Muslim Woman, Rabbis Added to Inaugural Prayer Mix

At past inaugurations,ceremonial prayers uttered on behalf of the incoming president drew about as much attention as the flags on the podium.Not this year. Barack Obama's choice of clergy is under scrutiny like no other president-elect before him, alternately outraging Americans on the left and the right as he navigates the minefield of U.S. religion."I can't recall any prayers drawing so much attention," said Charles Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center who specializes in religion in public life.Gay advocates assailed Obama, while many conservative Christians were heartened, when he invited the Rev. Rick Warren, a Southern Baptist who opposes gay marriage, to deliver the inaugural invocation on Tuesday.The tables turned when Obama asked V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, to lead prayers at Sunday's kickoff for the inauguration at the Lincoln Memorial. Gay rights groups rejoiced, while some conservative Christians wrung their hands.The Inauguration Committee has only released one clergy name so far for the Jan. 21 National Prayer Service that caps the inauguration. The Rev. Sharon Watkins, the first woman president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a Protestant group, will deliver the sermon.The Associated Press has learned additional details.A prayer will be offered at the National Cathedral by Ingrid Mattson, the first woman president of the Islamic Society of North America, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. The Islamic Society, based in Indiana, is the nation's largest Muslim group.Three rabbis, representing the three major branches of American Judaism, will also say a prayer at the service, according to officials familiar with the plans. The Jewish clergy are Reform Rabbi David Saperstein, Conservative Rabbi Jerome Epstein and Orthodox Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, sources said.It is also traditional for the incoming administration to ask the Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington to lead a prayer. The Most Rev. Donald Wuerl leads the archdiocese.And like many incoming presidents before him, Obama will attend a service at St. John's Church, dubbed the "Church of the Presidents," before his swearing-in.Religion has been a lightning rod for Obama since the presidential campaign — from false rumors that he is Muslim to uproar over sermons by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.And interest in the inauguration is higher overall, partly because of its historic nature, the swearing-in of the first African-American president. The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a Methodist considered the dean of the civil rights movement, will give the inaugural benediction.But Obama's choice of clergy is also of greater interest because of the changing landscape of American religion.The United States is more diverse than ever before, and members of minority faiths yearn to be recognized as fully American."In the past, minority groups within Christianity and minority religions on the American scene were not as vocal or as sure-footed and therefore didn't pay as much attention to the inauguration event itself or didn't feel the need to. That's no longer true," said Rabbi James Rudin, who spent three decades leading interreligious outreach for the American Jewish Committee....

By Rachel Zoll
AP Religion Writer

To read more go to:

http://www.christianpost.com/Society/Politics/2009/01/muslim-woman-rabbis-added-to-inaugural-prayer-mix-15/index.html

As in the days of Noah...

Warren praises Obama for inviting homosexual bishop

Rick Warren is applauding Barack Obama's decision to invite homosexual Episcopal bishop V. Gene Robinson to pray at an inauguration event next week in Washington, DC.Christianity Today quotes a statement from Warren, who says "President-elect Obama has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground. I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen." Warren's comment came in the wake of a controversy over Obama's decision to invite Warren to give the invocation prayer at the swearing-in ceremony at next Tuesday's Presidential Inauguration.Robinson, who became the Episcopal Church's first openly homosexual bishop back in 2003, joined other homosexual activists and their supporters in condemning Obama for inviting Warren, saying "it was like a slap in the face."Warren has received heavy criticism for openly supporting California's Proposition 8 last November, a voter intiative that amended the Golden State's constitution to define marriage as only between one man and one woman.Obama eventually gave into the pressure over Warren and has invited Robinson to give a prayer at another inaugural event next week.Robinson has said he will not use the Bible when praying, and states "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer."

By Fred Jackson - OneNewsNow

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=387426

As in the days of Noah...

OBAMA INAUGURATION WATCH:Washington Mobilizes 42,500-Strong Security Force...

When senior FBI official Joseph Persichini takes his 5 a.m. jog down Washington’s National Mall, he imagines everything that could go wrong at Barack Obama’s inaugural next week.He said he thinks about the possibility of a sleet storm, bombing, chemical attack or-perhaps hardest to guard against-the lone gunman bent on turning a celebration into a national tragedy.“I’m thinking about what the schedule is, and what we’re doing, and what are the issues we’re facing,” said Persichini, assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office.“You don’t understand the magnitude until you go out there right on the Mall.”As many as 2 million people-double the number for any previous inauguration-are expected to fill the Mall on Jan. 20 to witness the swearing-in of the first black president.While officials said they haven’t received any credible threats, they have prepared an unprecedented security effort. It will be overseen by the U.S. Secret Service and will include 7,500 active-duty soldiers, 10,000 National Guard troops and 25,000 law-enforcement officers, security officials said. Federal officials haven’t projected the total cost, though Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia said they are spending tens of millions of dollars....

By Jeff Bliss

To read more go to:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=arV52TnPtSII&refer=politics

As in the days of Noah...

White supremacists watched in lead up to Obama administration...

WASHINGTON (CNN)Hate crimes experts and law enforcement officials are closely watching white supremacists across the country as Barack Obama prepares next week to be sworn in as the first black president of the United States.So far, there is no known organized effort to express opposition to Obama's rise to the presidency other than a call by the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan for its members to wear black armbands as well as fly the U.S. flag upside down on Inauguration Day and Obama's first full day in office.As Tuesday approaches, when Obama stands outside the Capitol to take the oath of office, experts expect anger about the new president to spike. But they don't expect it to go away."The level of vitriol, I expect, will go up a bit more around inauguration time," said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University-San Bernardino. There "is concern" about white supremacist groups during the inauguration, said Joe Persichini, the assistant FBI director who is helping to oversee security during the inauguration.The inauguration of the nation's first minority president increases any potential threat, "particularly stemming from individuals on the extremist fringe of the white supremacist movement," said a recent intelligence assessment by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.But law enforcement has the appropriate resources to respond if needed, Persichini said."We have seen a lot of chatter," Persichini said. "We have seen a lot of discussions. We have seen some information via the Internet. But those are discussions. We look at the vulnerabilities and whether or not the groups are taking action."You have freedom of speech," he added. "Anyone in this nation can have a discussion about their beliefs, but we are concerned about whether or not they take that freedom of speech and exercise some act that is against the law."Anger, violence and interest in racist ideology did increase in the hours and days after Obama was elected president in November, hate groups experts said....

By Mark Preston--CNN Political Editor

To read more go to:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/16/obama.white.supremacists/index.html

As in the days of Noah....

'Prostitution Free Zone' During Obama's Inauguration...

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)-District police have placed signs along 5th and I Streets. They read, "Warning, Prostitution Free Zone." Those who disobey could be fined 300 dollars, and even jailed. But will the city's plan work?DC City Councilman Jim Graham said officers cannot enforce loitering laws, which is the reason for these signs."Because this is focused, its limited in time, its aimed at a very specific issue, if you don't move along, well put you in the car," he said.John Thompson lives in the neighborhood, and he said prostitution is a major problem. He hopes the signs make a difference, but what will visitors think?"I'm not concerned with what visitors think. I'm concerned about the problem that exists," Thompson said.A woman who calls herself Tamira and advertises her services on Craigslist, said otherwise. She said prostitutes who work the streets may ignore the signs. However, she said, some prostitutes may move elsewhere."If I saw a sign that said, 'Prostitution Free Zone' I would feel a little uncomfortable that there would be a house next store where police are at," she said.Tamira also believes some visitors will come to the inauguration for legitimate business, but prostitute on the side to make extra money.


Posted By: Lindsey Mastis
http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=80547
As in the days of Noah...

OBAMA INAUGURATION WATCH:Pricey inauguration party during economic collapse?

WASHINGTON-Unemployment is up.The stock market is down. Let's party.The price tag for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates reaching as high as $150 million. Despite the bleak economy, however, Democrats who called on President George W. Bush to be frugal four years ago are issuing no such demands now that an inaugural weekend of rock concerts and star-studded parties has begun.Obama's inaugural committee has raised more than $41 million to cover events ranging from a Philadelphia-to-Washington train ride to a megastar concert with Beyonce, U2 and Bruce Springsteen to 10 official inaugural balls.Add to that the massive costs of security and transportation-costs absorbed by U.S. taxpayers-and the historic inauguration will produce an equally historic bill.In 2005, Reps. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and Jim McDermott, D-Wash., asked Bush to show a little less pomp and be a little more circumspect at his party. "President Roosevelt held his 1945 inaugural at the White House, making a short speech and serving guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake," the two lawmakers wrote in a letter. "During World War I, President Wilson did not have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified."The thinking was that, with the nation at war, excessive celebration was inappropriate.Four years later,the nation is still at war. Unemployment has risen sharply.And Obama pressed Congress to release the second half of a $700 billion bailout package in hopes of rescuing a faltering banking industry.Obama's inauguration committee says it is mindful of the times and is not worried people will see the four days of festivities as excessive."That is probably not the way the country is going to be looking at it," said committee spokeswoman Linda Douglass. "It is not a celebration of an election. It is a celebration of our common values."Douglass said the campaign sought to keep costs down by having the same decorations at each of the 10 balls, eliminating floral arrangements and negotiating prices on food."Those at the Obama administration are trying to be reflective of the climate,"McDermott's spokesman, Mike DeCeasar, said Saturday.The festivities began Saturday with a speech at Philadelphia's historic 30th Street train as Obama's trip began...

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer

To read more go to:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090117/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_spending

As in the days of Noah.....

'Is this the future of free speech and political dissent under President Obama?':D.C. cops ban pro-life messages

The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has forbidden a pro-life gathering and chalk display during Inauguration Week – and now the group is fighting back with a lawsuit against the District of Columbia.Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said the department is banning the event because of its message."For over 16 years, law enforcement officials have given permission to the Christian Defense Coalition to use public 'sidewalk chalking' as a part of their demonstrations and vigils in the nation's capitol. The City of Washington, D.C., has also allowed numerous public 'chalk art displays' throughout the city," he said in a statement. "It is therefore most troubling that for the first time the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department is banning this practice when it involves a pro-life display in front of the White House."Thursday, Jan. 22, marks the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since 1974, pro-life activists have gathered in Washington, D.C., each year to protest the decision and call attention to millions of lives lost.The Christian Defense Coalition and Generation Life and Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust asked for permission to meet and draw sidewalk chalk messages on the sidewalk near the White House, as many groups have often done during public assemblies.However, Commander James Crane denied their request in a Jan. 7 letter. He also said applying chalk to Pennsylvania Avenue and adjacent sidewalks "would constitute defacing public property in violation of D.C. Official Code 22-3312.01."James Matthew Henderson Sr., senior counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, immediately responded to Crane's letter, claiming the commander applied laws intended to prevent graffiti to the group's chalk display.Washington, D.C., 2005 event invited children to "chalk for peace."He cited other cases where sidewalk chalking was permitted-including a youth chalk art contest the city hosted for three years, and a D.C. event in 2005 where children were invited to "chalk for peace." He included pictures of the incidents.Ryan said permission was denied to Rev. Mahoney based on the groups' viewpoint and content of speech.Now the Christian Defense Coalition is filing a lawsuit in U. S. District Court on Friday, accusing the police department of infringing on First Amendment free speech rights. The pro-life activists are seeking a temporary restraining order against police."Is this the future of free speech and political dissent under President Obama?" Mahoney asked in his statement. "The streets in front of the White House should be open to all views, opinions and thoughts. It should not be a place of censorship and intimidation. I hope this was not the kind of change President Obama was talking about."

By Chelsea Schilling

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86217

PS:It is not a surprise that BHO supports abortion and infanticide...therefore...I think we'll see more situations like these....Nothing can tarnish the inmaculate inauguration of the "Great Leader" next week...America...Start getting used to it...!!!!

As in the days of Noah....

Obama has little in common with Lincoln

It's ironic that Barack Obama chooses to infuse these opening days of his presidency with the imagery of Abraham Lincoln.I don't think there could be two more different men. Understanding why may help us think about what to expect in the days ahead.Beyond his trademark "change we can believe in,"Mr. Obama's defining theme has been unity and inclusiveness."there's not a liberal America and a conservative America-there's the United States of America...We worship an awesome God in the Blue States...and have gay friends in the Red States."Mr. Obama, of course, does not suggest that we don't have differences. His point is that those differences are not critically important, and they're getting in our way. Let's put differences aside, get practical and solve our problems.The inaugural ceremonies have pastors for everyone: a white evangelical who opposes same sex marriage, a white homosexual, a left-wing black male and a left-wing black female. His economic stimulus plan has large government expenditures to please Democrats and tax benefits to please Republicans.Lincoln, too, sought unity. But Lincoln's notion of where national unity would lie was far different from Obama's.He prophetically stated the challenge after accepting the Republican nomination for the presidency in 1858."A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure half slave and half free. I do not expect the union to be dissolved. I do not expect the House to fall. But I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other."As historian Harry Jaffa points out, "For Lincoln, as for Jefferson and for all genuine supporters of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the distinction between right and wrong is antecedent to any form of government and is independent of any man's or any majority's will."Lincoln knew that some principles are so fundamental they cannot be compromised. He knew that we couldn't ignore our key differences. Unity could only come from facing them and making the hard choices.He knew that even though there were competing religious claims on the issue of slavery – some found biblical sanction in it – we would still have to choose and decide who we are.As Americans killed each other, he observed, "Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God...The prayers of both could not be answered."We have many Americans today who read the same Bible but see the truths that define this country very differently. And, of course, we have Americans who do not see the Bible as relevant to those truths at all and those who would claim that there are no truths.As Lincoln observed, the prayers of all cannot be answered.Unless we're resigned to meaninglessness, we must believe that our future will reflect today's choices.On the hardest moral dilemma of his day, Abraham Lincoln stepped up to the plate and took a stand. He did not say that it was above his pay grade. And this is what makes Abraham Lincoln very different from Barack Obama.Each time has its challenges. Americans feel betrayed by what they see as unethical behavior in American business and in Washington. Yet few seem to appreciate that moral problems lie at the root of our faltering economy.Sanctity of life and sanctity of property are cut from the same cloth of eternal law. In the view of many, including me, it's this law that defines our free country.Our new president, who sanctions both abortion and massive government intrusion into our economic lives, sees things very differently.So let's not pretend these fundamental differences don't matter. How we choose will define our future. As Lincoln said, the nation "will become all one thing, or all the other."

By Star Parker

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86314

As in the days of Noah....

Obama promises 'new Declaration of Independence'

Evoking Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., President-elect Barack Obama launched a four-day inaugural celebration Saturday before thousands of chilled but cheering onlookers from Philadelphia to the nation's capital. He promised to bring the country "a new Declaration of Independence"-free from small thinking, prejudice and bigotry.Obama invoked a grand heritage of American giants as he appealed "not to our easy instincts but to our better angels," an echo of Lincoln's first inaugural address. He took note of the enormous challenges that lie ahead and promised to act with "fierce urgency," a phrase often used by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.In Baltimore, his last stop before arriving in Washington shortly before 7 p.m., Obama remembered the troops at Maryland's Fort McHenry who defeated the British many generations before."It's time to take up the cause for which they gave so much," he told a crowd of about 40,000. "The trials we face are very different now, but severe in their own right."Tracking Lincoln's historic path to Washington by riding a vintage railcar on his whistle-stop trip, Obama carried with him the hopes of a nation weary of war, frightened of economic chaos and searching for better days. Vice President-elect Joe Biden joined the journey en route, from his home in Delaware, and spoke for many when he said he was excited and ready for Tuesday.Then, sobered by the challenges of governing, Biden added: "I think it's Wednesday we need to be ready."Washington pulsed with anticipation of Obama's swearing in as the nation's first black president. The city was aflutter with preparations for four days of parties and pomp, shadowed at every turn by layer upon layer of security. For every banner or piece of bunting that was going up around the city, there was a concrete barrier or metal fence at the ready as well....
To read more go to:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/01/17/obama-set-kick-whistle-stop-tour/
As in the days of Noah....

Hail King Obama:President for life

As Inauguration Day approaches and Barack Obama prepares to assume his first term as president, some in Congress are hoping to make it possible for the Democrat to not only seek a second term in office, but a third and fourth as well. The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary is considering a bill that would repeal the Constitution's 22nd Amendment prohibiting a president from being elected to more than two terms in office.Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., earlier this month introduced the bill, H. J. Res. 5, which, according to the bill's language, proposes "an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President."In the past, some presidents have been critical of the 22nd Amendment, including Eisenhower, Clinton and Reagan.In 1807 Thomas Jefferson, however, warned that presidents not bound by term limits could use their popularity and power to become kings."If some termination to the services of the chief magistrate be not fixed by the Constitution or supplied in practice," Jefferson wrote to the Legislature of Vermont, "his office, nominally for years, will in fact become for life; and history shows how easily that degenerates into an inheritance."Presidential term limits, however, were not "fixed by the Constitution" until ratification of the 22nd Amendment. Congress passed the Amendment on March 21, 1947, shortly after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the first and only president to be elected to more than two terms – in Roosevelt's case, four. The Amendment was ratified by the required number of states on Feb. 26, 1951.The 22nd Amendment states, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."The Amendment limits presidents to a maximum of eight years in office – or, under unusual circumstances, such as succession following the death of a president, a maximum of ten years in office. Should Rep. Serrano succeed in repealing the Amendment, Obama would be cleared to run for an unlimited number of terms, restricted only by the vote of the electorate.In order to achieve repeal of the 22nd Amendment, Serrano's proposal must be approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress and ratified by three-quarters of the states' legislatures.H. J. Res. 5 is not the first attempt by Serrano to repeal the 22nd Amendment. In 2003, Serrano introduced H. J. Res. 11 to the 108th Congress to accomplish the same purpose. A similar resolution, H.J. Res. 25, was also proposed the same year and received co-sponsorship from a bipartisan group of six other representatives. In 1987, during Reagan's term of office, Earl Michener, R-Mich., also proposed a repeal of the 22nd Amendment.At the current time, H.J. Res. 5 has not tallied any cosponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Prior to Franklin Roosevelt, presidents honored the precedent established by George Washington, who – though widely popular – refused to run for a third term of office.Thomas Jefferson, who became the second vice president of the U.S. after Washington declined to run for a third term and who then later became the third president, not only affirmed following the Washington's example, but also foresaw the eventual passage of the 22nd Amendment."General Washington set the example of voluntary retirement after eight years," Jefferson wrote in an 1805 letter to John Taylor. "I shall follow it, and a few more precedents will oppose the obstacle of habit to anyone after a while who shall endeavor to extend his term. Perhaps it may beget a disposition to establish it by an amendment of the Constitution."In the same letter to the Legislature of Vermont where he warned of a presidential monarchy, Jefferson further explained why he refused to run for a third term."Believing that a representative government, responsible at short periods of election, is that which produces the greatest sum of happiness to mankind," Jefferson wrote, "I feel it a duty to do no act which shall essentially impair that principle; and I should unwillingly be the person who, disregarding the sound precedent set by an illustrious predecessor, should furnish the first example of prolongation beyond the second term of office."WND attempted to contact Rep. Serrano about his reasons and argument for repeal of the 22nd Amendment, but phone calls to his communications director were not returned.
By Drew Zahn

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86324

As in the days of Noah...

GAY WATCH:"World's First Gay Superhero...."

SPIDER-MAN creator Stan Lee is to unveil the world’s first gay superhero.High school basketball star Thom Creed hides his developing superpowers along with his sexuality. Former Marvel Comics boss Stan, 86-who also created the Hulk and the X-Men-will unleash the character in an hour-long TV drama being shot in the US.If it’s a hit there it will cross to the UK.TV execs hope it will rival the huge success of shows likes Heroes.Lee developed the idea of a gay character from the award-winning novel Hero by Perry Moore.A TV insider said: “It was only a matter of time before we had our first gay superhero. And if there is one man who can make him a success it is Stan Lee.“There’s a real buzz among comic book fans.”

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/article2128530.ece?print=yes

As in the days of Noah...

OBAMA'S INAUGURATION CELEBRATIONS START:"Hotel nixes homosexual 'pig sex' party celebrating Obama inauguration"

Peter LaBarbera at Americans for Truth about Homosexuality announced today that a Washington, D.C., inaugural week event that originally was described in an e-mail as a "pig sex" orgy has been cancelled after concerned citizens complained to the Doubletree Hotel hosting the event."A big 'Thanks' to each of you who called the Doubletree and its parent company, Hilton Hotels," said LaBarbera in a statement, "urging them to not allow this unbelievably depraved and unhealthy homosexual event to occur in public conference rooms."LaBarbera continued, "We learned that thousands of concerned Americans called to complain in response to our reporting and follow-ups by WorldNetDaily.com, Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber and other conservative websites."As WND reported, LaBarbera obtained information about the planned event via e-mail from a source within the homosexual community. And while hotel managers repeatedly denied any such event was being planned, a reporter for the homosexual publication Washington Blade confirmed in his report plans for a "leather S&M party" at the hotel this weekend.LaBarbera said the hotel originally confirmed to him that Mid-Atlantic Leather Maneuvers had booked three second-floor conference rooms for three days, starting with Saturday night's events and culminating on Inauguration Day, Tuesday.Following public outcry over the event, however, lesbian blogger Pam Spaulding published today a M.A.L. Maneuvers announcement."As many of you know, extreme Christian groups have been pressuring Doubletree to cancel the 'Obama Inauguration Pig Sex Orgy,'" the announcement reads."For two days, the hotel stood firm while the accusations and falsehoods kept coming in. Just this morning, I told the management of Doubletree how impressed I was that they resisted the calls to shut us down. Unfortunately, the matter escalated to Doubletree Corporate, and the word has come down that they will not allow our event to go on as planned. To say that I am *** would be an understatement. We have a right to privacy and sexual freedom. I appreciate the efforts of the Centaurs (a D.C. homosexual sadistic sex group) in helping us set this up and fight the cancellation. I want to apologize to each of you who, some who have been with me for 9 years, for having to disappoint you at the 11th hour."As WND reported, news of the event led some concerned citizens to object, some to pray and some to take action. Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Alliance Action and Liberty Counsel, said he had contacted health officials about the event."It's simply inexcusable that the Doubletree would place at risk the health of its staff and future guests by facilitating this orgy in rooms where food is served," said Barber.He said hotel staff members apparently will be tasked with cleaning up "the various forms of potential infectious biological waste left behind.'"I have therefore notified the Washington D.C. Department of Health about the planned Doubletree orgy. The representative I spoke with was stunned and told me that the matter would be immediately investigated. I also notified the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, which will be looking into possible criminal violations should the Doubletree go forward with the event," he confirmed.Christian activist Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt also weighed in on the issue, first getting a denial from hotel officials that the event existed. He then talked with workers in several of the hotel offices, getting confirmation of the plans."Let us pray for our nation’s safety and repentance, during these days when Sodom and Gomorrah have been unleashed upon Washington, D.C.," he said.The issue already has generated hate mail for LaBarbera."I know that when you die, you'll be going to the farthest pit of hell, and no matter how much you beg, I'll never forgive you. … When you play with fire, you get burned. And sometimes, the flames don't get put out in time," one message said.LaBarbera previously has reported on "Leather" events held annually at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago and has criticized the company for its "long history of enabling and profiting off of the hyper-promiscuous 'leather' movement by hosting the annual sadomasochistic 'International Mr. Leather' conference."Obama, during his campaign and since the election, repeatedly has affirmed his support for homosexual rights, and his aides have said that they expect him to announce he will lift the ban on open homosexuality in the U.S. military almost as soon as he is sworn into office.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86412
PS:I decided not to post the pics with the entire article because they are profoundly disgusting and may offend you--as much as offends me....IF you want to read more you can go to the link.That is up to you.
It is not surprise that Obama supports gay lifestyle and has promised them too much during the campaign.And now since he is to his eyeballs in promises for votes he as to comply...WE'll see what he does....Yep...Obama "the christian"
What it is about to unleash in our country is something that would make my grandparents and parents roll over in their graves...
We need to cry out for a wave of TRUE BIBLICAL REPENTANCE to SWEEP our NATION....otherwise...we are headed to disaster...
As in the days of Noah....

NK has 'weaponized' plutonium

North Korea claims to have weaponized plutonium

BEIJING, China (CNN)Senior North Korean officials say the communist regime has "weaponized" its stockpile of plutonium, according to a U.S. scholar, in a move suggesting that North Korea may have significantly hardened its stance on nuclear negotiations.Selig Harrison, one of the few U.S. scholars granted access to senior North Korean officials, said at a news conference in Beijing that the officials told him they had weaponized 30.8 kilograms of plutonium, enough for four or five warheads.The director of the Asia Program at the Center for International Policy, who just returned from a five-day visit to Pyongyang, said senior North Korean officials told him the warheads will not be open for inspection.If it is true, the news portends a gloomy outlook for the future of the six-party talks that began in 2003 with the goal of getting North Korea to end its nuclear program."It does change the game," Harrison said.South Korea, the United States, Japan, China and Russia are participating in the talks.A 2007 agreement calls for scrapping nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula in return for energy aid to the North, normalized relations between the North and the United States and Japan, and a formal peace pact.The North Koreans told Harrison they want the rest of the fuel aid that Japan has promised them.North Korea had agreed to disable the reactor that had produced plutonium for nuclear weapons. But the United States and its allies have asked it to give up the plutonium it already has, an estimated 30 kilograms, as well as details of any other bomb-producing programs.Harrison said one possible reason for Pyongyang's tough new stance could be the declining health of leader Kim Jong Il, who reportedly suffered a stroke last year and may no longer be involved in day-to-day decisions. "People I talked to have many indications that some important things are submitted to him, but he is not working in the way he used to," Harrison said.He said military hard-liners have taken the lead in demanding from the United States a full declaration and verification of all nuclear weapons sent to South Korea between 1957 and 1991.The hard-liners also seek full normalization of relations with Washington before more talks about scrapping their nuclear arsenal.On Tuesday, during her Senate confirmation hearing for the secretary of state position, Sen. Hillary Clinton made it clear: de-nuclearization first, then diplomatic normalization. President-elect Barack Obama has stated his willingness to talk to the North Korean leader. Harrison also said the North demanded the completion of the light-water reactors as compensation for the dismantling of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor.The light-water reactor, which is not capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium, was promised to North Korea in the early 1990s for the North giving up its nuclear weapons.Its construction has been suspended. North Korea has long considered its nuclear program integral to its national security.North Korea tested a nuclear weapon in 2006. In June, it acknowledged producing about 40 kilograms of enriched plutonium. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/17/korea.nuclear/index.html
As in the days of Noah....

RUSSIA TODAY:"Israeli offensive in Gaza stops"

U.S. Intelligence chief: Son of bin Laden likely in Pakistan

WASHINGTON (CNN)A son of Osama bin Laden, believed to be an al Qaeda operative, has left Iran and is likely in Pakistan, the chief intelligence officer of the United States said Friday. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell told reporters that Saad bin Laden departed Iran in September and is probably hiding in Pakistan, where his father is also believed to be.U.S. Intelligence officials consider Saad to be a mid-level al Qaeda operative who fled to Iran after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.Two years later, Iran's government placed him under what U.S. officials called "permissive" house arrest. McConnell would not say whether the younger bin Laden escaped detention or was allowed to leave Iran.McConnell indicated he wasn't troubled by the move, suggesting the United States has a better chance of getting rid of Saad if he is in Pakistan. "It is better in my world if they are in places where we have access," McConnell said.Questions about Saad's whereabouts were prompted Friday by a Treasury Department release that announced financial sanctions had been imposed on bin Laden's son and three other al Qaeda members with ties to Iran. The statement said, "As of September 2008, it was possible that Saad bin Laden was no longer in Iranian custody."The Treasury Department described Saad "as part of a small group of al Qaeda members that was involved in managing the terrorist organization from Iran."

By Pam Benson--CNN National Security Producer

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/16/bin.laden.son/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

As in the days of Noah...

ISLAMIC CRAZE WATCH:Top Saudi cleric:OK for young girls to wed

The debate over the controversial practice of child marriage in Saudi Arabia was pushed back into the spotlight this week, with the kingdom's top cleric saying that it's OK for girls as young as 10 to wed.
"It is incorrect to say that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger," Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh,(picture left) the kingdom's grand mufti, said in remarks quoted Wednesday in the regional Al-Hayat newspaper."A girl aged 10 or 12 can be married. Those who think she's too young are wrong and they are being unfair to her."The issue of child marriage has been a hot-button topic in the deeply conservative kingdom in recent weeks.Late last month, a Saudi judge refused to annul the marriage of an 8-year-old girl to a 47-year-old man.The judge, Sheikh Habib Abdallah al-Habib, rejected a petition from the girl's mother, whose lawyer said the marriage was arranged by her father to settle a debt with "a close friend."The judge required the girl's husband to sign a pledge that he would not have sex with her until she reaches puberty.Al-Sheikh was asked during a Monday lecture about parents forcing their underage daughters to marry."We hear a lot in the media about the marriage of underage girls," he said, according to the newspaper. "We should know that Shariah law has not brought injustice to women."Christoph Wilcke, a Saudi Arabia researcher for Human Rights Watch, recently told CNN that his organization has heard many other cases of child marriages."We've been hearing about these types of cases once every four or five months because the Saudi public is now able to express this kind of anger-especially so when girls are traded off to older men," Wilcke said.Wilcke explained that while Saudi ministries may make decisions designed to protect children, "It is still the religious establishment that holds sway in the courts, and in many realms beyond the court."Last month, Zuhair al-Harithi, a spokesman for the Saudi government-run Human Rights Commission, said his organization is fighting against child marriages."The Human Rights Commission opposes child marriages in Saudi Arabia," al-Harithi said. "Child marriages violate international agreements that have been signed by Saudi Arabia and should not be allowed." He added that his organization has been able to intervene and stop at least one child marriage from taking place.
Wajeha al-Huwaider, co-founder of the Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia, told CNN last month that achieving human rights in the kingdom means standing against those who want to "keep us backward and in the dark ages."She said the marriages cause girls to "lose their sense of security and safety. Also, it destroys their feeling of being loved and nurtured. It causes them a lifetime of psychological problems and severe depression."The Saudi Ministry of Justice has made no public comment on the issue.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/17/saudi.child.marriage/index.html

As in the days of Noah...

Obama Prayer Leader Is From Group Linked to Hamas

A Muslim scholar chosen to speak at President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural prayer service Wednesday is the leader of a group that federal prosecutors say has ties to terrorists.Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, is one of many religious leaders scheduled to speak at the prayer service at Washington's National Cathedral.Mattson has been the guest of honor at State Department dinners and has met with senior Pentagon officials during the Bush administration. She also spoke at a prayer service at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Mattson, who was elected president of the society in 2006, is a professor of Islamic studies at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn.But in 2007 and as recently as last July, federal prosecutors in Dallas filed court documents linking the Plainfield, Ind.-based Islamic society to the group Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.Neither Mattson nor her organization have been charged. But prosecutors wrote in July that they had "a wide array of testimonial and documentary evidence expressly linking" the group to Hamas and other radical groups.Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for Obama's inaugural committee, would not discuss the case or say whether the committee knew about it."She has a stellar reputation in the faith community," Douglass said Saturday night.The existence of the court documents was first reported by Politico.The Islamic Society of North America, which describes itself as "the nation's largest mainstream Muslim community-based organization," is fighting its inclusion on a list of coconspirators in the Dallas terrorism case against the Holy Land Foundation.In court documents, Mattson's group says it does not condone terrorism.The court documents represent a complicated picture of the group.Law enforcement agencies have used the organization's annual convention as part of its outreach to the Muslim community. The group has provided religious training to the FBI, according to court documents. Karen Hughes, a former Bush confidant and under secretary of state, called Mattson "a wonderful leader and role model for many, many people."All this was going on while officials in the law enforcement and intelligence community apparently had evidence that the Islamic Society of North America had ties to terrorists and to the Holy Land Foundation. That foundation and five of its former leaders were convicted at a retrial in November of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas.Mark Pelavin, director of inter-religious affairs for the Union for Reform Judaism another organization participating in the prayer service called Mattson "a really important voice denouncing terrorism.""Clearly, Dr. Mattson has been welcome throughout the government," he said. "I haven't found anyone anywhere who's found anything Dr. Mattson has said that's anything other than clearly denouncing terrorism in quite explicit Islamic terms."Pelavin's group has a partnership with the Islamic Society to encourage members of mosques and synagogues to build ties nationwide.Attorneys for Mattson's group wrote in court documents that it is not a subject or target of the Holy Land investigation. The group has worked with the Bush administration's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, according to court documents.According to e-mails filed in the court case, one of the prosecutors seemed willing to ask the judge to remove the group from the list."I am sorry for the problems for your clients," Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks wrote in July 2007. "I hope to get something to you or file something with the court as soon as possible."The Islamic Society helps certify Muslim chaplains for federal prisons. Mattson leads a program at the Hartford Seminary that trains Muslim chaplains for the U.S. military.
Mattson was one of about three dozen leaders, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and two former Republican congressmen, Vin Weber and Steve Bartlett,who developed a report released last fall on how the U.S. can fight extremism in the Muslim world.

By AP

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/17/feds-say-obama-prayer-leader-group-linked-hamas/

As in the days of Noah....

Rabbi's Memorial in Egypt Called Off Due to Jihadist Threats

(IsraelNN.com) Arab and Islamic threats for the first time led to the cancellation of a pilgrimage and memorial at the tomb of a Israelis traveling into Egypt at this time, and specifically to the traditional gathering at the rabbi's tomb, would be in grave danger.In the past, the annual event marking anniversary of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeria's passing drew many hundreds of Jews from Israel and the Diaspora.The trip to the rabbi's burial site, originally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, was called off in response to a severe security alert. The National Security Council of the Prime Minister's Office issued a high-priority warning that Israelis traveling into Egypt at this time, and specifically to the traditional gathering at the rabbi's tomb, would be in grave danger of terrorist attack. One of the organizers of the memorial said that to hold the event in Egypt, as in the past, would have been unjustified under current circumstances.In addition to the ongoing threats by jihadist groups worldwide to strike Jews and Jewish assets wherever it is possible to do so, the tomb of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira (also called "Abir Yaakov"after his most famous book)became the focus of Egyptian anti-Israel efforts in recent weeks.A coalition of Egyptian political opposition parties calling itself "You Will Not Pass Through My Land" came together to prevent the memorial at the tomb in the village of Demitouh, near Alexandria.

Recent Hamas demonstration in Morocco. [Blue Eye]
The coalition created unlikely allies, from the far-left Al-Tagamu party to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, who petitioned the Egyptian government to forbid the event. An article in Al-Masri Al-Youm quoted the coalition's leader, Gamal Mounib, as saying he holds the Egyptian government responsible for any pilgrims reaching the shrine this year.The Moroccan-born "Abir Yaakov", who died in 1880 on the 20th day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is the grandfather of the late Israeli Kabbalist Yisrael Abuhatzeira, better known as the "Baba Sali". The tomb of Rabbi Yaakov has become a place of pilgrimage for many hundreds of Jews in all the years since Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1978. The largest group regularly comes from Israel and is given heavy protection by local security services.Only about 60 Jews currently live in Egypt, while the country's synagogues and the Israeli Embassy in Cairo are heavily guarded by Egyptian soldiers.Many hundreds of Jews seeking to take part in the annual trip to Rabbi Abuhatzeira's grave in Demitouh held two alternate events marking the sage's passing. In a hall in Ramleh in the center of the country, a special prayer gathering was held under the auspices of Rabbi Yechiel Abuhatzeira, a descendant of the "Abir Yaakov". In addition, a second event in memory of Rabbi Abuhatzeira was held in a synagogue in the southern Israeli town of Rishon Lezion for the several hundred strong Israeli contingent.

by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129457

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Farmers claim UK, Jordan boycotting Israeli fruit

Fruit growers in Israel have reported delays and reductions in orders from abroad since the military operation in Gaza was launched, due to various boycotts against Israeli produce. Farmers say much of their produce is being held in warehouses due to canceled orders, and fear a sharp decrease in fruit exports to countries such as Jordan, Britain, and the Scandinavian countries."We export persimmons, and because of the fighting a number of countries and distributors are canceling orders," Giora Almagor, of the southern town of Bitzaron, told Ynet. He said some of the produce had already been shipped while some was awaiting shipment in warehouses.Almagor said a large number of cancellations came from Jordan. "The produce stays packed in warehouses, and this is causing us massive losses," he said."The longer the fruit waits in storage after sorting, the more its quality decreases.We also have to pay for cooling the merchandise that should have already left, and the cost in considerable," he added.Ilan Eshel, director of the Organization of Fruit Growers in Israel, said Scandinavian countries have also been canceling orders."It's mostly Sweden, Norway, and Denmark," he said."In Scandinavia the tendency is general, and it may come to include all of the chains."Eshel says the boycott did not exist before the Gaza offensive was launched."It's getting worse, and more voices can be heard calling to boycott Israeli merchandise," he said."Until the operation began we had excellent business, though the economic recession in Europe was causing a slight fall in the market."He added that winter was an especially difficult season to be unable to export fruit, because the avocado, persimmon, and citrus markets are at their height.

By Yair Hason

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3656454,00.html

As in the days of Noah...

European leaders to help stop Gaza smuggling

German, British, Italian and French leaders are willing to take steps to help stop weapons smuggling into Gaza, they wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Saturday.Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote that they had met and intend to continue meeting with Israeli and Egyptian leaders in order to determine steps to help prevent arms trafficking into Gaza and bring about a ceasefire in the region.A copy of the letter had also been sent to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the four leaders wrote.Sarkozy, Merkel, and Brown will arrive in Israel Sunday to advance a Gaza Strip truce.Following their Israel visit, the three leaders are expected to meet with Mubarak in Sharm el-Sheikh.In a press conference earlier Saturday, broadcast by the BBC, Brown announced that Britain, France and Germany are prepared to provide naval resources to help monitor and stop arms being smuggled into the Gaza Strip.In addition, he said that Britain is also prepared to do everything it can to help with the border crossings, including European support for monitors at the crossings."We will do everything that we can to prevent the arms trafficking, which is at the root of some of the problems that have caused the conflict," he said."I believe that will help get a solution to this crisis and we are prepared to do everything to help also with the crossings to make sure that there is proper protection and therefore proper monitoring as well and I believe some of these things…will help expedite a solution to these problems," Brown added.Brown also discussed Britain's willingness to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying, "if the ceasefire comes, we have people ready to bring supplies into Gaza, we are prepared to help move children, to take them out of the area so that they can be treated elsewhere.""We are also determined that we'll do everything in our power to deal with unexploded bombs so that people feel more secure in the Gaza area and we are stepping up in addition to the hundred million we're giving the United Nations for their operations in Gaza over the next five years the humanitarian aid that we are able to provide," he added.Diplomatic sources reported that Egypt has invited a number of international leaders, primarily from European nations, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, in order to discuss the situation in Gaza. The four signatories of the letter to Olmert are among the expected participants.Earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said his country was not bound by earlier agreements with Israel to prevent arms trafficking from Egypt to Gaza.

By Roni Sofer

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657688,00.html

As in the days of Noah....

Hamas:"Resistance will continue"

Despite Israel's ceasefire declaration Saturday, Hamas says it will not be laying down its arms just yet.Group spokesman Fauzi Barhoum said that "a unilateral ceasefire does not mean an end to the aggression and siege, which also constitute components of war.Therefore, this means the resistance is not over yet."Meanwhile, Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamadan said that "If the Israeli military continues its existence in the Gaza Strip, this is a wide door for the resistance against the occupation forces." Hamadan characterized Olmert's statement as "failure speech number 2," referring to the Second Lebanon War."Through his declarations,Olmert attempted to avoid a commission of inquiry that would look into the war's failure."

'Hamas was not hurt'

Turning his attention to Israeli attacks in Gaza, Hamadan added:"Hamas was not hurt…Hamas and the Palestinian organizations continue to rule Gaza.The victims of this war will be the basis for the continuation of the fighting and hostility vis-à-vis the Israeli side."The Hamas representative also disparaged the IDF, saying that "if this is all the strength they have,they failed in defeating the Palestinian people." "Imagine what will happen when the circumstances change – and the circumstances will change. There is no doubt that one could sense Olmert was not confident in what he said. His speech will be leveraged to continue the resistance," Hamadan said.
Reuters contributed to the report

By ALi Waked

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657788,00.html

As in the days of Noah....

UN chief relieved about Gaza, urges Israel withdrawal

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday he was relieved about an Israeli ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and urged the Jewish state to withdraw all of its troops as soon as possible.Senate Committee "I am relieved that the Israeli government has decided to cease hostilities as of midnight GMT," Ban told reporters."This should be the first step leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza,"he said, adding that he wanted the withdrawal "as soon as possible".He said that Hamas militants also needed to do their part to bring an end to the violence by halting their rocket attacks against southern Israel. "Hamas militants must stop firing rockets now," he said.Ban said that humanitarian access for the people of the Gaza Strip was the top priority and the United Nations was ready to act immediately."Any durable solution must include the reopening of the (Gaza border) crossings and the prevention of illicit trafficking in arms," he said.The United States welcomed Israel's announcement of a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and expects all parties to stop hostile actions immediately, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Saturday."The goal remains a durable and fully respected ceasefire that will lead to stabilization and normalization in Gaza," she said in a written statement after Israel called off its three-week offensive in the area."The United States commends Egypt for its efforts and remains deeply concerned by the suffering of innocent Palestinians," Rice added. "We welcome calls for immediate coordinated international action to increase assistance flows and will contribute to such efforts." http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657807,00.html
As in the days of Noah...

Israel Declares Unilateral Cease-fire in Gaza

Israel is halting is military offensive against Hamas in Gaza. But Israeli troops will stay in the Palestinian territory for now...

Calling a Cease-Fire:"Israel to end battle with Hamas?

Quiet in Gaza After Cease-fire

Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire in its 22-day offensive, but the government said its troops will stay in the Palestinian territory for now....

Israel declares unilateral Gaza truce

After 21 days, Israel declares end to fighting: The National Security Cabinet voted Saturday evening to end the military operation in the Gaza Strip. Seven ministers supported the decision, two others objected, and one abstained.In a statement following the vote, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel fully achieved the operation's objectives, adding that the IDF will end its military operations at 2 am Sunday.The prime minister noted that Hamas sustained hard blows during the operation, adding that the group is an offshoot of Iran."Iran, with its weapons smuggling, attempted to do with Hamas what it did with Hizbullah in Lebanon," he said. "This is not a ceasefire with Hamas. These are understanding with elements in the international community which Hamas, as an illegitimate entity, has no place to be involved in."However, a Hamas representative said the group will continue to fight as long as Israeli soldiers remain in the Strip."If the Israeli military continues its existence in the Gaza Strip, that is a wide door for the resistance against the occupation forces," Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamada told al-Jazeera television.In his statement, PM Olmert said that for the time being the IDF would not be withdrawing from Gaza."These understandings do not guarantee a cessation of Hamas' rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. If they stop, we too shall stop. If not, IDF soldiers will hit back," he said.Turning his attention to IDF captive Gilad Shalit, Olmert said: "The Israeli government is working in many ways to bring Gilad Shalit home and, during the days of the operation, we did many things that brought us closer to this goal, upon which I will not elaborate.""Gilad is at the top of our list of priorities," the PM said.
Bar-On, Yishai object
Despite the decision, some ministers – and particularly Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On, who clashed with Olmert – presented their reservations over the ongoing rocket fire and Gilad Shalit's release. Both Bar-On and Shas leader Eli Yishai voted against the decision, while Rafi Eitan of the Pensioners' Party abstained.Cabinet members arrived at the Prime Minister's Office in Tel Aviv Saturday evening where they met with top security officials, including Army Chief Gabi Ashkenazi, IDF Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin, Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin, and Mossad Chief Meir Dagan.PM Olmert led the call to examine a unilateral ceasefire. He was supported by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Livni believes that there is no reason not to end the fighting, as the current operation is merely one round in the conflict and more rounds are expected vis-à-vis radical Islamic terrorists.The foreign minister, who has led international agreements with the US and European countries aimed at ending Hamas arms smuggling, believes a truce would be good to Israel. On Friday, Livni told Ynet that should the fire be renewed, Israel will respond harshly.Before Saturday's cabinet session, most Labor and Kadima cabinet ministers said they would endorse a truce and believe that international pressure and fears of a Gaza entanglement should prompt a unilateral ceasefire declaration. During the cabinet meeting, hundreds of protesters outside the PM's Office in Tel Aviv are urging the government to secure Gilad Shalit's release before the Gaza operation ends.
Reuters contributed to the story
By Roni Sofer

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657707,00.html

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Olmert: Hamas has no part in negotiations

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert explained Saturday that a cabinet decision to end the IDF's operation in Gaza was not a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, but rather an Israeli decision pursuant to negotiations and dialogues with the international community. "This is not a ceasefire with Hamas.These are understanding with sources in the international community which Hamas, as an illegitimate entity,has no place to be involved in," he said.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657762,00.html

As in the days of Noah...

Olmert: Hamas an offshoot of Iran

Hamas "is an offshoot of Iran," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a press conference announcing a cabinet decision on a cessation of Israel's operation in Gaza as of 2 a.m. Sunday morning."Iran, with its weapons smuggling, attempted to do with Hamas what it did with Hizbullah in Lebanon," he added. (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657761,00.html

As in the days of Noah....

Amsterdam: Anti-Israel graffiti scrawled on travel agency

Workers of the Dutch branch of the Israeli company Issta were surprised to discover Wednesday morning that the building's display windows had been spray-painted with anti-Israel graffiti.The employees said the slogans had been scrawled all across the display windows. The graffiti, which was in English, included a demand to withdraw from Gaza and swearwords against Israelis.The Amsterdam office is easily recognized as an Israeli one, as its logo – which includes its name in English and in Hebrew – is clearly displayed on the building's windows and signs.Although the workers spoke of "a very unpleasant feeling", they chose to open the office as usual. Local police were informed of the incident and reinforced their patrols around the building. Issta, Israel's biggest travel agency, has a number of branches abroad. The office is located in Amsterdam's city center and employs six workers – an Israeli manager and five Dutch employees. Ever since Israel launched its Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip three weeks ago, many anti-Israeli rallies have taken place across the world and a rise in anti-Semitic acts has been recorded in different countries. In France, at least 55 anti-Semitic incidents have taken place since the start of the operation. The organizers of the annual Israeli tourism fair which opened in Paris on Thursday were forced to hold the event in a limited format due to threats by anti-Israel elements and after the management of the hotel scheduled to host the fair expressed its fear that the building would be damaged by protestors.

By Danny Sadeh

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657442,00.html

PS:You can go to the link to watch the other pics.They are too explicit and Im not gonna honour such a vulgarity by posting it in my blog.

As in the days of Noah...

France: 55 anti-Semitic acts since start of Cast Lead

A total of 55 anti-Semitic incidents occurred in France since the start of Israel's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, said President of the French Jewish Students' Union Raphael Haddad on Monday."This is a higher number of incidents than that of 2001 after the second intifada started,"Haddad said in a meeting with Secretary of State for Urban Policies Fadela Amara.World Jewry Representatives of 20 other organizations also took part in the meeting.France has the largest Jewish and Muslim populations in all of Europe, with some 600,000 Jews and 4 - 5 million Muslims living in the country.According to Haddad, a total of 271 anti-Semitic incidents were noted in 2007.In the meeting, representatives of other organizations said tensions have been running high between Jews and Muslims in certain Parisian suburbs and condemned the wave of anti-Semitism that has been spreading over the internet.In the last week alone three arson attempts were made on synagogues in France, despite religious and political leaders' pleas for restraint.The last such incident occurred Sunday night, when Molotov cocktails were hurled at a synagogue in the Saint-Denis town north of Paris. The synagogue was not damaged, but a fire broke out in a nearby Jewish restaurant. No one was injured in the incident.At Amara's request, organization representatives proposed various actions to bring the organizations closer together, starting with writing up a treaty about "coexistence".Representatives suggested such a treaty be posted online, along with a proposal to hold a convention on racial discrimination and meetings between representatives of the two communities.

By AFP

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3655372,00.html

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Rocket in Ashdod causes power outage:Synagogue Takes Direct hit...

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continue to fire rockets at the western Negev on Saturday evening, with a Grad-type rocket hit in Ashdod causing power outages in the south of the city. Two Kassam rockets also hit Ashkelon, causing no casualties or damage. On Saturday afternoon, Hamas exploited a humanitarian lull in IDF activity to fire two rockets at Beersheba. The projectiles hit in open areas, causing no injuries or damage. Kiryat Gat was also targeted by rockets that struck open areas during the afternoon.During the evening, officials from the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council reported hearing three explosions near a kibbutz; no injuries or damage was reported.Throughout the day, the agricultural regional councils of Eshkol, Sdot Negev and Sha'ar Hanegev were all struck by rockets. No injuries or damage were reported. Four mortar shells were fired at Eshkol shortly after noon. Earlier, a rocket hit outside a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev region.Ofakim and Netivot were targeted by four rockets in the morning, with one rocket damaging a synagogue in Tifrah, near Ofakim. The building was empty due to a break in morning prayers and no one was wounded, although two people were treated for shock. Heavy damage to the structure was reported.Gaza-belt communities released a statement on Saturday evening expressing support for Operation Cast Lead while also backing diplomatic contacts aimed at reaching a cease-fire."We have carried the burden of the threat of terrorism for eight years, and hold in esteem the [military] operation that has been under way over the past three weeks against the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza," the statement said.Meanwhile, the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba said seven-year-old Uriel Elazarov remained in critical condition. On Thursday, a piece of rocket shrapnel penetrated his skull.The condition of a 43-year-old woman also seriously wounded in Thursday's attack has improved, hospital officials added, saying she had left the intensive care unit in moderate condition. On Friday, Grad rockets fired from Gaza hit Kiryat Gat, wounding three people and causing heavy damage. Others were treated for shock following the attack.Ashdod was also targeted by two Grad rockets on Friday afternoon. One rocket struck the yard of a home, wounding one man moderately and one man lightly.They were evacuated to Rehovot's Kaplan Hospital.The second projectile hit a factory in the city, causing heavy damage but no casualties. At least one man was treated for shock.Twenty-three rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel on Friday.Soldiers and civilians in the South described the rockets fire over the weekend as routine.Though Sderot seemed a ghost town on Saturday, on Friday it was flooded with people who came from across the country to show support and to do their Shabbat shopping."We wanted to feel the atmosphere here from up close," said Shimon Nagar, an Israeli who has been living in New York for 40 years. He arrived in Israel a few days ago, and together with two of his friends came to Sderot to demonstrate solidarity.One of Nagar's friends, Shmuel Levy from Herzliya, described himself as a leftist, "and even a communist." He supported continuing the offensive against Hamas. "It is either peace or war. In war as in war, but peace will win eventually," Levy said, before the three friends drove to the best lookout into Gaza.Three couples from Tel Aviv, Ness Ziona and Rishon Lezion ate felafel near the Sderot outdoor market, which remained closed on Friday. They said they has decided to do all their shopping in the town."This is our first time here and we decided to support the people of Sderot and the area economically and to show them our love," said Billy Shapira from Tel Aviv."Two of my children who are serving in the army asked me to buy things for them here, too, and that's what we did," Ariela Cohen from Rishon Lezion said.Late on Saturday morning many soldiers and Sderot residents were hanging around the Kfar Aza Café/convenience store."I just came back home after three weeks in Eilat," Sderot man Pini Asido told his friends. "I thought it would be over by now, but it isn't," he said. "But don't get me wrong. I am not complaining, we have been waiting for this for eight years."His friend Shmuel Dahan said he refused to be intimidated by the rockets. "I am glad that Hamas fired rockets at Beersheba and Ashdod, otherwise they [the government] wouldn't have started this operation at all," he said.When asked about the civilian casualties inside Gaza, in particular children, Dahan said: "Of course it hurts. We are human. This is not an easy thing, but what do you expect us to say, that we don't want our children to have a normal life?" he asked.Another woman at the table said that though this operation was taking a heavy toll in children's lives, "They killed more of us. They kill us all from the inside, not a few hundreds of us, but all of us who have been living under this threat for so long."Sec.-Lt. Stav Gilad from Jerusalem, whose job is to facilitate the evacuation of wounded soldiers and damaged equipment from Gaza, hasn't been home for three weeks. On Friday, her mother, father and aunts brought her a homemade lunch.Stav said Operation Cast Lead had entered a static phase as far as the soldiers were concerned. "This is the phase where you've had enough of it and everything becomes routine. But there is a difference between the desire to go back home and to rest a little, and the greater desire to reach this operation's main goal: to stop the rocket fire," she said.Stav is an only child. Her mother, Ariela, who signed the documents that allow her to serve in a combat unit, said she had been worried sick. "I know she is not going inside Gaza, but she is here in the area and that causes me to lose sleep," she said.Stav's father, Dotan Gilad, who lives in California and took a flight to visit his daughter, said that the offensive was generally accepted by Americans."The IDF must remove the rocket threat from over the heads of the people. The Americans think we are crazy that we allowed this to happen, they think we are wimps," he said.
By SHELLY PAZ, YAAKOV LAPPIN AND JPOST.COM STAFF

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232100165159&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

As in the days of Noah...