Selected articles concerning , published weekly by Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim’s (Baltimore) Israel Action Committee Edited by Jerry Appelbaum ( [email protected] ) | Founding editor: Sheldon J. Berman Z”L

Issue 8 6 1 Volume 20 , Number 40 Parshias Lech Lecha October 31 , 20 20

A PLO Leader Enjoys the Lifesaving Medical Treatment He Would Deny His Fellow By David Horovitz timesofisrael.com October 21, 2020 Saeb Erekat at Hadassah. for plunging a “poison dagger” into the heart of the An early Palestinian advocate of talks with Israel on a Palestinian cause. two - state solution, Saeb Erekat over the years has also Infuriated by Netanyahu’s annexation plans, the proved himself a formidable and sometimes malevolent Palestinian leadership has severed most dealings with adversary. Israel, to the direct detriment of its people, notably At the height of the in April 2002, refusing t o accept the tax revenues that Israel collects on when the IDF entere d the Jenin refugee camp from which the PA’s behalf for Palestinian imports and exports. Most waves of Palestinian suicide bombers were being relevantly in Erekat’s case, the PA also canceled the dispatched to target , Erekat was at the forefront of arrangements by which Palestinians needing medical an extraordinarily potent misinformation campaign that treatment not available in PA areas can be transferred to claimed Israel’s soldiers had killed hundreds of Palest inian Israeli hospitals. civilians there, massacring them in cold blood and burying These measures have not been reversed even though them in mass graves. In fact, 50 - 55 Palestinians, most of annexation is now indefinitely off the table; Israel and the them armed gunmen, and 23 Israeli soldiers lost their lives UN, however, have formulated a mechanism, outflanking in bitter fighting. The horrific false allegations the PA, by which Palestinian patients are again being disseminated by Erekat and his colleagues were given wide tra nsferred to Israeli hospitals. credibility and immense coverage in much of the Just one more thing: The PA in early summer refused international media; in Britain, for instance, where those to take delivery of two planeloads with tons of medical allegations made front - page news and were quoted in supplies from the UAE to help in the battle against Parliament, Israel’s image, already long under assault, has COVID - 19 — including protective equipment and n ever quite recovered. ventilators — becau se the cargo was flown into Israel’s Weeks later, I remember watching the articulate, Ben Gurion Airport. This, incidentally, was months before passionate Erekat describing live on CNN how Israeli the UAE announced it was establishing relations with troops were in the process of storming and burning the Israel… Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Erekat wasn’t there; As I write, Saeb Erekat, 65, is on life support at he was speaking fro m his hometown of . The ’s in Ein Kerem, incendiary claim, again, was both false and immensely suffering from COVID - 19. Treating him, the hospital has damaging to Israel. said, is extremely complicated because he has a history of Palestinian Authority President , medical problems, including undergoing a lung transplant right, signs a request to join 15 United Nations - linked and in 2017. The hospital said it has been reaching out to other international treaties at his headquar ters in the West international experts for in put. Bank city of on April 1, 2014. Standing next to Erekat was taken to Hadassah, the PLO’s him is Saeb Erekat. (Issam Rimawi/Flash90) Negotiations Department said, because his condition But PLO secretary - general Erekat has not only shown required “special medical attention and supervision.” himself to be a malicious anti - Israel propagandist; he has “Mr. Erekat is receiving top - notch professional care also served as Palestinian A uthority President Mahmoud like all serious coronavirus patients at Hadassah,” Zeev Abbas’s righthand man in pursuing a strategy profoundly Rothstein, the hospital’s director, said on Sunday. “And damaging to his own people’s cause. Avowedly seeking the staff will do everything to assist his recovery.” Palestinian statehood, he and his boss nonetheless brushed There’s a whole world of tragedies, ironies, hypoc risies aside prime minister ’s 2008 peace offer; so foul and blatant they really don’t need spelling out, and, stayed a way from talks for nine of 10 months when US potentially, lessons in this story — about what genuine president Barack Obama persuaded Prime Minister coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians could to halt all new settlement building; achieve, about failed leadership, about what ultimately and oversaw a diplomatic lawfare campaign designed to matters most to us a ll. damage Israel’s standing in every conceivable interna tional I truly hope Saeb Erekat will live to internalize and forum. Most recently, they preemptively rejected the benefit from some of those lessons. What is certain is that Trump administration’s peace proposal, declined to a leading hospital in the State of Israel is doing everything reengage when the United Arab Emirates obtained the in its power to give him that opportunity. Of course it is. suspension of Netanyahu’s proposal to annex up to 30 “At Hadassah,” s aid Rothstein, “we treat every patient as if percent of the , and instead ca stigated the UAE he were our only patient.” Focus o n Israel October 31, 2020 Page 2

The BBC’s Hostility toward Israel Will Be Hard to Root Out By Melanie Phillips jns.org October 15, 2020 Glorifying the woman behind the Sbarro bombing. activities by both Tamim i and her husband, and presented In recent weeks, there have be en indications that the them as victims of censorship and the Americans. British government intends to try to bring the BBC to A few days previously, a Jordanian radio host had heel. reportedly cut her off while she was making an on - air plea The prime minister, Boris Johnson, is responding to to King Abdullah II to let her husband back into . public irritation with what is seen as the BBC’s left - wing The BBC program concluded with a video of Ahlam group - think over a range of issues ranging from Brexit to Tamimi addressing the king for a second time, enabling Bla ck Lives Matter and from conservatism to Greta her to make the plea which Jordanian radio had censored. Thunberg. The media watchdog CAMERA UK has observed that He believes that the BBC no longer reflects the lives the program made no criticism of either of the Tamimis. and attitudes of ordinary people in “middle Britain,” but N one of those who were murdered in Ahlam Tamimi’s amplifies instead the “wokeish” worldview of the terror attack was mentioned. The item said she was merely intellectual and administrative classe s. I regularly appear on “accused of involvement” in the Jerusalem bombing the BBC, but only as the representative of a conservative (despite her own public admission of the crime) and failed viewpoint to provide what producers consider to be to mention the reason for her husband’s imprisonment at “balance.” But the left - wing mindset is so pervasive it all. overwhelms any such voices. The true wickedness of the Tamimi item is that it was Now the prime minister reportedly inte nds to install as broadcast on the BBC’s service. The BBC’s the BBC’s chairman someone who is prepared to challenge foreign - language services have a global reputation for its embedded leftism. broadcasting supposedly factual, trustworthy information If it’s doubtful whether this as yet unknown individual to countries where o bjective news is in short supply. will have any degree of success, it’s vanishingly unlikely Yet this item gave a platform to a heinous terrorist to that it will change the BBC’s appalling treat ment of Israel. spout her propaganda, thus confirming the lies about Israel For years, it has presented Israel in the most distorted and the West that incite the Arab world to hatred and way, portraying it falsely as the rogue state in the region violence. More specifically, it added to the mytholo gy while downplaying or ignoring the attacks on Israelis and around her in Jordan which, despite its peace agreement the incitement and anti - Semitism that are daily features of with Israel, has a population consumed by hatred of Israel Pales tinian Arab life. and the Jews and for whom the murderous Tamimi is a The most recent example of this BBC mindset rock star. concerns a Jordanian - born Palestinian terrorist, Ahlam This is hardly an isolated example. CAMERA UK, Tamimi. In August 2001, she handed a guitar case filled which focuses closely on the BBC’s anti - Israel bias, reports with explosives to an accomplice who detonated it in the that since the beginning of the year the BBC News website Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusal em, murdering 15 people, seven covered only 5.3 percent of the terror attacks which took of them children, and wounded more than 130. place against Israelis. In six of the first nine months, Tamimi has repeatedly gloated over what she did. She during which period there were 656 terror attacks against was given 16 life sentences, but was released in a prisoner Israelis, the BBC reported on none of them. swap after only 10 years. Since then, she has lived in CAMERA UK also observed how the BBC framed Jordan, wher e she hosts a talk show on the - the Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel in the affiliated Al - Quds TV. most negative light. An edition of World Service radio’s Her husband, Nizar Tamimi, is himself a terrorist who flagship news and current affairs program Newshour participated in the murder of Israeli civilian Chaim Mizrahi downplayed this deal, said it hadn’t moved the dial at all on in 1993 and who was forced by the Jordanian authorities Israel “keeping millions of Palestinians under occupation,” to leave Jordan for . and allowed a Palestinian spokesman to make baseless The wants Ahlam Tamimi to stand trial accusations about the “occupation” and “siege in Gaza” on fed eral terrorism charges in Washington. It has without challenge. repeatedly but unsuccessfully pressed Jordan to honor the Last m onth, the Jewish Chronicle reported that the extradition treaty signed between the Clinton City of David organization had complained to BBC administration and the current king’s father, King Hussein. executives about Rosie Garthwaite, a senior BBC producer Last week, BBC Arabic TV broadcast an item whic h working on a new documentary about Israeli activities in sympathetically presented the story Tamimi wanted to tell eastern Jerusalem. Its vice president wrote she had about herself. “repeatedly presented us with one - sided and inaccurate This six - minute item , titled: “Ahlam Tamimi, your statements” and that the program “intends to vilify Israel, voice is loud and clear,” was framed as a sentimental Jewish history and Jewish charities and present a number human interest story which whitewashed the murderous of false and misleading claims.” Page 3 October 31, 2020 Focus on Israel

The paper also discovered that Garthwaite admit ted comes to Israel, the issue is not BBC bias. It is BBC sharing “inaccurate” pro - Palestinian propaganda on social incitement to baseless hatred. media and had shared several other false or controversial The BBC is regarded around the world as a byword claims about Israel, including attacking “British duplicity” for objectivity and accuracy. That’s why its departure from over the signing of the Balfour Declaration, wrongly those ideals is so pernicious. suggesting Gaza’s “one ” border was controlled by Israel Perhaps the most chilling thing about it, though, is and retweeting an article from Middle East Eye describing this. BBC executives are genuinely, painfully aware of the the troublemaker Ahed Tamimi as an “icon for Palestinian news outlet’s unique power and reach, and of their duty resistance.” under its founding charter to uphold objectivity and These are but a tiny sample of the BBC’s fairness and hold the line for the middle ground. institutionalized hostility towards Israel. For years , it has But they are simply unable to process the fact that uncritically recycled Palestinian propaganda as innately they view Israel, among other issues, through a profoundly credible and true, while treating demonstrably factual distorting ideological prism. And that’s because they Israeli statements as mendacious propaganda. believe implac ably that the positions they hold are It systematically downplays or disregards Palestinian unarguably objective and fair, that they do represent the attacks on Israelis and generally tr eats any eruption of middle ground, and that therefore by definition those who violence as a story which only “kicks off” (as one BBC claim the BBC is biased are themselves extremists and can reporter said gleefully during an escalation of hostilities) be safely disregarded. when Israel retaliates with force. Israeli victimization is In other words, BBC g roup - think is a hermetically - simply not seen as a story at all. sealed thought system. Which is why, if whoever takes When Israel is forced to defend itself, the BBC over at the top wants to restore the once iconic BBC to frequently portrays its armed forces — the most ethical and elementary standards of objectivity, fairness and decency, human rights - obsessed military in the world — as they will have their work cut out for them. monstrous child - killers and aggressive destroyers. Ms. Ph illips, a British journalist, broadcaster and author, writes a The immediate and demonstrable effect on the British weekly column for JNS. Currently a columnist for “ of population is hatred of Israel and a spike in attacks on ,” her personal and political memoir, “Guardian Angel,” British Jews. It is no exaggeration to say that when it to has been published by Bombardier .

Sudan’s Long Road to Peace with Israel By Amnon Lord israelhayom.com October 25, 2020 There were many overtures of friendship before last well. The successful strikes nudged the Sudanes e more week’s historic announcement. toward the American - Saudi axis; and made it obvious to its Haim Koren , Israel's former ambassador to Egypt and rulers that their alliance with global terror – chiefly with South Sudan, said the current normalization with Sudan Iran – was ruining them. Sudan was an important base of closes a 64 - year - old circle. "Sudan received its operations for al - Qaida, and the Sudanese government independence in 1956. At that time, the Mahdi party even armed al - Qaida terrorists with diplomatic passports. wanted to forge ties with Israel, but the Nasser regime, The sea - change in this regard is absolute. Sudan, where an f ollowing the nationalization of the Suez Canal, was at its American ambassador was murdered in 1973 under orders apex, and Sudan wavered on whether or not to join the from , and where notorious terrorists Carlos wave of Nasser's pan - Arabism. the Jackal and Osama Bin - Laded found refuge, is now The Egyptian leader's charisma and influence in the changing its colors. Arab world swayed Sudan's leaders to opt for pan - The word "Sudan" means "black" in Arabic (bilad as - Arabism. Sud an joined the . It became an sudan means "Land of the Blacks"). Over hundreds of integral part of the Nasserite movement, the height of years, Sudan was infiltrated by Islam. Essentially, all of which came at the infamous Khartoum Conference of East Africa used to be called "Cush," which is traditionally September 1967 and the "Three Nos" resolution. consid ered the eponymous ancestor of the people of the As an ally of Egypt, Sudan partook in the War of "land of Cush," an ancient territory that is believed to have Attrition and Y om Kippur War, when it sent a brigade to been located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. the Egyptian front. One of the commanders of this As the centuries passed, three main population groups brigade was an officer by the name of Omar al - Bashir, the formed. Islam, in its flexibility , joined two of these groups recently deposed dictator of Sudan. together. Koren says that beyond their military significance, the One group was the Arab Muslims in the fertile, strategic airst rikes in 2009 and 2012 – which foreign wealthy northern part of Sudan, and the other was the reports attributed to Israel and which destroyed a terror Africans who were converted to Islam but to this day pass base and weapons convoy earmarked for the Gaza Strip on the harsh memories of the days they were hunted by via the Sinai Peninsula – were diplomatically important as slav e traders. Another group, in the southern part of F ocus o n Israel October 31, 2020 Pa ge 4

Sudan, consists of black Christians who essentially formed efforts to topple moderate Arab regimes. This period of the bridgehead for relations with Israel during the time was disastrous for Sudan. "Bashir's successors, [Abdel premiership of . Fattah] al - Burhan and [Abdalla] Hamdok, who seized The relations that developed at that time formed power followin g the protests that ousted [al - Bashir], complexities that a re difficult to comprehend. On one essentially followed a path he had set," according to hand, Israel sent agents led by David Ben Uziel Koren. "Bashir understood his situation was increasingly ("Tarzan") to help the Christians in South Sudan defend precarious, and the matter of establishing relations with themselves against genocidal campaigns. Jaafar Nimeiri, Israel was part of the answer to this decline." who recognized the autonomy of South Sudan in the earl y As early as three or four years ago, voices began 1970s, permitted Ethiopian Jews to immigrate to Israel emerging and articles began being written in favor of more than a decade later. He was also the only one in the relations with Israel. The important point is that Arab Arab world who supported former Egyptian President nationalism, followed by the period of Islamism, didn't Anwar Sadat when he made peace with Israel. Under inculcate the Sudanese population with a hatred of Israel, Nimeiri's leadership of Sudan, however, an Islamist leader contrary to countries in the Arab world. Egyptian society, named Hassan al - Turabi rose to prominence. Al - Turabi to this day, is imbued with a deep, venomous anti - pushed Sudan toward Islamism and an alliance with Iran Semitism. immediately after the Khomenei - led Islamic Revolution in Swinging a gigantic, vast country (population of 42 1979. million) such as Sudan, which sits on the Red Sea, is an "Turabi was among those who celebrated Sadat's extreme ly significant geopolitical move. The new Middle murder, and his people later tried assassinating [former East is bustling with realignment in the face of Turkey's Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak," Koren said, noting Ottoman ambitions and Iranian imperialism. For the first that a "process of Islamist radicalism had begun." This was time, it appears the forces predicated on militaristic anti - the world of al - Bashir and al - Turabi up until 2011. They Israel ideology are becoming iso lated. had a hand – beyond acts of genocide inside Sudan – in

The Israel - Sudan Deal Is a Blow to Both Hamas and Iran By Yoav Limor israelhayom.com October 25, 2020 And another dent in Arab and Muslim opposition to Secondly, from an Arab - Muslim standpoint, the the Jewish state. accord means another dent has been made in the wall of The main achievement entailed in the peace treaty opposition Israel faces in the Arab world. Sudan, where in between Israel and Sudan is not bilateral, rather regional: 1967 the Arab League infamously declared it's Three Nos another country has left the cycle of conflict and ceases to policy – no to recognizing Israel, no to negotiating with it, serve as a hotbed of anti - Israel political and security and no to peace with Israel – has now become the fifth activity. Arab nation to recognize Israel, and by doing so it has Unlike the p eace deals with the United Arab Emirates further chipped at the notion that any progress between and Bahrain, the treaty with Sudan has little to offer from the Arab world and Israel is inex tricably linked to the an economic standpoint. Sudan has nothing to export to Palestinian issue. Israel, and given the state of Khartoum's coffers, it is And last – but by no means least – is the security issue. doubtful whether it can import much from th e relatively It is not for nothing that Sudan was included in the US in expensive goods Israel has to offer. the list of state sponsors of terrorism – there are more There is no doubt that some business deals are on the than a few terrorist groups that call Su dan home, and horizon, mostly involving Israeli technologies in the fields Khartoum maintains close ties with Iran. of water, agriculture and food, and they will help bring Iranian ships regularly docked at Port Sudan, en route Sudan into the 21st century, but o verall trade between the to delivering anything from rockets and mortars to anti - two countries is likely to remain small - scale. tank missiles, explosives and weapons to in The peace deal with Sudan, however, offers Israel Lebanon and Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza three equally important boons: First, diplomatically Strip. speaking, it means another country previously hostile to According to foreign media repor ts, Israel has, on Israel now recognizes it and establishes full diplomatic and several occasions, thwarted these smuggling efforts, mostly trade ties with it. by eliminating these deliveries at sea. This goes beyond having declarative importance, and This activity has significantly reduced the scope of this means one less country will vote against Israel in in terrorism emanating from Sudan, but now it seems that international organizations and forums, and will no longer the new agreement will make it possible to further tighten join efforts impose boycotts or sanctions on the Jewish control over any terrorist activity on Sudanese soil. state. Page 5 October 31, 2020 Focus on Israel

This deals a significant blow to terrorist organizations, Behind the scenes a diplomatic battle is being waged and especially to their chief patron, Iran, which is no doubt for Qatar's allegiances: The US and Israel are trying to concerned about the growing number of smuggling route s mediate rapprochement between Qatar a nd Saudi Arabia being cordoned off, as well as the growing number of in an effort to pull away from the radical Islamist Muslim countries that are choosing to seek peace with axis, headed by Turkey. Israel. If these efforts prove effective the radical states will Tehran will undoubtedly carve out new smuggling become more isolated than ever and the Middle East will routes to keep assisting its proxies in Lebanon and Gaza, be very clearly divided between the "good guys " and the and the ayatollahs will certainly do what they can to "bad" ones. pressure Arab leaders against following in the footsteps of V isi t suburbanorthodox.org for the current is sue. the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan.

The Syrian peace mirage posted by the Washington Times By Moshe Phillips israelnationalnews.com October 28, 2020 Peace with Syria is a suicidal fantasy - the war The al - Huwaytat tribe is a large tribe that made up t he torn country is unstable, and would insist on Israel Hashemite army of the Sharif of Mecca, which marched giving up the Golan Heights . on Damascus during the great Arab revolt of Lawrence of A new government in Jordan was sworn in on Arabia in World War I. After their expulsion from Mecca October 12, 2020, and the significance of the government and the Hijaz pr ovince by the Saudis, they established the change deserves attention. The new prime minister, Dr. Kingdom of Jordan with the he lp of Great Britain. Today, Bisher Khasawneh, who was most recently the king’s the members of the tribe in Jordan are worried about the political adviser, has reportedly held exte nsive talks with fate of their brothers in the Hijaz, provoking discontent in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the past Jordan. It is therefore assumed that i n the framework of an six months and was scheduled to meet with Abu Dhabi’s expected rapprochement between Jordan and Saudi Crown Prince. It was also reported that he has a very close Ar abia, the matter of the Saudi al - Huwaytat tribe will also connection to , President Trump’s Middle be resolved through appropriate compensation. East Peace Plan ar chitect, as well as special ties to Egyptian The al - Huwaytat issue may have an impact on Jordan’s President al - Sisi. The implication: the new government policy regarding Jerusalem. The new Jordanian could be an integral part of the Trump Peace Initiative. government appears to have less focus on the city. Un like Until now, Jordan was reluc tant or even hostile to Trump’s the previous government, there is no minister with the Plan and worked to improve its relations with the Jerusalem portfolio, according to Jerusalem sources. When Palestinian Authority, emphasizing the coordination with comparing the composition of the new government with the Palestinians on issues related to Jerusalem. the previous one, the last one had a minister who was a Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to President Trump, Jerusalemite; there is none n ow. meeting with Jorda n’s King Abdullah on May 29, 2019. In presenting his government, Prime Minister American officials are on the left. J ordanian officials, Khasawneh laid out 12 planks for his government’s including then - senior advisor Bisher Khasawneh, are on platform.3 The Palestinian issue and the “Hashemite the right. (King Abdullah II’s official website)2 Custodianship of Jerusalem’s Isla mic and Christian holy However, there is a dramatic event, not even taking sites” were only the eleventh item. His message w as that place i n Jordan, that may ultimately influence the possible Jordan now prefers economic programs to “enhance rapprochement betwe en Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The economic resilience and combating poverty and Saudi government began the evacuation of an estimated unemployment” over political activism. 20,000 of the al - Huwaytat tribe from ancestral territory These are the first signs. It remains to b e seen how along the Red Sea coast in the Hijaz prov ince to construct things develop. NEOM, planned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Mr. Inbari , a veteran Arab affairs correspo ndent formerly reported Salma n, an ambitious development for high technology, a for Israel Radio and Al Hamishmar newspaper, and now serves as future city, and a tourism center for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, an analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. and Jordan. Human rights advocates claim the evacuation so far has been ab usive and violent.

Can Israel Make Peace with Qatar? By Kobi Michael and Yoel Guzansky inss.org.il October 1, 2020 A problematic partner — that exports anti - Western conflict betwe en these Arab states and Qatar. The seeds of and anti - Semitic propaganda — already cooperates the crisis between the Arab Quartet – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, with both Jerusalem and Washington. Bahrain, and the UAE – lie in the 1995 seizure of power in The normalization process between Israel and the Qatar by Hamad al - Khalifa from his father, and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is not isolated from the establishment a year later of the al - Jazee ra network, the Focus o n Israel October 31, 2020 Page 6 mouthpiece of independent Qatari policy. Qatar sought to persuade Doha to reduce its support for the Palestinians, balance its fears of Iran and its wish to limit Saudi which it recently increased. However, a relaxation of the domination of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Since tension between it and its neighbors will not necessarily then there have been reports of Saudi attempts to bring convince Doha to give up the considerable influence it about a coup in Q atar. The Saudis are also openly fostering has, not o nly over Hamas but also over the Palestinian opposition to the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim. Last June, Authority. the Qatari Foreign Minister accused the “siege states” of Qatar’s involvement in the Palestinian arena is an attempting to foment revolution in Qatar. He mentioned a important item in the Qatari toolbox to establish its status disinformation campaign on a mont h earlier, as an influential and essential regional player. Qatar, a small which reported a coup attempt in the Qatari royal house. but rich emirate that fe els threatened by its Gulf In the Abraham Accords, apart from the UAE’s wish to neighbors, sees its regional status as an insurance policy for improve its image in the US Congress and its access to its existence in the area. Consolidating its regional status advanced American weaponry, Abu Dhabi is striving to gains it importance in the eyes of significant regional score points with the Unite d States administration players like Israel, but no less important, to ma intain its regarding its conflict with Qatar and to strengthen its essential closeness to the United States. However, this in status and influence in the regional and international turn exacerbates the tension and strategic competition with arenas. Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Thus in addition to its efforts The closer ties between the UAE and Israel also allow in the Palestinian arena, Qatar is careful to nurture its links the Emirates to increase their influence in the Palestinian with Turkey and Iran, and in effect to operate in all camps territories at Qatar’s expense, even if not in the short term. in order to diversify its leverage. At the same time, Qatar Unlike Qatar, the UAE currently lacks leverage in the understands the necessity of links with the United States Palestinian arena because it considers Hamas, an offshoot and the importance of its support, particularly when it is of the , an enemy. In addition, the the object of a regiona l boycott. Although it has managed Palestinian Authority lead ership is removed from the to overcome many of the restrictions of the boycott with UAE, mainly due to its support for , a Iranian and Turkish help, it is eager to have the boycott rival of Mahmoud Abbas for leadership of the PA. This lifted and to return to the GCC. issue was part of the well - orchestrated Qatari media Even if the United States manages to persuade Abu campaign strongly criticizing the normalization with Israel, Dhabi and Riyadh to lif t the boycott of Qatar and ensure which e ven attacked the acting ruler of the Emirates, that Qatar joins the Abraham Accords framework and Mohammed Ben Zayed, accusing him of neglecting the later normalizes relations with Israel, this will probably not Palestinians. However, officially Qatar maintained its room signal the end of the tension between Qatar and the UAE, to maneuver by refraining from official criticism of the which has already signed a normalization agreement with normalization process in itself, and even recently expressed Israel, and as a result Israel could face a complex challenge support for President Trump's peace plan, while declaring over how it conducts its relations with each of these that it would not normalize relations with Israel until there countries. This complexity would be most prominently was a settlement with the Palestinians, and that it expressed in the Palestinian arena. supported the Arab Peace Initiate as the basis for a Israel has a clear interest in thawing relatio ns with the solution of the conflict. Gulf states, mainly because this will drive a wedge between For Israel, Qatar is a pipeline for transmitting Turkey and Qatar – in effect breaking the Muslim messages to Hamas and sending essential humanitarian aid Brotherhood axis. It would also weaken Turkey's influence to Gaza, which lessens the risk of further outbursts of in the Gulf arena, damage Ankara’s regional standing, and fighting in this arena. Therefore Israel has a clear interest limit the financial assistance flowing from Qatar to Turkey in the continuati on of this aid, despite its own tension with and thence to the Muslim Brotherhood. As long as Qatar Qatar, and the tension between Qatar and its neighbors in chooses an alliance with Turkey, the Israeli interest must the Gulf. For the United States, a thawing of relations be to limit its role and influence in the Palestinian arena, between the Gulf states would be an achievement, for the and demonstrate a clear preference for t he influence of the administration and for President Trump p ersonally, as the UAE. It is an open question as to whether the UAE not implementation of the clear interest in establishing a only has the tools and the influence but also the desire to strong Gulf coalition against Iran – and with Israel’s invest considerable resources in the Gaza Strip. cooperation. Recent reports have cited an official Qatari request to Reaching a dual agreement of this nature – between purchase the F - 35 from the United States. This in part the Quartet and Qatar, and between Qatar and Israel – is reflects Doha’s competition with the UAE, but might also certain ly not easy given the tension, if not longstanding signal to the US administration its willingness to normalize hostility, between Doha and Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. ties with Israel – though in opposite order from the UAE Therefore, even if the states reach a compromise, it could process. A development of this sort would b e an additional be temporary and on paper only. Another hurdle involves challenge to Israel’s critical qualitative military edge (QME) the personal enmity between the leaders, and the need to and accelerate the regional arms race. This poses a serious Page 7 October 31, 2020 Focus on Israel dilemma for Israel, as opposition to the sale might impede Authority and in the West Bank, and also because of the prospects for normalization. The US as well faces a its declared support for their bitter enemy Mohammed di lemma, as sale of the F - 35 to Qatar, along with Da hlan, it will not be able to step into Qatar’s shoes in the heightened security coordination with Doha and granting foreseeable future. In this situation, Israel will need the it the status of a major non - NATO ally, might erode mediation services of Qatar, and Qatar will continue to Israel’s QME and harm the relations between Washington leverage this need to establish its regional position. and Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Israel must be prep ared for Israel’s continuing relia nce on Qatar as its preferred close coordination with the US administration in efforts to broker in the Palestinian arena, together with the ongoing address this dilemma and prevent the UAE precedent hostility and strategic competition between Qatar and the from recurring with Qatar. United Arab Emirates, even if the Gulf boycott is lifted, Qatar’s ongoing influence in the Palestinian arena will put Israel in a difficult position with the UA E. Against ultimately means bolstering the more radical wing of its will and due to circumstances, Israel could find itself Hamas under the leadership of and Saleh caught in the struggle between Abu Dhabi and Doha, al - Arouri and maintaining Turkey’s status and influence. affecting its relations with them. An escape from this Strengthening Haniyeh and al - Arouri and their ambitions conundrum involves an Israeli move, with regional and US to lead Hamas to control of the whole Palestinian arena backing, that leads to renewal of the talks and bilateral (and they are also in competition wit h each other) will links with the Palestinian Authority on one hand, and cause increasing difficulty for Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. This significant progress toward implementation of an could translate into deliberate escalation, ending in a arrangement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip on the other widespread military campaign in Gaza, with its various hand, in a way that makes the Qatari mediation efforts ramifications. These include an Israeli effort to deliver a superflu ous. Eliminating or at least limiting Qatari mortal blow to Hamas’s military infrastructures, leading to involvement will weaken the radical axis in Hamas, allow the collapse of Hamas rule and creating a vacuum that Sinwar to determine the local agenda in the Strip, and push would have to be filled by Israel, in the absence of other Turkey out of the arena. It is not impossible that limiting reasonable options. Qatari influence in the West Bank will also weaken Jibril On the other hand, due to the weakened status of the Rajoub and his camp, and thus help to moderate the UAE among the Pal estinians, whether because of its tribalism and rivalries in the ranks of Fatah and establish a unpopularity in Gaza or because of the disgust and consensus with regard to Palestinian leadership on the day suspicion it arouses among the leaders of the Palestinian after Abu Mazen.

A PLO Leader Enjoys the Lifesaving Medical Treatment He Would Deny His Fellow Palestinians By David Horovitz timesofisrael.com October 21, 2020 Saeb Erekat at Hadassah. he was speaking from his hometown of Jericho. The An early Palestinian advocate of talks with Israel on a incendiary claim, again, was both false and immensely two - state solution, Saeb Erekat over the years has also damaging to Israel. proved himself a f ormidable and sometimes malevolent Palestinian Authority President Ma hmoud Abbas, adversary. right, signs a request to join 15 United Nations - linked and At the height of the Second Intifada in April 2002, other international treaties at his headquarters in the West when the IDF entered the Jenin refugee camp from which Bank city of Ramallah on April 1, 2014. Standing next to waves of Palestinian suicide bombers were being him is Saeb Erekat. (Issam Rimawi/Flash90) dispatched to target Israelis, Erekat was at the forefr ont of But PLO secretary - gene ral Erekat has not only shown an extraordinarily potent misinformation campaign that himself to be a malicious anti - Israel propagandist; he has claimed Israel’s soldiers had killed hundreds of Palestinian also served as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud civilians there, massacring them in cold blood and burying Abbas’s righthand man in pursuing a strategy profoundly them in mass graves. In fact, 50 - 55 Palestinians, most of damaging to his own people’s cause. Avowedly seeking them armed gunme n, and 23 Israeli soldiers lost their lives Pal estinian statehood, he and his boss nonetheless brushed in bitter fighting. The horrific false allegations aside prime minister Ehud Olmert’s 2008 peace offer; disseminated by Erekat and his colleagues were given wide stayed away from talks for nine of 10 months when US credibility and immense coverage in much of the president Barack Obama persuaded Prime Minister international media; in Britain, for instance, where th ose Benjamin Netanyahu to halt all new settlement building; allegations made front - page news and were quoted in and oversaw a diplomatic lawfare campaign designed to Parliament, Israel’s image, already long under assault, has damage Israel’s standing in every conceivable international never quite recovered. forum. Most recently, they preemptively rejected the Weeks later, I remember watching the articulate, Trump administration’s peace proposal, declined to passionate Erekat describing live on CNN how Israeli reengage when the United Ara b Emirates obtained the troops were in the process of storming and burning the suspension of Netanyahu’s proposal to annex up to 30 Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Erekat wasn’t there; percent of the West Bank, and instead castigated the UAE Focus o n Israel October 31, 2020 Page 8 for plunging a “poison dagger” into the heart of the said, is extremely complicated because he has a history of Palestinian cause. medical problems, inclu ding undergoing a lung transplant Infuriated by Netanyahu’s annexation plans, the in 2017. The hospital said it has been reaching out to Pa lestinian leadership has severed most dealings with international experts for input. Israel, to the direct detriment of its people, notably Erekat was taken to Hadassah, the PLO’s refusing to accept the tax revenues that Israel collects on Negotiations Department said, because his condition the PA’s behalf for Palestinian imports and exports. Most required “special medical attention and su pervision.” relevantly in Erekat’s case, th e PA also canceled the Zeev Rothstein, director of Hadassah Medical Center arrangements by which Palestinians needing medical (courtesy of Hadassah Medical Center) treatment not available in PA areas can be transferred to “Mr. Erekat is receiving top - notch professional care Israeli hospitals. like all serious coronavirus patients at Hadassah,” Zeev These measures have not been reversed even though Rothstein, the hospital’s director, said on Sunday. “And annexation is now indefinitely off the table; Israel an d the the staff will do everything to assist his recovery.” UN, however, have formulated a mechanism, outflanking There’s a whole world of tragedies, ironies, hypocrisies the PA, by which Palestinian patients are again being so foul and blatant they really don’t need spelling out, and, transferred to Israeli hospitals. potentially, lessons in this story — about what genuine Just one more thing: The PA in early summer refused coexistence b etween Israel and the Palestinians could to take delivery of two planeloads with tons of medical achieve, about failed leadership, about what ultimately supplies from the UAE to help in the battle against matters most to us all. COVID - 19 — including protective equipment and I truly hope Saeb Erekat will live to internalize and ventilators — because the cargo was flown into Israel’s benefit from some of those lessons. What is certain is that Ben Gurion Airport. This, incidentally, was months before a leading hospital in the State of Israel is doing everything the UAE announced it was establishing relati ons with in its power to give him that opportunity. Of course it is. Israel… “At Hadassah,” said Rothstein, “we treat every patient as if As I write, Saeb Erekat, 65, is on life support at he were our only patient.” Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem, suffering from COVID - 19. Treating him, the hospital has

Andrew Cuomo again Provokes Antipathy toward New York’s Jews By Melissa Langsam Braunstein nationalreview.com October 23, 2020 His claims about a giant ḥ a sidic wedding don’t Miami Herald, Britain’s Daily Mail, Australia’s Business withstand scrutiny . Insider or countless other outlets , you may have heard People want answers. They crave certainty amid chaos. “that upwards of 10,000 people were expected to attend” But for a year filled with tremendous upheaval and so the wedding of the Grand Rebbe’s grandson. However, much newness, there have been notably few questions — there are many questions that should have been asked — and that’s a problem. and indeed appear to have gone unasked — before Cuomo In pre - pandemic days, New Yorkers knew that publicly blasted N ew York’s Satmar Hasidic community, Governor Andrew Cuomo was an abrasive bully, and before the international media broadcast the story far intolerant of those who didn’t share his political beliefs. and wide. Yet Cuomo’s eagerness to take charge matched the To recap, on Saturday, while Orthodox Jews were moment back in March. Cuomo comforted those nervous unplugged for the Sabbath, Cuomo told the media, “We about COVID - 19 by communicating clearly at his daily received a suggestion that [an enormous wedding] w as press conferences. happening. We did an investigation and found that it was Seven months later, though, the picture is different. likely true.” It’s clear that too much power has been ceded to While some unquestioningly accept the governor’s Governor Cuomo. Not only have state legislators provided remarks, I, for one, would like to know more about this the governor with “nearly unch ecked power,” but the investigation and the related activities. media have too. Events now follow an all - too - familiar For starters, is nobody else curiou s about — or script. Consider, for example, the story surrounding the perhaps troubled by — the decision to deliver the “Section Satmar Hasidic wedding in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on 16 order prohibiting the mass gathering” on Friday Monday night. Governor Cuomo said something, evening? New York’s leaders know that Orthodox Jews reporters accepted it, an d a negative narrative about New are indisposed starting at sundown on Friday, when the York’s Orthodox Jews took hold. Sabbath begins. So, when e xactly did state authorities learn If you read or watch , The Hill, about this wedding? New York’s NBC 4, ABC News, the Daily Beast, the Next, the government’s source was someone with known animus toward New York’s Haredi community Page 9 October 31, 2020 Focus on Israel who has since acknowledged in an op - ed that he had to fact - check. Hikind commented, “Why didn’t the “other motivations” beyond saving lives. Did no one on governor pick up the phone before making it into a the governor’s staff think it important to be absolutely national story? That’s being sensitive? That’s not being a certain of the facts before discussing this wedding so friend.” A friend would inquire directly. Further, if publicly? anything in the original wedding plans didn’t fully comply Did anyone ask a Yiddish speaker to translate the with state health guidelines, a friend would offer private public wedding invitation? It included a box — in red — guidance on how to remedy shortcomings. that read: “Please follow al l of the regulations from the Cuomo’s response to Niederman during Sunday’s call health department scrupulously; they will be strictly truly stands out, though: “In this crazy world, everything enforced.” That this health notice appeared in Yiddish, a gets blown out of proportion. And you’re right, the press language all invited guests would speak, implies that this comes to me, they ask me a question, with an asserted fact wasn’t virtue signaling. in it. ‘There is a wedding that’s gonna have 10,000 people, As for logistics, the synagogu e in question could never how can you let that happen?’ They as sert the fact, and hold a crowd of 10,000, as Satmar leader Rabbi Moshe then it’s hard to say to the reporter, ‘Well, I don’t know if Dovid Niederman explained to Cuomo during a Sunday you, if that’s true or not.’ And I understand that things are call, published in the Orthodox daily Hamodia. The said.” hosting congregation even published a statement But Cuomo clearly accepted the premise of a large explaining that “this weddi ng was designed differently,” wedding taking place, and his words have had because of COVID - 19. So, only “a small circle of close consequence s. Reporters descended on Williamsburg on family members” were expected to attend the ceremony Monday, something locals did not appreciate. Further, and celebratory meal. The statement also noted that harassment and anti - Semitic graffiti continue apace for “unwarranted attacks on this event” were “detached from New York’s Orthodox Jews, as does the cementing of the the facts” before remarking, “It’s sad that nobody verified dangerous narrative that Orthodox Jews deserve un ique our plans before attacking us.” blame for COVID - 19’s spread. Americans Against Antisemitism founder Dov Hikind If New York is to conquer COVID - 19, there must be considered that statement credible. During a call, he asked universal compliance with public - health guidelines. rhetorically, “Are the Satmar so out of their minds that However, public officials must simultaneously demonstrate they’re planning a wedding with 10,000 or even 1,000, and true leadership. In Governor Cuomo’s case, that includes TV cameras would’ve been down there? It would have endin g his recent, troubling pattern of singling out New been a disaster.” York’s Orthodox Jewish community. Perhaps he could Another nagging question remains: Why didn’t start by publicly taking responsibility for the response that Cuomo just call Satmar leaders? On Sunday’s call, Cuomo launched a thousand nasty news stories. described knowing Rabbi Niederman f or “over 20 years.” Ms. Braunstein, a former U.S. State Department spee chwriter, is Given that, Cuomo could easily have buzzed Niederman now an independent writer in metro Washington, D.C.

Will a Biden Administration Undermine Recent Progress in the Middle East? By Danielle Pletka thedispatch.com October 23, 2020 Unlikely, but it could drive U.S. allies into the arms of China. When appointed his son - in - law Jared The Arab world moved on, but the world of Arabists Kushner to the post of senior adviser and charged him remained stubbornly mired in the same tropes that hav e with brokering Middle East peace, most of the veteran animated it since 1967. Call it ignorance, call it diplomats, scholars, and pundits who watch the region groundbreaking — but there can be no denying that the reacted with derision and disbelief. A vituperative blogger Trump team achieved both historic changes and a noted in 2017 that, “he is entirely in over his head and fundamental realignment of the region. But much of this dangerously ignorant on policy matters.” Against the odds, narrative appreciating Team Trump’s work ignore s the however, Trump and the Kushner - led White House pernicious role of the Obama administration in fueling that Middle East team have delivered a new era of peace in the transformation. Middle East. Would a Biden administration mean the end Though they may not say it openly, the national of the road for that era? Or could t here be more good security staff that walked in the door on the first days of news ahead? the Obama presidency had a contrarian view about the Few appreciate the break with history that the Trump Middle East. In their view, the U.S. focus on alliances with administration’s Middle East policies represent. The Sunni Arab powers had delivered little tangible progress conventional wisdom that guided generations of against terrorists and dictators, and little peace. It was time diplomats, experts, and leaders — that the road to Israeli - for a Shiite - first policy, and though the vision initially Arab peace is th rough Palestine; that recognizing faltered in the face of Iran ian opposition, once at the table, Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will inflame the “Arab street”; the Islamic Republic and the Americans shared the hope that annexation will lead to war — have all proven wrong. that a revitalized U.S. relationship with the ayatollahs could Focus o n Israel October 31, 2020 Page 10 drive deeper changes — though each likely had different greater fear is of the pendulum swinging back to the pre - views of what such a change might look like. Trump status quo, and a rebalancing of American policy in In a ddition, both the Obama administration and the the region to favor Iran. As much as anything else, the fear Trump administration that followed had one clear of a renewed American - Iran alliance is driving Sunni Arabs imperative: no new wars in the Middle East. Of course, the to Israel. Could they be wrong? region has a vote in international affairs, and in the turmoil Team Biden has made it clear that if Iran comes back of the Arab Spring, Obama joined a war to oust Libyan into compliance with the Joint Comprehens ive Plan of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He also ultimately sent troops Action, or Iran deal, they will rejoin. But it seems unlikely back to , into Syria, and to Yemen during his tenure. that anyone from a Biden administration would conduct Trump, while less inclined to deploy boots on the ground, the aggressive lobbying campaign for Iran that Obama’s notably oversaw a joint U.K. - French - American bombing hapless Secretary of State John Kerry embraced. Indeed, in response to Syrian dictator Bashar al - Assad’s use of the more serious risk is not that Biden’s Middle East chemical weapons, and ramped up (and then down) U.S. advisers fall hopelessly in love with the Islamic Republic, troop presence in many of the same countries as Obama. as too many of Obama’s negotiators did. It is that they will But these were aberrations, as both Donald Trump do nothing in the face of Iranian efforts to dominate the and Barack Obama — not to mention American voters — Middle East and that America’s erstwhile allies take their voiced a desire to turn away from the problematic Middle security into their own hands, to dangerous effect. East, and toward other priorities. Obama himself pointed With an America that ignores both Iranian predations out that the future would require Sunni Saudi Arabia and against its own people and turns it back on supporting Shiite Iran to “share the neighborhood,” the implication Washington’s traditional allies among Israel and the being that the Pax Americana, such as it was, was over. Sunnis, the odds are tha t regional powers will take it upon Trump’s version — a Pax Israelitica of sorts — is also themselves to protect their interests in the best way they intended to pave Washington’s escape from the region. know how. That began with a new alliance with Jerusalem, These professions of Ameri can uninterest after decades of but where it could end is anyone’s guess. The last time intense engagement did not escape the notice of either such fears were in the air, the Saudis escalated their America’s allies or its enemies. conflict with Yemen, and began dabbling in opposition The new - look Middle East — Sunni Arabs and Jews politics and worse in the neighborhood. This time they against Shiite Iran and its many proxies — is rooted in both may well turn to other interested global players — Saudi of those Obama and Trump polici es, but in the region, Arabia is now China’s top oil supplier — for weapons and there are fears worse is to come. The election is weeks more. away, but Arab leaders are already fretting about what a In short, while a rekind ling of the Democratic love Biden presidency could mean for them. More than the affair with Tehran promises rough seas ahead in the Biden - Harris campaign promises to “reassess our Middle East, the larger problem may be that both a Trump relationship with th e Kingdom, end U.S. support for Saudi second term or a Biden administration will likely wash Arabia’s war in Yemen, and make sure America does not their hands of the region, feeling that the mission as they check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil,” the defi ned it has been accomplished.

The Dangers of a Hasty Retreat from Afghanistan By Noah Rothman washingtoninstitute.org October 21, 2020 The U.S. should learn from its mistakes in Iraq. efforts to again ingratiate himself with the coalition that Donald Trump pe rfunctorily insists that all the polls propelled him into the White House in 2016 aren’t just a are wrong, but he certainly doesn’t act like that’s the case. little cloying — they can be qu ite reckless. That is certainly “I saved your suburbs – women – suburban women, you’re true of the president’s rushed effort to withdraw a supposed to love Trump,” the president told a crowd of substantial portion of America’s presence in Afghanistan. Michigan supporters. “Suburban women, will you pl ease On October 7, the president revealed that he planned like me? I saved your damn neighborhood, OK?” he added to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by Christmas — at a Pennsylvania rally. accel erating the timetable for withdrawal announced by But female voters aren’t the only source of presidential Trump’s national security adviser, who had claimed that anxiety. In a video address to his “favorite people in the the U.S. presence in country would dwindle to between world — the seniors,” the president promised to provide 2,800 and 2,500 troops by early 2021. a ccess to pharmaceuticals “all free.” The administration But the president’s directive has sparked a public followed this pledge with a scramble to provide seniors dustup between the White House and the Pentagon. As with federally funded $200 cash cards redeemable for Politico reported last week, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. prescription drugs before Election Day. Mark Milley subtly castigated National Security Adviser It’s no coincidence that this ham - fisted pandering is Robert O’Brien for engaging in “speculation” over the size aimed at demographics that public polling suggests have of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, add ing that the been slipping away from the president. But Trump’s “responsible, deliberate drawdown” the Defense Page 11 October 31, 2020 Focus on Israel

Department is tasked with executing must be based on Secretary - General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on security conditions on the ground. And at the moment, Wednesday. those conditions are not great. Indeed, officials are telling reporters on background Defense officials subsequently told Politico that what Republicans used to understand instinctively: Afghani stan is increasingly the scene of insurrectionary Artificial and political tim etables for withdrawal from a violence and U.S. negotiators tasked with striking a peace protracted and asymmetrical conflict embolden the deal do not have a good - faith partner in the Taliban. That insurgents and make the conditions for a mutually appraisal is substantiated by the rising number of terrorist amenable peace more elusive. attacks executed by the Tal iban. Republicans accused Barack Obama of pursuing just On Wednesday alone, Taliban forces killed 34 soldiers such a heedless strategy in Iraq, and they were vindicated loyal to Kabul, including a provincial police chief, in when U.S. troops were redeployed to that Middle Eastern overnight attacks in a province bordering Tajikistan. There country after the Islamic State militia spilled over the were two Taliban - linked suicide car bombings in nearby Syrian border and rapidly routed the unready Iraqi Security Kandahar province on Wedn esday amid sporadic Forces. That should be a sobering legacy even for those engagements between terrorist elements and Afghan who want out of Afghanistan regardless of the country’s troops. And Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand Province, security conditions. has been host to frequent clashes between Taliban The only thing worse than keeping troops in insurgents and government forces, and more than 200 Afghanistan one minute longer would be having to go casualties are now attribut able to the fighting. back at a time and place that is not of our choosing and in Americans are and have been eager to wash their response to a grotesque human - rights v iolation or the hands of the seemingly fruitless conflict in Afghanistan, revitalization of the transnational terrorist groups who call but a rushed withdrawal that is obviously timed for that country home. maximum domestic political benefit isn’t strategically For partisans in an election year, the prime directive is sound. And if the pre sident’s efforts discomfit the to do no harm to the top of the ticket. But that objective Pentagon, America’s allies seem outright contemptuous of should not compel Republicans to abandon t he principles them. they know to be true or to sacrifice the pursuit of “We will make a decision together, coordinate our American national interests in the process. efforts based on the principle ‘in together, adjust together, Mr. Rothman is the Associate Editor of Commentary and the and when the time is right, when the conditions ar e met, author of Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of America. then we will leave together,’ but not before,” NATO

Israeli, Californian firef ighters become band of brothers By Abigail Klein Leichman israel21c.org October 25, 2020 ‘Israel sent 10 of its finest firefighters and they didn’t On August 25, 10 days after 14,000 lightning strikes come for a tour or a vacation but to jump in and fight sparked fires across cent ral and northern California, fires,’ says Cal Fire unit chief. Kofman made inquiries about how Israel could contribute Ten Israeli firefigh ters flew to California on August in “solidarity and friendship.” 30. Over the course of 15 days doing exhausting, “They need boots on the ground ASAP,” Kofman dangerous work, they became a battalion of brothers with reported the next day to Itai Bardov, director of the US their California colleagues. Consulates Department in Israel’s Min istry of Foreign “During the time we spent with these Israelis who Affairs. came to help us, we became much more than coworkers. “In 2010 and 2016, the Americans sent us help when We bonded with them as part of our firefighting family,” we had raging fires in Israel, and we were happy to give said Chief Scott Lindgren of the Amador - El Dorado Unit back,” said Bardov, who accompanied the mission. of California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Bardov asked Israel Fire and Rescue Services (Cal Fire). Commissioner Dedy Simhi to f ind 10 volunteers, and “They became part of our team and it was hard to see raced to complete all the paperwork. them go. We worked hard, we had some fun, we had Despite knowing they would return to spend the discussions — heated discussions, too, about differences Jewish High Holidays in quarantine away from their wives in how we do some of our work – and it was extremely and children, “I had more volunteers than the 10 I was beneficial for us.” approved to gather,” said delegation head Itzik Oz. Lindgren was speaking at a recent online presentation “Everyone wanted to assist our friends overseas.” of the America Israel Frien dship League about the A taxing and critical shift extraordinary cooperative firefighting experience. According to Cal Fire, 11,000 firefighters remain on The idea for the volunteer delegation began with the frontlines of 20 wildfires across the state, 13 of which Israeli Consul General in Shlomi Kofman. are still major incidents. Focus o n Israel October 31, 2020 Page 12

“A lot of our employees have been on duty non - stop we work more with hose lines. But we quickly understood since July,” said Lindgren. “Early on, we knew we were in what the operation was about and now we have new ideas troubl e and it would be a long fire season, but we didn’t for our fire services from our brothers in Cal Fire.” know it would be the worst fire season in our history.” CalFire firefighters giving gifts to the Israelis who His unit, headquartered at McClellan Air Tanker Base, came to help them, September 2020. Photo courtesy of has pumped 4 million gallons of fire retardant so far this Israeli Consulate in San Francisco season. Volunteering at fire stations “Israel sent 10 of its fine st firefighters and they didn’t After that first assignment, Lindgren rotated the Israeli come for a tour or a vacation but to jump in and fight volunteers to diffe rent units and assignments. fires. We don’t always get that from other [countries’] Some of the officers worked with Cal Fire operations delegations,” said Lindgren. “The Israelis stepped off the chiefs and branch directors; one did a shift with the plane ready to go. That was huge for us.” logistics personnel; others went to the Cal Fire training After a shor t orientation that included translating liters academy, manned engines at local fire stations, or to gallons and kilometers to miles, the Israelis were accompanied the fire investigation unit. The volunteers prepared to work with “the special heroes from Cal Fire,” also served another shift with the hand crew and with a said Oz. strike crew. Finally, they returned to Amador - El Dorado “We went over the equipment they had brought and and ended by cooking an Israeli dinner for their hosts. issued them fire shelters and good boot s,” said Lindgren. “It was breathtaking and inspiring for us an d for “Their radios were not compatible to ours — they were in civilians affected by the fire,” said Amador - El Dorado many ways superior to ours, with automatic locators — so Unit Assistant Chief of Administration Nathan Barcklay. we got them squared away with gear. The next morning at “It was more than them coming to help; it was the 4am we were off to the August Complex in northern inspiration of seeing the cooperation between our two California.” countries and just as human beings. ” As o f October 14, the August Complex fire in Matan Zamir, San Francisco Deputy Consul General Mendocino County has burned more than a million acres of Israel, giving Dry Creek Ranchería Fire Dept. Chief and is not fully contained. Coming from a tiny country, the Matt Epstein Israel’s donation of essential gear to help Israelis never encountered this kind of magnitude. fight the wildfires plaguing California. Photo courtesy of Just getting to the blisteringly hot site involved “a Israeli Consulate in San Francisco really gnarly hike full of boulders and steep slopes,” said Braun said their California colleagues were surprised Lindgren. “They worked with one of our hand crews for that the Israelis came to help fight a fire across the ocean, 24 hours. It was a taxing and critical shift.” especially during a pandemic and a time when Israel’s fire Hand crews are the infantry of wildland firefighting. season is also beginning. They use tools such as chainsaws and drip torches to “There’s a bond between firefighters — it doesn’t construct fire lines — strips of land cleared of flammable matt er what country but especially between the US and materials and dug down to mineral soil to prevent the Israel that have such a strong connection,” he said. spread of flames. “I would like our cooperation with our brothers in Cal “Their dedication and cooperation in the field was Fire to continue in the future. Unfortunately, even though amazing,” said Israeli First Officer Ido Braun. we hope not to see more fire, it will h appen because the “We did a little training to be certified in their climate is changing. We need to be ready and prepared to procedures with hand tools and chainsaws. Here in Israel help each other.” hopes that Brian Horowitz will translate more of them — is both entertaining and instructive. It makes me wish and follow up with a nother book on the last 15 years of his that I could read his words in the ori g inal Russian. One extraordinary life.

Current issue also avail able at su b urbanorthodox.org . If you see something, send something” – editor