Marco Rubio is pandering to Israel with rhetoric to attempt to boost his potential for votes.
March 10, 2016
...The COGAT spokeswoman said that the announcement of the change was relayed to the head of the Palestinian Civilian Committee “for the sake of informing the population.” Yet, according to Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, earlier this week the Civilian Committee and concerned NGOs still did not know about the new clause.
The COGAT spokeswoman did not respond to an inquiry from Haaretz about the logic behind the condition of not being able to return for a year.
Someone needs to reach out to the slain man's family. Where is the Secretary of State? The family is really struggling. It isn't right to ignore their pain because it is an inconvenient death.
March 9, 2016
Nashville, Tenn. -- A Vanderbilt University graduate student (click here) stabbed to death in Israel during a school trip was exploring what to do with his life as a civilian after graduating from West Point and serving tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan....
...Force was finishing his first year of business school and wasn't yet sure what he was going to do when he graduated.
March 10, 2016
Washington (JTA) — Sen. Marco Rubio, (click here) in the fight of his political life to win his home state of Florida in the Republican presidential primaries, will take questions on his Israel policy at a Palm Beach synagogue.
On Thursday, a statement from the Rubio campaign said the candidate will be joined by Jewish and national security leaders at Temple Beth El in Palm Beach on Friday “to discuss his commitment to stand with Israel.”
Rubio, who trails front-runner Donald Trump in the polls in Florida, must win the state’s primary on Tuesday if he is to keep his presidential bid alive after suffering bad losses in a number of contests. He has been subjected to attacks by Trump, a billionaire real estate developer who maintains a second home in the state.
Rubio and other Republican rival have taken Trump to task for saying he would be neutral in brokering Israeli-Palestinian peace....
I think they call this progress. A year? I suppose settlements could be established in a years time if land/homes appear to be abandoned. ????
March 10, 2016
By Amira Hass
Israel will permit residents of the Gaza Strip to go abroad ((click here) via the Allenby border crossing with Jordan, on condition that they do not return the same way for at least a year. This is in addition to the weekly quota of up to 100 exit permits via Allenby that are given to people who fall under the categories of needing special medical treatment, attending special conferences and students pursuing advanced degrees abroad, according to a public document from the office of the Coordinator of Government Activity in the Territories.
This appears to mark a change in a policy of almost 20 years: Since 1997, Israel has not permitted Gazans to travel abroad and return via the Allenby border crossing, i.e., through Israeli territory and the West Bank, with very few exceptions. Thus, the Rafah border crossing became the only departure gate for Gazans to go abroad. Theoretically, Israel is now increasing the number of Gazans who will be able to travel abroad. On the other hand, the condition that one must remain outside the country for at least a year is a strong deterrent, since there is hardly any possibility of returning via Egypt.......The COGAT spokeswoman said that the announcement of the change was relayed to the head of the Palestinian Civilian Committee “for the sake of informing the population.” Yet, according to Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, earlier this week the Civilian Committee and concerned NGOs still did not know about the new clause.
The COGAT spokeswoman did not respond to an inquiry from Haaretz about the logic behind the condition of not being able to return for a year.
Someone needs to reach out to the slain man's family. Where is the Secretary of State? The family is really struggling. It isn't right to ignore their pain because it is an inconvenient death.
March 9, 2016
Nashville, Tenn. -- A Vanderbilt University graduate student (click here) stabbed to death in Israel during a school trip was exploring what to do with his life as a civilian after graduating from West Point and serving tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan....
...Force was finishing his first year of business school and wasn't yet sure what he was going to do when he graduated.
"He just wanted to further his education and explore more of the civilian side of life," Stuart Force said.
Taylor Force had been making friends and having a great time at school, and he was very excited about the trip to Israel, his father said.
Stuart Force said it would be an understatement to say he was immensely proud of his son.
"He really fit it all in," Stuart Force said. "He lived really large."
Asked about a favorite memory, Stuart Force asked for a moment to compose himself before describing a recent family trip: "We were all on vacation after New Year's, and I got to spend it with my son and daughter. I went skiing on my 65th birthday with my son."...
