of all three.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Iran's Model US Carrier

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran dragged out a life size model of a US aircraft carrier. And then they had a tugboat bring it into the Straits of Hormuz.

The model aircraft carrier is in the fashion of a Nimitz Class carrier.

The USS Abraham Lincoln is in the region and another US carrier is close by. The real Nimitz just made an appearance in the region. It entered Middle Eastern waters from the Indian Ocean and will probably replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhauer.

Why would Iran drag out a life size model of an US carrier?

That’s easy. They are going to use it for target practice.

The Iranians are going to sink the model ship using their weapons. They will practice attacking the ship. I watched small rubber boats zipping around the massive ship, jumping in and out if its wake as it was being tugged.

It looks like a game – but this is for real. This is serious stuff.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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US Chair of Joint Chiefs Visits Israel

By Micah Halpern

Monday July 27, 2020

I've Been Thinking:

US Chair of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, arrived in Israel on Friday morning. The four star general flew directly into an Israeli air-force base.

Milley met with Aviv Kochavi, his Israeli counterpart. He also met with Yossi Cohen, head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen. Defense Minister Benny Gantz came to the base and he, too, met with the American general.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Milley through a video conference, Kochavi was a part of the conversation.

Israel was the only destination for the US General.

So, what did they talk about? There is only one answer. Iran. They also spoke about Syria and Hezbollah – and their involvement with Iran.

All those suspicious fires and explosions in Iran, they were certainly on the agenda.

The US Chair of the Joint Chief of staff does not hop on a plane and make trips for no reason. This was a whirlwind visit. Milley came to Israel to deliver a message and to get information that could not be delivered any other wat. Not through the embassy or over the internet or on the secure phone.

Nothing is more secure than a face-to-face meeting.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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US Congress Supports Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Both Houses of Congress overwhelmingly approved a $3.8 billion aid package for Israel.

It is called the National Defense Authorization Act. It passed the House by a vote of 295 to125, that is nearly 3 to 1 in favor. It passed the Senate by a vote of 86 to14, which is nearly 8.5 to 1.5 in favor.

These are important numbers. They reflect a more true sense of support for Israel than the Congressional rumblings we hear about. Some very loud members of Congress shout that aid to Israel should be in question and that it should be a carrot or a stick, forcing Israel’s policies on numerous issues especially those regarding Palestinians and including annexation.

According to these votes, those voices are in the minority.

Senator Bernie Sanders as well as “the Squad” have been very vocal and led many to believe that Israel’s support in Congress was waning. But members of Congress have their finger on the pulse of their constituencies. On the one hand, they educate their constituencies and vote their conscience. On the other hand, however, they would not take a stand that would jeopardize and threaten their electability.

This is a very good sign. Especially good because two of the four members of “the Squad”, Talib and Omar, face serious primary election challenges in early August.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Iran & Iraq Very Friendly

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Relations between Iran and Iraq are in high gear.
Over the weekend Iran’s foreign minister, Muhammed Javad Zarif, visited Iraq.

And a few days later Iraq’s foreign minister, Mustafa al Kadimi, visited Iran.

Iranian president Rouhani described these visits as a “turning point” in their relations - not just between the two neighbors but for the region, as well. He said that Iran stands ready to protect its neighbor.

After the Iraqi foreign minister met with the Iranian premier, Iranian President
Rouhani said: “We are certain that the visit will be a turning point in relations between the two countries … We still remain ready to stand by the Iraqi nation and apply efforts for stability and security in Iraq and the region.”

Kadimi then responded that: “Iraq will not allow the posing of any threat from its soil against Iran.” He continued and said that Iraq is committed to “balance and avoiding any alignment.”

There had been tremendous tension between Iran and Iraq. It now appears that they are warming and uniting.

Meanwhile, the United States has a serious and significant presence in Iraq. All this is happening right under their nose.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Iran Claims Victim of Cyber

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

In a turn of events which is so typical of Iranian PR they are now asserting that the are the victims of a cyber assault from the US.

Abbas Mousavi the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Iran is being attacked thousands of times by cyber-attacks. He said that the hackers are from the US.

Mousavi said that “Iran is maintaining its right to respond in a similar at a time of its choosing.”

Remember Iran was the culprit in the multiple cyber attacks against Israel’s water infrastructure.

Israel has most probably countered and attacked Iran.

Mousavi, however, says that all the fires and all the explosions are absolutely not the result of cyber-attacks.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Twitter Says: Star of David Hate Image

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Twitter has shuttered accounts of people who have a Star of David as part of their profile picture.

Twitter informed account holders that their the Star of David was “hateful imagery.”

Several people reported that they received this message.

It reads: “We have determined that this account violated the Twitter Rules. Specifically for: violating our rules against posting hateful imagery. You may not use hateful images or symbols in your profile image or profile header. As a result, we have looked your account.”

This move by twitter is nothing short of crazy – and it is not the first time it has happened. At one point YouTube considered “Zionism” and “Zionist” to be hate words.

I just did a twitter search of the word swastika.

There were thousands of pictures of anti-Semitic swastikas. In fact, the first image was a person wearing a red COVID facemask with a swastika.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Arabs Unite Against Annex

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Sameh Shoukry, the foreign minister of Egypt, took a quick helicopter ride to Ramallah to have a face to face conversation with PA President Abbas. He arrived after a short visit to Jordan and flew from Amman, Jordan to Ramallah, a 20 minute helicopter flight away.

The obvious agenda was to discuss a response to Israel’s plans to annex part of the West Bank.

Egypt brainstormed - first with Amman and then with Ramallah, on how to activate international influence against Israel if they pursue annexation.

The Arab world is deeply concerned about Israel’s annexation plans. They are planning a response.

All this Arab bluster may be a total waste of time, Israel’s plan has not yet been articulated – so far, it’s all speculation.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Shortage of Syringes

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The race is on for a vaccine for COVID-19. Whenever that vaccine is discovered, hopefully soon, countries will need to give the vaccine to their citizens.

There are three ways to give a vaccine. Through the nose, through the mouth, or through an injection.

Odds are that an injection will be the most common method.

To give an injection, you need a syringe. The United States has already purchased 50 million syringes at a cost of $70 million. Canada and the United Kingdom have also already purchased their syringes.

Israel has not yet made plans.

That could prove to be very problematic. “The Health Ministry has been warned by private bodies that there is a need to buy syringes,” a source in the Health Ministry was quoted as saying. “Due to the global race to a vaccine, there is real doubt regarding the ability to produce and supply syringes on time if no purchase is done ahead of time.”

This is worrisome. The vaccine will come in vials. There are usually 10 to 20 doses per vial. But a vaccine is useless without a syringe.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Iran Will Respond

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran’s character has been defined over centuries.

Iran responds to attacks, but they respond according to their own timetable.
Iran uses their “seconds” to do the actual attacks.

The Washington Post’s David Ignatius interviewed US General Kenneth McKenzie about the tensions between Iran and Israel.

Ignatius asked McKenzie if he thought Iran would respond to the recent devastating attacks that have been attributed to Israel.

McKenzie’s response was immediate and absolute. He said: "My experience with Iran tells me they will respond.”

So, what does that mean?

It means that this is the beginning of a tit for tat between Israel and Iran. It means that tensions will escalate, that targets will get bigger and bigger.

It means that the situation may get out of control.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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They Want to Impeach Rouhani

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iranian President Rouhani is fighting for his political life.

There is a move in Iran to impeach Rouhani. The move asserts that Rouhani failed in protecting Iran from COVID-19.

Obviously, the move comes from the right.

Rouhani has been working hard at trying to appease right-wing parliamentarians, calling for unity and brotherhood. His foreign minister, Zarif, was shouted down in parliament last week and Rouhani defended him.

Rouhani represents compromise with the West. It is Rouhani who is responsible for the nuke deal.

Internally, Iran is dealing with pulls and pushes. The right has a very strong voice in politics. The liberals are the youth of Iran.

Rouhani was open to liberal ideas, but he promised much more than what he delivered.

The move to impeach cites COVID, but in reality, the issue the right has with Rouhani is that he was too liberal - on everything.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Fires in Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Western media is finally paying attention to the explosions in Iran.

Yesterday, outlet after outlet covered mysterious fires in the Southern port city of Bushehr where seven ships were set aflame.

There were no reports of injuries. But the fires shut the port down.

Bushehr is significant for so many reasons. Those who set the fires are sending a message way beyond the ships burning in the southern port.

Bushehr is the where the Iranian navy is headquartered.

Bushehr is a location of one of the secret Iranian nuclear sites.

Whoever hit the Bushehr port was sending a strong message: Pay attention Iran, we can even hit your navy and your nuclear site. Iran, beware.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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They Unite Against the US

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Enemies of the United States are banding together.
The two biggest enemies of the US are making a pact.

Which two? Iran and China.

During an Iranian parliament session last week, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that Iran is “with confidence and conviction,” in negotiations with China over a 25-year strategic partnership that could involve about $400 billion in Chinese investment through various sectors of the Iranian economy.

The 18 page document outlining the plan was leaked. The NYT covered the leaked document. The paper reported that many of the proposals are rehashes of the old ideas that have been rejected in the past.

The exact terms of the union seem to still be in flux, but enemies of the United States are joining together on issues of economic investment - and that bond will create a blockade to protect against US economic attacks.

That’s the bottom line, and that’s what counts.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Israel Special Force

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Israeli Air Force announced that all their special forces will now be under one command. This will be a totally new squad composed of five distinct groups working together to assist the air force.

Unit 669, one of the five groups, is an elite search and rescue team. Shaldag is the commando unit. There will be a Frontal Landing Unit whose job it is to build ad hoc landing strips behind enemy lines. There is, of course, a dedicated intelligence unit. And finally, a special forces school.

This is a sign of Israel’s future.

The combined skills and talents of some of Israel’s best youth will come together to protect and ensure Israel’s future. The commander of the air force, only identified as Colonel Ayin, said that this elite group “is standing on the shoulders of giants who did bold things.” Now, he said, it is our turn.

He is correct.

Micah@Micah@Halpern.com

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PA & COVID-19

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Palestinian Authority has begun to take the COVID -19 issue seriously. Why? because they are getting seriously hit.

It was just a question of time. That is the way this virus progresses. We do not have numbers from the PA, but it must be very bad.

On Sunday night, in light of the recent rise in corona virus cases, the PA announced curfews and new travel restrictions.

Travel between all districts has been prohibited for the next two weeks. Nighttime curfew between 8pm and 6am has been implemented. Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem are under a four-day lockdown. All public gatherings are banned.

These restrictions will help stop the spread from place to place - but not within the districts and towns. Unfortunately, the virus will have to run its course inside these areas.

The only thing people can do in the PA, just like everywhere else world over, is keep their hands clean and away from their faces and keep safe social distance.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Selling Sat Images of Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

During the last week of June a small and not very well known office in the US federal bureaucracy changed one of their policies.

The U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office decided that they will permit smaller images of Israel and the Palestinian Authority areas to be sold.

Up until now, images could not portray something less than 2 meters or 6.5 feet.

The new regulation allows for images to be .4 meters or 19 inches.
The change went into place on June 25th.

The original regulation had been in place since 1997and is known as the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment.

Israel has always argued that terrorists and other enemies can use google maps to plan and improve rocket targeting. That they can use the pictures to monitor sensitive sites and plot strategies to attack military and civilian locations.

The U.S. Commercial Remote office argued that there are already foreign companies that provide the material, so it is useless for the United States to prohibit it.

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Register Cats to Vote

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

I just read an amusing AP release about voter registration in Georgia.

Someone received a voter registration form for his cat, Cody Tims. What makes this even more ludicrous is that the cat died – 12 years ago.

The Georgia Secretary of State said that the form did not come from the official office of voter registration. However, interest groups bought lists and are trying to get people out to vote.

The essential point here is that there is and there will be tremendous voter fraud in this coming election. Especially because of Covid-19 and the fact that new methods of voting will be used to try to accommodate for social distancing.

The basic rule in voting is that the first time a system is used it is fraught with problems. It’s the case no matter how many times you test and try the new system.
It’s the case even when we are not faced with the challenges of a pandemic.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Canadian Candidate for PM Say Will Move Embassy to Jerusalem

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Erin O’Toole is a Canadian MP running for Prime Minister.

His chances are looking good.

O’Toole is a conservative and a proud supporter of Israel. And if he wins, O’Toole has promised to move the Canadian embassy to Jerusalem.

On his Facebook page O’Toole writes: "I'm a proud Conservative and firmly believe in a principled approach to foreign policy - one that builds on our values and interests as a country,"

"This approach has made me a resolute and strong friend to Israel."
Erin O’Toole was a member of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration. He recalled that back then, Canada was known to be a staunch supporter of the Jewish state and "trustworthy friend" to Israel.

This is a very good sign - even if it ends up a close election and this friend of Israel loses. It means that, once again, Israel and support of Israel is an important political value in Canada.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Real COVID Numbers

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

There has been a surge of COVID-19. The numbers are daunting. 50,000 in San Antonio in a single day.

The numbers of positives are up because the percentage of those testing is up. It does not matter how many people are testing positive – that number is not essential.

There are three important numbers:
#1: fatalities
#2: ventilated
#3: hospitalized.

And these numbers are significantly down.

They are certainly down in comparison to the numbers during March and April.
The argument that more testing creates more positives is correct.

It is also important to realize that younger people are testing because employers are requiring testing for employees. These younger people who are testing positive would never, until now, have been tested. Many are asymptomatic and would never have even known that they were carriers and positive.

However, once they do test positive, they must quarantine. And they must stay away from high risk populations.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Israel is Heating Up

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Things are heating up in Israel on numerous fronts.

Hamas: Gazans shot three rockets into Israel yesterday. Israel shot back at Gaza, hitting Hamas sites.

Hezbollah: Israel targeted a convoy of weapons, in Syria, on its way to Hezbollah.
Corona: The virus has reached its peak and the numbers of ill and dead are receding. But frustrations are high. Group gatherings are limited. Family celebrations are severely restricted. Bars and restaurants are operating with severe limit.
Neighborhoods in several cities have been sealed off. There are still no tourists permitted into Israel.

This has become Israel’s new normal.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Explosions in Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran has been experiencing a series of explosions.

Over the past few weeks I have watched numerous electrical stations explode, a hospital go dark and now - a fire and explosion at Natanz, the secret Iranian nuke site just north of Teheran, Iran’s capital.

All fingers are pointing at Israel for engineering a computer hack that is causing these mishaps. It makes sense.

But recently Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that all the mysterious events in Iran are “not necessarily” the work of Israel. Iranians are also now looking at local sabotage as an option.

It may all be a smoke screen.

Israel is almost certainly responsible for the breakdown of the Iranian nuclear facility, an attack that set Iran’s nuclear program back at least a year.

Israel has said that they will never let Iran attain a nuke.

The downside of these counter attacks, assuming they were perpetrated by Israel, is that Iran will discover Israel’s secret cyber techniques.

Israel can use an attack method one time only.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Palestinian Protests Against Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Wednesday was a “Day of Rage” in America.

In several cities across America, people came out to protest Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank.

All total several thousand people participated. The numbers were small.

Interestingly, the Palestinian Authority attempted to organize rallies in Ramallah and Jericho and those rallies fell flat. The PA gave people off from work and asked them to attend, but only a trickle came to the Ramallah protest while a few more were bussed to Jericho.

In the rally in Brooklyn, NY one female speaker said: “We don’t wanna go just back to our homes in Gaza and the West Bank. We want all of it...we don’t want your two states.”

Another speaker said: “we want it all.”
Another called for an “intifada”.
Of course, they also shouted the canard that “Israel kills children.”

These are powerful words. They are words that reject the idea of co-existence and reject the foundation of the peace process which has always been the “2 state solution.”

There is a movement in Congress, created by AOC, to defund all US support for Israel because of the plan and discussions about annexation.

Bernie Sanders is one of the signatures on the AOC letter.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Jew Hatred Has No Bounds

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Jew haters will never let facts get in the way of their hatred of Jews.

The canard that Israel taught American police the choke hold that killed George Floyd is just another cruel example. Another lie.
However, and this will probably shock you, in 1983 the US Supreme Court ruled that city police may use the choke hold.

The court case began as the result of the 1976 arrest of Adolph Lyons, arrested for a broken taillight. Lyons, who did not resist arrest, was put in a choke hold. He survived the ordeal and sued the City of Los Angeles.

The case made it all the way to the US Supreme Court and the ruling came out against him by a vote of 5-4. Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court justice, wrote the minority opinion which identified the problem.

He wrote that "for many years, it has been the official policy of the city to permit
police officers to employ chokeholds in a variety of situations where they face no threat of violence." Justice Marshall wrote that from 1975 to 1980, the Los Angeles Police Department used chokeholds 975 times. Sixteen of those incidents ended in death, and 12 of the dead were Black.”

The essential point is that Marshall was identifying the problem in 1983. He explained that choke holds were in place at least since 1970. What is critical here is that Israel had nothing to do with it. That the Supreme Court - despite Marshall’s powerful and prophetic minority opinion – still upheld police choking.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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