Yeshiva World News

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, one of the people who is very close to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, last week held secret talks with foreign ministers of Arab nations, including nations that do not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel.

The meetings were held in Barcelona where Hanegbi was attending a European Union summit that was also attended by Jordan and Egypt. However, a number of Arab nations that do not maintain diplomatic ties were Israel were in attendance too, including Lebanon, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Hanegbi explained in response to the report that there is a change in the region, even a willingness by some states to establish some type of relations, something that did not exist in the past.

The content of the meetings and just which foreign ministers took park remains classified at this time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for Five Towns Jewish Times]

Forty eight years ago, for the first time in nearly two millennium, the Temple mount came under Jewish control.  There were open miracles in the battle, where enemy forces threatened to annihilate Eretz Yisroel and its people.  A bomb landed on the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim.  Miraculously it did not detonate. And of course, we got the Kosel back – a place we could not even visit for nineteen years – since the Jordanians captured it in 1948.

The Temple Mount is the holiest place on earth where Hashem’s Divine Presence was and is still most concentrated.  The Kosel is the last remaining wall that surrounds Har HaBayis, the Temple mount and is called the “Wailing Wall” because Jews have gathered before it to cry over the loss of the Temple, the Beis HaMikdash.   The day that we got back the Kosel and the eastern half of Jerusalem is known as “Yom Yerushalayim” and is commemorated on the 28th of Iyar each year.  It might therefore be beneficial for us to review some aspects and halachos of the Kosel and how we must relate to it now in its current state.

SAVES THE WORLD

Firstly, let us note the significance of the Bais HaMikdash and its ever relevant enormity in our own times as well.  There is a verse in Ovadiah (1:17) that states, “And on the Mountain of Zion shall be the salvation.”  The Emek HaMelech (14:134) writes that this verse teaches us that the prayers of the righteous and great people of Yerushalayim at the Western Wall are what saves the world.  He writes that their tears and supplications keep the world intact, and were it not for their prayers at this most holy of places the world would be destroyed.

PRESENCE OF SHECHINA

The Midrash tells us (Shmos Rabbah 2:2) that the Shechina, the Divine Presence, has not budged from the Western Wall.  The presence of the Shechina, according to the Alshich (VaYikra 25:29), is the surety the promise, that Hashem will ultimately redeem us.

SIGN OF HOPE 

These two sources indicate to us a positive, hopeful aspect of the Makom HaMikdash, in our times.  It is a place of enormous Kedusha – holiness, and one which brings current salvation to the world now, and the hope and promise of the ultimate future redemption of the Jewish people.  This is remarkably inspiring and uplifting.

SADNESS AND PAIN

Yet at the same time, the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash evokes deep feelings of sadness and pain.  We rip Kriyah when we see it. It is not just a regular Kriyah but the more serious one that occurs near the heart itself.  When we rip Kriyah, the ripping should never be repaired completely.

The destruction should move us.  Indeed, the Mishna Brurah (561:4) writes that on the day that a person first sees Yerushalayim in its state of disrepair it is proper and appropriate for that person to refrain from eating meat and drinking wine.

OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN SANCTITY

The fact that we do have sovereignty over the Temple Mount and its regions obligates us in maintaining its sanctity.  Technically, gentiles should not be allowed to enter the inner section of the Temple Mount – from the “Chayil” and further in (See Mishna Keilim 1:8 and Tzitz Eliezer 10:1:10 for the contemporary application).  Indeed, in 1871, Charles Clermont Ganneau, a French archaeologist and diplomat, found a stone with an inscription in Greek which forbade entry to all gentiles past that point.   Thus a travel agent should not promote a tour to Israel for gentiles who will ascend to the inner section of the Temple Mount.  Indeed, it is even forbidden for a videography editor  to request a gentile to film sections of the Temple Mount because he will stay there longer on account of the request.

WHEN PRAYING THERE

It is important to note that when dealing with the Bais HaMikdash and davening at the Kosel ,our focus must  on HaKadosh Boruch Hu and not on the physical aspect of the Kosel itself.  Indeed, a fascinating point, recently confirmed by Rav Chaim Kanievsky, is that when davening at the Kosel one should not face completely toward the Kosel.  Rather, one should face left toward the Kodash HaKadoshim.

Another question arises as to whether there exists a Mitzvah to go to Eretz Yisroel during the Shalosh Regalim  even in its current state of destruction.  The Rambam in Hilchos Chagiga (1:1) states that there is no Mitzvah because the obligation is only to bring a Korban Chagigah and Olah and to appear in the Temple.   The opinion of the Tashbatz (Responsa III # 201), however, at least according to the way most achronim understand him, is that there is indeed a Mitzvah of Aliyah l’regel, even nowadays when there is no extant Beis HaMikdash.  This is also the view of the Sdei Chemed, the Chasam Sopher (Yevamos 44a), and the Aruch LaNer.  The RaN in Taanis (first Mishna) also writes this.

Rav Elyashiv zatzal was careful to observe this Mitzvah and go to the Kosel every Yom Tov.  When he got older and could no longer make the walk he would do so during the latter days of the Yom Tov – the 7 days of Tashlumim.  [Once, my brother-in-law accompanied him on the way back from the Kosel on Yom Tov and had asked him where one puts up a Zecher l’Churban in a house if there is no place to put it opposite the door.  He responded that one should place it above the door in such an instance.]

The fact that we currently have access to the Kosel, thus has remarkable relevance, as we can now fulfill this Mitzvah of the Tashbatz,

The ideal method of performing the Mitzvah, however, is on the first day of the Yom Tov as Rav Elyashiv had observed it.  This can be seen from the words of the Rambam  in Chagiga 1:1. So, whoever is in Yerushalayim and can make the walk to the Kosel on the first day of the Yom Tov should definitely do so.  If one can afford to go to Eretz Yisroel for Yom Tov from Chutz LaAretz, then one should do so as well.  Affording it, however, is quite another story.

The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com Originally published at http://5tjt.com/the-kosel/

Israel has received an executive summary of the UN Board of Inquiry (BOI) report and will study it carefully, with a view to continuing its cooperation with the UN Secretary-General and his staff regarding the protection of UN facilities, particularly in periods of armed conflict.

As noted in the Secretary-General’s letter, Israel cooperated fully with this inquiry and facilitated the work of the BOI in fulfilling its mandate. This cooperation demonstrates once again that, when asked to assist in a professional and unbiased inquiry, Israel responds in a collaborative, open and forthcoming manner, notwithstanding some reservations it may have concerning certain aspects of the process and as well as some of the report’s findings and conclusions.

The following data was released by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

The executive summary of the report clearly documents the exploitation by terrorist organizations of UN facilities in Gaza. Israel is committed to working jointly with the UN in order to improve the security of UN facilities in Gaza, with special emphasis on preventing such exploitation by terrorists. Moreover, Israel is prepared to extend its assistance to UNRWA, with the aim of preventing the recurrence of circumstances under which UN facilities are used to carry out terrorist activity, in blatant violation of international law, and in a manner that gravely endangers civilians, including UN staff.

All of the incidents attributed by the report to Israel have already been subject to thorough examinations, and criminal investigations have been launched where relevant. This serves as further evidence of Israel’s serious approach to this issue, its capacity and desire to carry out independent investigations and its commitment to the rule of law. Israel makes every effort to avoid harm to sensitive sites, in the face of terrorist groups who are committed not only to targeting Israeli civilians but also to using Palestinian civilians and UN facilities as shields for their terrorist activities.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

12:16 IL: Light weapons fire from Syria was reported in northern Israel a short time ago near ein Zivan. B’chasdei Hashem there are no reports of fatalities or injuries.

Security officials feel that once again the gunfire was spillover from the ongoing war between government forces and rebels, not an intentional attack.

The IDF has instructed area farmers to remain in a safe area and not to continue working the fields for the time being.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

While the Kulanu and Yahadut Hatorah parties are expected to sign coalition agreements today, Wednesday, 10 Iyar 5775, talks between Likud negotiators and the Shas party have broken down due to demands made by Aryeh Deri.

Some Likud officials feel that Deri has to “get real”, explaining his party has only seven seats yet he continues making demands as if he is the major coalition partner.

Deri explains that during his election campaign the party promised to address the “transparent Israelis”, the two million Israelis living under the poverty level who are generally forgotten. Deri insists that unless Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agrees to his demand to remove the 18% value added tax from basic items he will not sign on for he will not betray Shas voters. Deri adds that his party must control the relevant agencies to give him “the tool box” to deal with growing nationwide poverty.

While some chareidim applaud Deri’s position, others warn he is pushing the prime minister too far and if left without an alternative, Mr. Netanyahu can opt to set up a coalition with the Labor and Yesh Atid parties, which would give him 65 seats and then the chareidim would be in opposition for a second consecutive coalition, which would result in devastation for the chareidi tzibur and its mosdos. They point out that with all due respect, there is one week remaining until the prime minister has to present his coalition and Mr. Netanyahu is obviously aware that the time limit on his presidential mandate is quickly running out.

As negotiations continue, MK Moti Yogev of the Bayit Yehudi party told Kol Chai Radio that his party has laid down a number of demands, including a commitment from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that he will not announce another construction freeze in areas of Yehuda and Shomron as well as in Yerushalayim as has been the case in the previous administration.

Yogev added that while Bayit Yehudi remains committed to its voters and ideals, the party leaders remain realistic amid the realization one cannot expect to receive everything one demands. He acknowledged the Netanyahu administration is under enormous pressure from the Barak Obama administration and that the prime minister’s hands are tied to some extent.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Following a Tuesday evening 9 Iyar meeting with Moshe Kahlon, it appears his Kulanu party will be signing a coalition agreement today, Wednesday, 10 Iyar.

The signing comes a week before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s deadline to present his coalition government to President Reuven Rivlin. If there are no last minute snags, Yahadut Hatorah with its six seats will also be signing on, together with Kulanu with its ten seats.

This together with Likud’s (30) gives the prime minister a coalition of 46 MKs. He needs a minimum of 61 MKs. If he signs on Shas (7), Bayit Yehudi (8), he will have 61. PM Netanyahu also hopes to bring in Yisrael Beitenu with its 6 seats for a coalition of 67.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Barring any last minute surprises, Yahadut Hatorah today, Wednesday 10 Iyar is expected to sign a coalition agreement with Likud. The draft agreement was shown to Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita who gave a green light to move ahead. Today’s signature is contingent on Gedolei Hador and Admorim approving the final version but no snags are expected.

Yahadut Hatorah MKs on Tuesday evening visited Bnei Brak to present the agreement to Rav Shteinman for approval. MKs Gafne, Maklev and Yaakov Asher presented the posek hador with the draft agreement for review. They explained the essential issues to Rav Shteinman.

In the Agudas Yisrael faction, MKs Yaakov Litzman and Meir Porush showed a draft to a number of admorim, members of the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael and they too gave the green light to sign on to the coalition.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman has sent a clear message to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as he works to assemble his new government. The senior US official stated that if Israel’s new administration does not include moving ahead with the so-called “two-state solution” with the PA (Palestinian Authority), there will be clear and serious implications regarding future American support for Israel in the diplomatic arena.

Speaking to an event sponsored by Reform Movement leaders in the US capital, Sherman used the forum to get the State Department’s message across.

“If the new Israeli government is seen as stepping back from its commitment to a two-state solution — something that all of you, and a vast majority of American Jews, support that makes our jobs in the international arena a lot tougher because our ability to push back on efforts to internationalize” she explained, citing the administration’s insistence on the continuation of direct negotiations between Israel and the PA.

Sherman’s message is one of many released by US officials since Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s party took the national elections, earning 30 seats for his Likud party. Statements released by Mr. Netanyahu against the two-state solution elicited an immediate and stern message from US President Barak Obama and other administration officials. These messages include America may no longer come to Israel’s side to veto anti-Israel resolutions in the United Nations or stand by Israel’s side to prevent economic boycotts if the “peace process” with the PA is abandoned.

Clearly the current US administration would have preferred to see Netanyahu defeated and it is now seeking to influence the formation of the new government as much as possible so that it will be in line with American position.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Following is a synopsis of Israel Foreign Ministry activities regarding the major earthquake that struck Nepal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel has been operating on emergency standing since receiving the first reports of the earthquake that hit Nepal on Shabbos, 6 Iyar 5775, providing assistance to Israelis, Nepalese and others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel has been operating on emergency standing since receiving the first reports of the earthquake that hit Nepal on Shabbos. The director general has been conducting situation assessments several times a day with Ministry staff and other officials with the goal of providing an immediate and appropriate response to the situation. The Ministry’s Emergency and Crisis Management Center is working with an increased staff around the clock.

The Ministry efforts are directed at providing assistance simultaneously to Israelis, Nepalese and others who were caught up in the disaster:

Israelis:

The Ministry, via the embassy in Kathmandu, is aiding Israelis in the stricken area and is in touch with the families of Israeli travelers who have not yet established contact.

Nepalese and others:

The Ministry is helping to organize emergency humanitarian aid, flights to bring rescue and medical teams to the area, and the establishment of a field hospital.

The Israeli embassy in Kathmandu opened its gates to Israelis seeking shelter. Since Shabbos, more than 150 Israelis have been staying in the embassy grounds. The embassy is attempting to locate, rescue and aid other Israelis currently in Nepal. It is not known of any Israelis among the injured (aside from a few with very minor injuries).

Out of hundreds of Israelis currently in Nepal, several dozen are unaccounted for. The Department for Israelis abroad at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem is leading the efforts to establish contact with them. The first Israeli rescue plane, from the Home Front Command, landed in Kathmandu on Sunday (7 Iyar) and brought back to Israel the first group of Israelis, including newborn babies.

A Magen David Adom plane landed in Nepal, also on Sunday, and delivered a delegation of doctors and paramedics who settled in at the Chabad House. The plane returned to Israel with another group of Israelis. Ichud Hatzalah and Zaka volunteers have arrived as well.

Three air force planes – two cargo and one passenger – are on the way to Nepal. These planes are loaded with emergency aid and will bring back another group of Israelis.

Two El Al planes – one cargo and one passenger – departed on Monday, 8 Iyar, for Nepal. These planes carried a team from the Ministry of Health and a large delegation of IDF Homefront Command staff – more than two hundred doctors, sanitation engineers, machinery technicians and others – as well as medical equipment (portable monitor, oxygen tanks, medical ventilators, medicines, X-ray machines, and resuscitation kit) and engineering equipment. After unloading their cargo, the planes will return to Israel carrying more Israeli travelers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expending great effort to hire helicopters in order to rescue Israelis trapped in the area.

The Israel Embassy in Delhi is providing considerable support to the aid and rescue efforts. Staff members from the Ministry in Jerusalem as well as from nearby missions were sent to reinforce the forces in the field – among them the Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Pacific, the regional administrative officer for Asia, the New Delhi consul, a security officer, two representatives from the Spokesperson’s Bureau and a communications specialist.

The Division for Asia and the Pacific is in contact with more than 500 Nepalese residing in Israel and is responding to their requests.

A meeting chaired by the MFA Deputy Director-General who heads Israel’s National Agency for International Cooperation (MASHAV) was held on Monday 8 Iyar to discuss the second stage of Israeli aid to Nepal, focusing on long-term assistance.

VIDEO: IDF delegation arrives in Nepal

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The East Coast is bracing for migratory treks of waterfowl that could put numerous states with poultry farms and backyard chicken operations at risk of a bird flu outbreak.

Michael Darre, extension poultry specialist for Connecticut and New England, is emailing as many as 1,000 small-flock owners in Connecticut about the flu and advising of biosecurity measures.

He said names are from records of vaccinations required of chickens taken to poultry shows, show birds transported to fairs and other destinations.

States are sharing information, and Pennsylvania agriculture officials urged poultry producers to adopt biosecurity measures.

Since December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed several cases of avian influenza in the Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways. The disease has been found in wild birds and in a few backyard and commercial poultry flocks.

(AP)

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Refuahs, Parnasah, Shidduchim, Nachas, and more. Yeshuahs witnessed by carrying out the segulah

Through the week of the 25th of Nissan, yarzeit of the Zanz’er Rav zt”l, Regional Bikur Cholim has equipped its headquarters with phone lines aplenty, knowing that people from all over will be inquiring about the wonderful Segulah Pushka. In spite of their efforts to accommodate the overflow of callers, the staff has still struggled to meet the demand in a timely fashion. They are still busy sending out pushkas to those requesting them.

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The Rav of Sanz Zt”l, was the “hub of hope” to all in need during his time. Countless yeshuos in many different areas were witnessed by those who came to his door crying their hearts out about their pains and troubles. His zchus has brought great merit to Yiddishe kinder.

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The GOP-controlled Senate on Tuesday turned back an attempt to elevate any nuclear deal with Iran into a treaty, a vote that gave momentum to Republicans and Democrats trying to pass a bill giving Congress a chance to review and possibly reject any agreement with Tehran.

The amendment, filed by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, failed 39 to 57.

Supporters want the bill passed free of controversial add-ons they claim could scuttle negotiations with Tehran, draw a presidential veto or leave lawmakers with no say on a national security threat.

As written, the legislation would block President Barack Obama from waiving congressional sanctions for at least 30 days while lawmakers weigh in on any final deal the U.S. and five other nations can reach with Iran. And it would stipulate that if senators disapprove the deal, Obama would lose authority to waive certain economic penalties — an event that would certainly prompt a presidential veto.

The bill has gained tacit approval from Obama. He says he will sign it as written, but the White House warns that he will reconsider if the measure is substantially changed. Sen. Bob Corker, a lead sponsor of the bill and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the measure in its current form, has 67 backers, enough to override a presidential veto.

Corker and his supporters are trying to bat down more than 50 amendments have been introduced so far — all by Republicans.

Earlier in the day, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid warned GOP presidential hopefuls in the Senate not to use it as a “platform for their political ambitions.” He said the full Senate should pass the bill with the same bipartisanship that occurred in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which unanimously approved the measure 19-0.

The alternative to the bill is not a better bill, he said, “it is a deal without any meaningful congressional input.”

Johnson’s failed amendment would have turned any final nuclear agreement with Tehran into a treaty, requiring ratification by two-thirds of the Senate.

The amendment failed just hours after former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was national security adviser under President George W. Bush, said any Iran nuclear deal is an executive agreement that doesn’t need to be a treaty. “The proposed Iranian nuclear agreement is classically an executive agreement and doesn’t need to be a treaty with advice and consent of the Senate,” she said. “But Congress should be able to opine, given that congressionally mandated sanctions would have to be lifted.”

“By trying to deem this is a treaty is a losing effort,” said Corker, who consulted with Rice. “In essence, it will destroy our ability to have any say so in one of the biggest geopolitical events of our time.”

“We can wish it was a treaty or we could try to deem it a treaty, but the effect is we would have no role if we were to pass this amendment. … We will have no role in this. I urge people to vote ‘no.’”

It was the first vote on the dozens of amendments under consideration.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a White House hopeful, wants to amend the bill to require Iran’s leaders to publicly accept Israel’s right to exist, a nearly impossible mandate. Another presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz. R-Texas, hopes to put the onus on advocates to win congressional approval of a deal, and not on opponents to gather enough votes for rejection.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has filed an amendment that insists on international nuclear inspectors’ access to Iranian military sites. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., wants to restore a section of the initial bill that would require the president to certify every 90 days that it is not engaged in supporting terrorism against America. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., wants the bill to address four Americans being held in Iran.

“It is true that the negotiations underway have nothing to do with alleviating any kind of terrorist sanctions, human rights sanctions or ballistic missile testing sanctions,” Corker said. “Should Iran commit an act of terrorism against an American, sanctions would be the minimum thing, I think, they’d have to be worried about. I think bombs and missiles on heads would be the thing they’d have to be concerned about.”

(AP)

MK (Bayit Yehudi) Nissim Slomiansky, who headed the Knesset Finance Committee in the 19th Knesset, announced his party must receive control of the Ministry of Education, calling it a deal-breaker. Slomiansky explained that if Bayit Yehudi does not receive control of the ministry it must break away from entering the forming coalition.

According to Slomiansky, the Education Ministry is not viewed as a consolation prize by his party, insisting Bayit Yehudi wanted the portfolio from the very beginning of talks. He told the dati leumi Srugim website “I said we wanted this ministry all along. The only difference is that I viewed it as a first option not as the second [as some colleagues did]” he explains. He stresses the significance of controlling this ministry, and that despite what some may believe this is not a “take what you get” situation for Bayit Yehudi as party officials’ are quite aware of the importance and significance of being responsible for the state’s education.

Regarding ongoing coalition talks, Slomiansky explains the fact that no one has signed on to date is not significant, pointing out that generally speaking, coalition partners sign on at the last moment.

Regarding chareidi and left-wing fears of Naftali Bennett serving as minister of education, Erdan stated “Bennett is not anyone’s enemy. I believe that Zevulun Hammer received the ministry amid similar fears. No reason to become concerned. Whatever portfolio is received the left-wing will cast dispersions upon us. If we receive the Justice Ministry the left-wing will object”. Slomiansky added that he is confident Bennett will serve the nation well in the post, adding “Yes, he will also look out for his own community and there is no shame in that”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will announce his plans to seek the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday, presenting a liberal challenge to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Sanders, an independent who describes himself as a “democratic socialist,” will follow a formal statement with a major campaign kickoff in his home state in several weeks. Two people familiar with his announcement spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity to describe internal planning.

Sanders will become the second major Democrat in the race, joining Clinton. He has urged the former secretary of state to speak out strongly about issues related to income inequality and climate change. The former first lady and New York senator is viewed as a heavy favorite in the Democratic primary and formally entered the race earlier this month.

Sanders plans were first reported Tuesday by Vermont Public Radio.

The white-haired senator and former mayor of Burlington, Vermont, has been a liberal firebrand, blasting the concentration of wealth in America and assailing a “billionaire class” that he says has taken over politics.

In recent weeks, Sanders has been a forceful critic of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers for the U.S., Canada and Asian countries conducting commerce with each other.

“One of the key reasons why the middle class in America continues to decline and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider is because of disastrous trade agreements which have sent millions of decent-paying jobs to China and other low-wage countries,” Sanders said.

He has called for universal health care, a massive infrastructure jobs and building program and a more progressive tax structure.

(AP)

Israel’s Arab community on Tuesday, 9 Iyar declared a general strike and a day of protest. The leaders of the community decided on the move in response to government action against illegal Arab sector construction in the Galil and Negev. For a first time, the Israeli Arab community has decided to protest at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Schools and businesses are closed to permit the community to take part in the day of protest.

While the Israeli Arab community has protested in the past against the demolition of illegal buildings, those protests were held in their respective communities but this time they are moving to Tel Aviv in the hope of increasing awareness to the situation.

The Arab Monitoring Committee calls on the government to retroactively give housing permits, explaining every citizen is entitled to have a roof over his head, calling this an “elementary right”.

The Rabin Square protest is going to be attended by Israeli and Arab MKs, community notables and leaders.

The head of the Joint Arab List, MK Ayman Udeh points out 40 communities in the Negev are “unrecognized”. He adds there are about 1,000 Jewish communities from the Galil to the Triangle (Nachal I’ron/Wadi Ara area) but not a single Arab community. He explains that this does not take the destruction of 450 Arab communities in 1948 into consideration. Since then he explains, the Arabs have been compelled to move to nearby communities and live in overcrowding and unacceptable conditions. Udeh adds that while there are some plans in place, there is an immediate need for a solution while the government plans address the distant future.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Baltimore was a city on edge Tuesday as hundreds of National Guardsmen patrolled the streets against unrest for the first time since 1968, hoping to prevent another outbreak of rioting.

Maryland’s governor said 2,000 Guardsmen and 1,000 law officers would be in place overnight to try to head off a repeat of the racially charged violence that erupted Monday in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods and sent a shudder through all of Baltimore.

“This combined force will not tolerate violence or looting,” Gov. Larry Hogan warned.

In a measure of how tense things were, the city was under a 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. emergency curfew. All public schools were closed. And the Baltimore Orioles canceled Tuesday night’s game at Camden Yards and — in what may be a first in baseball’s 145-year history — announced that Wednesday’s game will be closed to the public.

The streets were largely calm all day and into the evening, with only a few scattered arrests. The real test was expected after dark, when the curfew was set to take effect.

The looting, arson and rock- and bottle-throwing by mostly black rioters broke out just hours after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who suffered a fatal spinal cord injury while in police custody. It was the worst such violence in the U.S. since the unrest that erupted last year over the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed black 18-year-old shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

Political leaders and residents called the violence a tragedy for the city and lamented the damage done by the rioters to their own neighborhoods.

“The same community they say they care about, they’re destroying. You can’t have it both ways,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said: “I had officers come up to me and say, ‘I was born and raised in this city. This makes me cry.’”

But the rioting also brought out a sense of civic pride and responsibility in many Baltimore residents, with hundreds of volunteers turning out to sweep the streets of glass and other debris with brooms and trash bags donated by hardware stores.

Blanca Tapahuasco brought her three sons, ages 2 to 8, from another part of the city to help clean up the brick-and-pavement courtyard outside a looted CVS pharmacy in the hard-hit neighborhood where Gray was arrested.

“We’re helping the neighborhood build back up,” she said. “This is an encouragement to them to know the rest of the city is not just looking on and wondering what to do.”

CVS store manager Haywood McMorris said the destruction didn’t make sense: “We work here, man. This is where we stand, and this is where people actually make a living.”

All day, police fielded rumors of would-be rioters gathering at various places in and around Baltimore.

As evening fell, police with riot shields lined up shoulder to shoulder across West North Avenue and kept close watch on a chanting crowd of about 1,000 people at the corner where some of the worst violence took place the night before. The gathering resembled a street festival, with musicians playing in the intersection.

Separately, several hundred demonstrators marched through the streets toward downtown Baltimore as the curfew drew near.

The crisis marks the first time the National Guard has been called out to deal with unrest in Baltimore since 1968, when some of the same neighborhoods that rose up this week burned for days after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At least six people died then, and some neighborhoods still bear the scars.

Jascy Jones of Baltimore said the sight of National Guardsmen on the street gave her a “very eerie feeling.”

“It brought a tear to my eye. Seeing it doesn’t feel like the city that I love,” she said. “I am glad they’re here, but it’s hard to watch.”

At the White House, President Barack Obama called the deaths of several black men around the country at the hands of police “a slow-rolling crisis.” But he added that there was “no excuse” for the violence in Baltimore, and said the rioters should be treated as criminals.

“They aren’t protesting. They aren’t making a statement. They’re stealing,” Obama said.

The rioting started in West Baltimore on Monday afternoon and by midnight had spread to East Baltimore and neighborhoods close to downtown and near the baseball stadium.

At least 20 officers were hurt, one person was critically injured in a fire, more than 200 adults and 34 juveniles were arrested, and nearly 150 cars were burned, police said. The governor had no immediate estimate of the damage.

With the city bracing for more trouble, several colleges closed early Tuesday, including Loyola University Maryland, Johns Hopkins University and Towson University.

The violence set off soul-searching among community leaders and others, with some suggesting the uprising was about more than race or the police department — it was about high unemployment, high crime, poor housing, broken-down schools and lack of opportunity in Baltimore’s inner-city neighborhoods.

The city of 622,000 is 63 percent black. The mayor, state’s attorney, police chief and City Council president are black, as is 48 percent of the police force.

“You look around and see unemployment. Filling out job applications and being turned down because of where you live and your demographic. It’s so much bigger than the police department,” said Robert Stokes, 36, holding a broom and a dustpan on a corner where some of the looting and vandalism took place.

He added: “This place is a powder keg waiting to explode.”

In the aftermath of the riots, state and local authorities found themselves facing questions about whether their initial response had been adequate.

Batts, the police commissioner, said police did not move in faster because those involved in the early stages were just “kids” — teenagers who had just been let out of school.

“Do you want people using force on 14- 15- and 16-year-old kids that are out there?” he asked. “They’re old enough to know better. But they’re still kids. And so we had to take that into account while we were out there.”

The mayor waited hours to ask the governor to declare a state of emergency, and the governor hinted she should have come to him earlier.

“We were trying to get in touch with the mayor for quite some time,” Hogan said. “She finally made that call, and we immediately took action.”

Rawlings-Blake said officials initially thought they had the unrest under control.

Gray was arrested April 12 after running away at the sight of police, authorities said. He was held down, handcuffed and loaded into a police van. Leg cuffs were put on him when he became irate inside. He died a week later.

Authorities said they are still investigating how and when he suffered the spinal injury — during the arrest or while he was in the van, where authorities say he was riding without being belted in, a violation of department policy.

Six officers have been suspended with pay in the meantime.

(AP)

Three military policemen arrived at the home of Rosh Yeshivas Mishkan Moshe of Yerushalayim to arrest him as he is listed as AWOL (Absent without Official Leave) from IDF service. The arrest was made earlier this week.

The rebitzen told the media police arrived at 12:20 in civilian garb. They instructed her husband to come with them and that he is under arrest for failing to report for military service.

Military police were in his home about two months ago, but he was not at home. The rosh yeshiva hired an attorney following that earlier visit to probe the situation. He explains he was never summoned for military service but IDF records indicate he received numerous notices, all of which were ignored. The rebitzen adds that her husband requested pushing off military service a number of times and to the best of their knowledge he is categorized as one studying Torah fulltime. She adds that following the earlier visit two months earlier, he was going to go to an induction center but she was about to give birth.

At present, the rav is in IDF Prison 4. Askanim and chareidi MKs are working to obtain his release.

The parents have six children, the youngest being a month old.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Celebrity real estate developer Donald Trump is blaming President Barack Obama for the unrest in Baltimore.

Trump, a frequent Obama critic, ripped the president on Twitter early Tuesday.

He wrote: “Our great African American president hasn’t exactly had a positive impact on the thugs who are happily and openly destroying Baltimore.”

Trump also criticized the Baltimore police and the city’s mayor.

Riots erupted in the Maryland city Monday after the funeral of Freddie Gray. The unarmed man died after suffering a spinal cord injury while in police custody.

Trump has frequently hinted at running for president and is doing so again this year.

He has never followed through with an actual candidacy.

A request to Trump for comment was not immediately returned.

(AP)