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Poll Finds U.S. Support for Israel Up
 American public support for Israel in the  face of its enemies is at a five-year high, a poll found. A new survey commissioned by the Israel Project showed that an average of 66 percent of Americans rate their feelings toward the Jewish state as "warm" or "very favorable", while only 11 percent gave Iran a positive rating. Asked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 65 percent of respondents said they support Israel, while 10 said they support the Palestinians. Around three-quarters of those polled said the United States should not resume sending aid to the Palestinian Authority until the Hamas-led government "ends the culture of hate" and recognizes Israel. Seventy-three percent of Americans believe Islamic extremism is the main source of Middle East stability, compared to only 12 percent who blame Israel and its policies. (JTA News)
Tens of Thousands of Supporters of Israel March in NY
Thousands of Israel supporters marched up  Fifth Avenue last week in the Salute to Israel Parade commemorating the 1948 founding of the Jewish state. Marchers sang "Hava Nagila," and waved the Star of David flag; many carried colorful paper torches indicating that Israel is the Biblical "light unto the nations." "It brings a tear to my eye," said Devora Cohen, a tourist from Tel Aviv who watched the parade. "I'm very happy." Mayor Michael Bloomberg led off the parade accompanied by Mayor Uri Lupolianski of Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)
See also Salute to Israel Parade (YouTube)
Sermons, Guns and Radicalism in the Palestinian Areas
by Bassem Roomie
 Colorful, tall billboards covered with Quranic quotes and calls for religious causes, frequent street riots, attacks on Internet coffees and shops selling pop music and the abduction of foreign journalists are frequent reminders of the shift toward the daily indoctrination of Palestinian people into the culture of confrontation, violence, and in some cases, Jihadism. Since the unexpected victory of Hamas in the January 25, 2006 elections, Palestinians have been exposed to an unprecedented campaign of mobilization toward radicalism. The challenge of winning the hearts and minds of young Palestinians has helped radicalism to overshadow voices of logic, moderation and coexistence. (Media Line)
Hizbullah: Rockets Fired into Israel Directed by Iran
by Aaron Klein
 All of Hizbullah's policies and activities are  coordinated with the leadership of Iran, including the firing of rockets into Israeli population centers for which direct Iranian approval is required, said a senior Hizbullah official in a rare admission. "Even when it comes to firing rockets on Israeli civilians, when they (Israel) bombed the civilians on our side, even that decision requires an in-principle permission from (the ruling jurisprudent)," said Sheikh Naim Kassem, the deputy chief of Hizbullah, in an Arabic language interview translated Sunday by the Information and Terrorism Center at Israel's Center for Special Studies. (WND/Ynet News)
See also Iranian Cleric Threatens Tel Aviv by Yaakov Lappin (Ynet News)
UN Chief: Illegal Arms Regularly Reach Hizbullah Via Syrian Border
 Illegal arms traffic into Lebanon across the  Syrian border, mainly to Hizbullah fighters, is reported to be taking place on a regular basis, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week. In a report to the UN Security Council, Ban said news of arms shipments, including "detailed and substantial" reports from Israel, and other nations, showed the need for a team he was sending to propose ways of monitoring of the border. "Such transfers are alleged to be taking place on a regular basis," Ban wrote. "I am deeply worried that the political crisis in Lebanon may be deepened and exacerbated" by arms smuggling, most of which are reported to reach the opposition Shi'ite Muslim Hizbullah movement. (Reuters/Ha'aretz)
See also Ban Wants Closer U.N.-Israel Ties (JTA News)
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Rice: Syria a Real Problem for Middle East Peace
by Yitzhak Benhorin
 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Senate subcommittee Thursday, "Syria continues to be a major funder of terrorism; a major harborer of those elements of the Palestinian political elite, for instance, who are opposed to a two-state solution, who are the ones who continue to perpetrate violence in the Palestinian territories and to attempt to do it in Israel. And so, in terms of Middle East peace, the Syrians are a real problem for leaders like Mahmoud Abbas who want to take a different course toward a two-state solution....Syrian behavior is such that, particularly in the support that it gives to elements of Hamas that are preventing a two-state solution, it's not exhibited an attitude that suggests that it's ready for or intending to try and pursue peace," she said. (Ynet News)
See also: Point-Counterpoint - Should Israel Begin Talks with Syria?
Israeli Defense Officials Oppose U.S. Plan for Gaza-West Bank Travel
by Aluf Benn
 Wary of the security implications of Palestinians traveling between Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli defense officials expressed opposition last week to this part of the American benchmarks plan for Israel and the PA. Officials said that allowing freedom of movement between the two territories may create a dangerous security situation, enabling the transfer of technological know-how for making Kassam rockets in the West Bank. Officials said the security situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly since a 2005 agreement on movement and access. (Ha'aretz)
See also Benchmarks Won't Work - Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
See also U.S.: Benchmark Plan Only Informal - Herb Keinon (Jerusalem Post)
Mickey Mouse Hatred Is Kids' Show Message
 A character resembling Mickey Mouse is broadcasting the Hamas message of Islamic domination and armed resistance. Farfour, or "butterfly," preaches against the U.S. and Israel on a children's show that runs Fridays on Al-Aqsa TV, a station run by the militant group sworn to Israel's destruction. "You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists," Farfour squeaked on an episode of Tomorrow's Pioneers, to which children call in and often sing Hamas anthems of fighting Israel. Farfour added: "We will return the Islamic community to its greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers." (AP/Dallas Morning News)
See also Hamas Suspends 'Mickey Mouse' Lookalike Program (AP/CBC)
See also Palestinian Moms Becoming Martyrs - Tim McGirk (TIME )
See also Daughter of Suicide Terrorist Sings to Her Mother (YouTube)
See also Mickey Mouse Used for Incitement by Hamas (YouTube)
Qassam Rocket Wounds Two Near Sderot
 Two people were wounded, one moderately, by a Qassam rocket strike last week on a gas station near the western Negev town of Sderot. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. Later that day, two more Qassam rockets struck open areas in the western Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Earlier, an Israeli security guard for a fuel truck was seriously wounded in a shooting attack on a vehicle west of the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Ha'aretz)
See also Qassam Lands Near Sderot Kindergarten - Shmulik Hadad (Ynet News)
See also Sderot Residents React to Qassams (YouTube)
Hamas Leader Khaled Meshal Predicts a New Intifada
by Kevin Peraino
 "A new intifada is not a mere prediction," Meshal said. "I estimate it will be a reality in the future — if we base our analysis on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict during the past years, and consider the difficult and escalating conditions on the ground. What does the world expect from the Palestinian people if the current conditions continue, if the economic siege continues, even after we formed the national unity government?" (Newsweek)
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