Sheldon Adelson speaks during an inteview – (photo credit: REUTERS/TYRONE SIU)

Politicians and public figures in Israel and the US sent their condolences to the family of Sheldon Adelson, after the 87-year-old Jewish tycoon passed away on Tuesday.

“[My wife] Sara and I are heartbroken by the passing of Sheldon Adelson,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, adding that Jews in Israel and abroad mourn his loss.

“He was a wonderful friend to us personally and an incredible champion of the Jewish people, the Jewish state, and the alliance between Israel and America,” he said. “Sheldon unabashedly loved America and cherished the freedom and opportunity it gave him. He worked tirelessly to ensure that very same freedom and opportunity would be given to others in America and around the world.

“The warmth of his heart, the clarity of his thinking, and the decisiveness of his actions were truly exceptional.”

Adelson’s importance not just to Israel, but to global Jewry, was emphasized in a statement by Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog, who called him “the modern Montefiore, the breaker of the walls and the builder of Jerusalem.”

“I had the privilege of having had a deep personal connection with him for many years,” Herzog said. “Without a doubt, he was one of this generation’s great Jewish leaders.

“He always stood out for his kind attitude, openness, modesty, and accessibility, and even when we disagreed, I loved him very much.”
Outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that Adelson’s life “represents the best of the American dream.”

“From his service to his country in the US Army to his entrepreneurial spirit to his efforts to strengthen the alliance between Israel and the US, Sheldon’s life was one of great consequence,” Pompeo’s statement reads.

The world, Israel, and the US are safer because of his work, Pompeo explained. “His philanthropic giving has impacted the world of medicine, education, and the lives of Jewish-Americans. His political involvement strengthened our democracy.”

“Our nation lost a remarkable man with the passing of my friend Sheldon Adelson,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

Adelson “poured his success into philanthropy,” the Senate’s top Republican continued, “from drug abuse treatment to research into cancer and other diseases to the countless Jewish causes around the world that were especially close to his heart.”

DONALD TRUMP JR. wrote in response to Adelson’s passing that “Sheldon was a true American patriot and a giant among men. He treated his employees like family. His philanthropic generosity changed countless lives.” He added that “The US-Israel relationship is stronger today because of him.”

Former US president George W. Bush dubbed Adelson an “American patriot” who “battled his way out of a tough Boston neighborhood to build a successful enterprise.”

In a statement, the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) praised Adelson for being “one of the most consequential figures in American Jewish history,” calling him “an extraordinary philanthropist and a dear mentor and friend.”

Birthright called Sheldon “A man of vision, action, Zionism, and inspiration,” adding that, “Over the years we were both honored and humbled to work alongside the Adelson family, which ultimately guarantees the future of the Jewish people.”

The post Politicians, NGOs mourn the passing of Sheldon Adelson first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Israel’s leaders often refer to their country being in a “tough neighbourhood” but recently there have been some extraordinary signs of friendliness with parts of the Arab world.

Late last month, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife met the Sultan of Oman on a surprise, eight-hour visit – the first of its kind in over two decades.

There was a lavish dinner, traditional Omani music and what Mr Netanyahu told his Cabinet were “very important talks”, promising more trips would follow.

Sure enough, by the time he was speaking, Israel’s Sports and Culture Minister, Miri Regev, was at an international judo contest in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Israeli Sports and Culture minister Miri Regev (c) recently paid an unprecedented visit to a mosque in the UAE – EPA

She wept with joy when an Israeli athlete took a gold medal and the Israeli national anthem was played – something unprecedented on the Arabian Peninsula.

Later, another Israeli official talked about “peace and security”, at an event in the Arab emirate of Dubai. Now, the transportation minister is in the Omani capital, Muscat, proposing a railway between Israel and Arab countries.

All this despite the fact that Israel has no official diplomatic relations with Oman or the UAE.

‘Containing Iran’

Like much of the Arab world, they have historically shunned the state which was created in 1948, leading to the first in a series of Arab-Israeli wars.

“These visits are extremely important because they’re really melting the ice,” says former Israeli diplomat, Dore Gold, who sees that “symbolism is the key element”.

Israel, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states have accused Iran of fomenting unrest across the region – Reuters

“Gulf Arabs and Israeli officials have had meetings for years – they know each other – but there was a reluctance to take this another step,” he goes on. “Now that is changing.”

• Why Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals
• Israel and Saudi relationship emerges into the open

The main reason is a shared concern over Iran. Israel, like many Gulf Arab countries, worries about Iran’s ambitions and sees it as a destabilizing force in the Middle East.

Tehran has been directly involved in conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and supports rebels fighting in Yemen and militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The Trump administration – which also seeks to contain Iran – strongly supports closer ties between US allies in the Gulf and Israel.

Palestinians wary

However, Palestinians are alarmed by the new alliances, developing as President Trump promises to present his “Deal of the Century” plan to end their conflict with Israel.

They fear his administration is looking to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others to pressure them into accepting a peace agreement that does not meet their long-standing demands.

“This kind of attempt to normalize Israel within the region, without Israel normalizing its relationship with Palestine and remaining as an occupying power, is counterproductive and dangerous,” says Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) official.

The Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (right) visited Oman just days after the Israeli prime minister – AFP

She suggests the latest developments threaten the legitimacy of the Arab Peace Initiative – which the 22 members of the Arab League signed up to in 2002.

It offers Israel normal diplomatic relations with Arab states only in exchange for its full withdrawal from Arab lands it captured and occupied in the 1967 Middle East War.

Currently, Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries to recognize Israel.

The Israel-Palestinian peace process has long been stalled and last year, there was a further set-back.

The Palestinians – who want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state – rejected President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

They cut off ties with Washington, saying it was not an honest peace broker.

Still, the US Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, is continuing his shuttle diplomacy around the wider region – and he was enthusiastic about the Israeli prime minister’s Oman trip.

“This is a helpful step for our peace efforts & essential to create an atmosphere of stability, security & prosperity between Israelis, Palestinians & their neighbours,” he posted on Twitter.

Arab street

Analysts suggest the pivotal role ascribed to Saudi Arabia in reviving the peace process has been thrown into doubt by the shocking murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.

However, in another remarkable move, comments by Mr Netanyahu on Friday seemed to show tacit support for the powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who has been accused of having a role in Khashoggi’s death – something the kingdom has denied.

• Khashoggi affair: Will it reshape Middle East politics?

He said Mr Khashoggi’s killing was “horrendous” but should not be allowed to lead to upheaval in Saudi Arabia “because the larger problem is Iran.”

Israel said Saudi Arabia’s stability must be preserved, following the murder of Jamaal Khashoggi – EPA

Bahrain welcomed this “clear position” from Israel, just as it had previously supported Oman receiving the Israeli leader.

All these signs of a regional shift are popular with ordinary Israelis and even Mr Netanyahu’s political rivals have praised his advances in the Gulf.

However, the Arab public – for whom the Palestinian issue remains very emotional – will be far harder to win over without a peace agreement.

So for now, Arab states are unlikely to fully embrace Israel. Instead we should expect more previously unthinkable invitations, gestures of recognition and warm handshakes.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46075180

The post Israel-Arab ties warm up after long deep freeze first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The post White House letters to Palestinians show continued outreach from peace team first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Washington’s patience for the Palestinian Authority leadership is nearly spent.

Ever since President Donald Trump came to the White House, US-Palestinian relations have been tense, to say the least.

Trump’s overt affinity for Israel, and his unwillingness to tolerate the outrageous claims and demands of Palestinian leaders is, according to most Israelis, a breath of fresh air.

Of course, the Palestinian Authority sees the situation quite differently. President Mahmoud Abbas has become so upset by the Trump Administration that he’s taken to spouting personal insults against American diplomats.

Speaking to Palestinian officials in Ramallah this week, Abbas referred to US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman as a “son of a dog” for his personal views on the legitimacy of the Israeli settlement enterprise in the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.

A day later, White House and US State Department officials warned Abbas to curb his hostile rhetoric.

“President Abbas’s comments were outrageous and unhelpful,” said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert. “We urge the Palestinian Authority to focus its efforts on improving the lives of the Palestinian people and advancing the cause of peace. The administration remains fully committed to those goals.”

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, also chimed in, writing on Twitter that “the time has come for President Abbas to choose between hateful rhetoric and concrete and practical efforts to improve the quality of life of his people and lead them to peace and prosperity.”

The US Congress is set to vote in the coming days on a bill that includes significant cuts to American foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority, which Trump has indicated must be earned by good behavior and a willingness to make peace with Israel.

PHOTO: US envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt meets with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on May 25, 2017. Photo by FLASH90

Source: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=33634

The post Trump Admin Warns Palestinian Leadership It’s Skating on Thin Ice first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Finally, it would seem that the American government agrees.

US President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, on Thursday blasted Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for failing to mention that Jerusalem’s connection to the Jewish people.

On Tuesday, Abbas addressed a Palestinian youth festival and repeatedly told the young Arabs that Jerusalem is and always has been a city for Muslims and Christians. No mention of Jews.

According to Greenblatt, that kind of rhetoric only pushes peace further away.

“Pres. Abbas states about Jerusalem: ‘it is Arab, Muslim, and Christian.’ And makes no mention of any Jewish ties. Nothing peaceful or productive can come from statements like this,” Greenblatt wrote on Twitter.

“Lasting peace will not be achieved by denying Judaism’s thousands of years of ties to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is holy to Muslims, Christians, and Jews,” he added.

All of the Palestinian Authority’s most hard-line positions are based on the premise that the Jews have no right to be here.

Furthermore, Israel believes that a genuine, long-lasting peace can only be achievable if it’s built upon a foundation of truth and acceptance of documented historical fact.

Source: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=33348

The post Trump Envoy Tells Palestinians to Stop Denying Jewish History first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The post Israeli and Palestinian ministers meet in Trump peace push first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The post Breaking News | Kushner paid secret visit to saudi arabia for peace push first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.