Christians, Jews abroad step in over Qassam protection in Sderot
Sderot's security officer: 30 shelters 'have no basic infrastructure like electricity and can't be inhabited even for five minutes.'
By Mijal GrinbergOn Thursday, in light of the security situation, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), a private organization funded mainly by contributions from the United States, announced it would fund the work to increase Sderot's protection against Qassams, which could start in the coming days.
Scenes of dozens of people shoving each other and begging to get on buses leaving Sderot proved a painful illustration of the frustration and fear of the residents. One reason for the pressure they are under is the sense of insecurity stemming from the lack of shelters in the city.
Haaretz sought to understand how much money has been invested in the town in recent years and where - in lieu of the state - private bodies have stepped in.
The demand to reinforce houses in the area around the Gaza Strip arose in March 2001, when the first Qassams landed. Out of the four regional councils and the city of Sderot, the reinforcement of the houses in Kibbutz Nahal Oz was approved. But even that stopped. As the situation deteriorated over the past year, attempts were made to get approval to reinforce 5,000 homes within seven kilometers of the Gaza Strip those with tile roofs and no shelters or secure rooms.
In February, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised the heads of the regional councils that reinforcement would be approved and pledged NIS 300million for the job. Some NIS 10 million has been approved for an initial survey. Since then, the Home Front has submitted to various bodies an estimate of NIS 900 million for necessary reinforcement. Alon Schuster, the head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, and his predecessor, MK Shai Hermesh, believe the cost is lower.
"I want to stay," one resident, a neighbor of Defense Minister Amir Peretz, said. "But let them reinforce the house."
On Wednesday a private contractor approached tycoon Arcadi Gaydamak about reinforcing the city. Gaydamak took one meeting with them, and on Friday he is expected to tour the city to estimate costs.
Sderot has 58 public shelters, none of which are suitable for extended stays. According to the city's security officer, 30 shelters "have no basic infrastructure like electricity and can't be inhabited even for five minutes."
Twenty-eight shelters are being used for other purposes like afternoon day care centers or synagogues, and lack shelter equipment. A request for funding to improve infrastructure in the shelters was submitted to the Home Front Command, but the funding has not been received.
With regard to the kibbutzim, according to local estimates, each kibbutz has about 15 to 20 shelters, most uninhabitable for long periods. The money to change the situation, millions of shekels, has not been found.
Last June a Qassam fell on a school in Sderot. As a result, its was decided to move ahead on reinforcing the schools. Twenty-four schools were given reinforced spaces where students would go if the alarm was sounded. Parents and others argued that full protection was necessary, and petitioned the High Court. In the end it was decided to fully reinforce classrooms in grades one through three, but this has not been started; 151 public kindergartens have been reinforced.
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Is the Bible a legal land deed? Please! If you can straight faced tell me the jews deserve Israel/Jeruysalem at any cost, even and that the way they treat the palestinians is A-okay, well, from what I know about christianity and what they CLAIM to be about, you are about as UNchristian as they come. Of course if what many claim about G-d IS true, he is as bigoted as they rest of you. Religious radicalism is bringing the middle east to exactly what christians WANT it to be...an Armageddon. disturbing to say the least.
"There have been some pretenders that have donned the Yarmulke, Talit and other accoutrements and have pretended to be Jewish Rabbis, to all outward appearances". BEN JABO "I attended the Christian Zionist extravaganza as a reporter, and it was there I met E. Daniel Wright of Houston. He wore tzitzit, a black kipa, a white shirt and black trousers, and sported a long gray beard. A member of the Church of the Nazarene, Wright said he dressed as an Orthodox Jew to spur questions from Christians, which he would answer by telling them about Christianity?s Jewish roots and Israel?s importance to his fundamentalist understanding of the New Testament?s plan for the return of Jesus." -Ira Rifkin For the entire report see link below. http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=2389
You asked: "When you say "plenty of Jews will be saved" you mean 144,000 Jews? In my book that`s NOT `plenty`." Answering for FSS: the belief that only 144,000 will be saved is Jehovah Witness doctrine, & to my knowledge, not any other faction of Christianity. "Where will the Jews that don`t accept Jesus go?" Half-humorous Answer: Sderot and Kiryat Shmona. Seriously, though your question helps illustrate the failing of 'typical Christian' theology: they only have two or three designations for the soul in afterlife, heaven, hell and/or purgatory, and a view obviously oversimplistic, inaccurate and unworkable.
You got me there. :-)
about funds going to a worthy cause as to the protection of Israeli citizens, use your efforts and time to lay the foundations for an organization dedicated to charity work in the Palestinian areas. (just ensure it ruthlessly condemns the Palestinian terrorist groups or else it won't bring in very many contributions from the West) Don't be lazy and negative. Be positive and get going. Good luck!
that the Arabs REFUSED to accept the PARTITION PLAN. They made war instead in 1948, 1956, 1967 & 1973. What part of war don't you understand??
There have been some pretenders that have donned the Yarmulke, Talit and other accoutrements and have pretended to be Jewish Rabbis, to all outward appearances. You must know there's be a a continual outreach attempt by the so-called Hebrew-Christian's. A number of years ago, Long Island was a hotbed of this type of activity.
Rabbi Eckstein formed his laison with the Christians in 1983. His whole premise is and has always been that any money that his organization gives to any other organization must grant him and his Christians recognition for their good work. Apart from that anyone viewing the fundraising propaganda for this organization quickly realizes that while Eckstein is a rabbi with Orthodox simcha he is first and foremost busy with ministering to christians in order to get their money so that he can make a name for himself. Eckstein isn't concerned with whether or not this furthers Christian doctrine or views the only thing he is concerned with is making a name for himself.
I thought I explained to you where to find the stipulations of the UN partition plan? And still you think all non-Jews in Palestine need to go to Jordan? There's no arguing with you, apparently. Must be a zionist thing.
Please stay away from the mushrooms. I hear only people telling me that God did this, or God did that. Until I see proof, I call these people bedtime story tellers (calling them liars might be a bit harsh). Please show me a deed with the signature of God stating that indeed he gave away all of Palestine to the Hebrew invaders, thousands of years ago. I am sure some illegal Israel immigrants in Hebron are now experienced enough to create it for you.
Paulo, the Bible says when Christ returns he will return to the Mount of Olives and he will be returning for the Jews and to save Israel from destruction. It will be at that time they (who haven't already) will recognize Him as their Messiah. And if the Bible says this is what is going to happen, then it WILL happen. And sooner than later. Look up! Your redemption draweth near!!
"As written in the Bible, plenty of jews will be saved in the last days before the throne of G-D, after seeing the Messiah they had waited all these millenium" -FSS When you say "plenty of Jews will be saved" you mean 144,000 Jews? In my book that's NOT 'plenty'. The title of your post says: "JEWS WILL GO HEAVEN AFTER ACCEPTING THEIR MESSIAH". Where will the Jews that don't accept Jesus go?
firing quassam to sderot people is a hostile act and is in the opposite direction of seeking peace
There's a big problem. Mubarak had stated just this week that HAMAS WILL NEVER MAKE PEACE WITH ISRAEL.
Gazan's don't have to live there. They really should be in Jordan, the portion of Israel that Britain swiped and gave to Jordan. Actually, UNWRA has been taking care of their needs for 60 sixty. Supplies them with food and necessities. Pali's however, much prefer to use their money to buy guns & bullets, this allows them to shoot at Israeli's and each other. Surely you noticed that they shot up a kids soccer game held at an UNWRA school as a gesture of thanks to UNWRA. Pali's could have had the State in '48, they chose to war against Israel, and as they say in gambling, they crapped out.
The're Jews & Christians working for the benefit of Israel. Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is a JEWISH Rabbi, he founded the organization. Do yourself a favor, GOOGLE it and see what it's all about before you assume all sorts of ill-informed assumptions.
Quite some solid way of thinking from the side of your Evangelists. I know from close by of my Evangelist friends here though that this does not reflect THEIR way of thinking. Nevertheless could be a nice combination , Jews and Muslims as servants of the Evangelists to be afterwards dispatched to hell, wow ! Happy to see that somehow somebody forgot to get the Buddhists into the picture , thank God. Just make sure though that the IFCG will have the right financial controller , an angel clean one.
Criticism from within Israel? Who, what, when, a couple of links or attributions. Every organization has malcontents, let's us know who they are. Otherwise your statement are the usual pro-arab, anti-Israel BS.
Just in case you didn't know it, the Palestinian's did have an "Independent State" under the UNP Partition Plan. They rejected it when the attacked Israel in 1948. Subsequent rejections followed when the attacked in '56, '67 & '73. Now they have an independent Gaza which they so sorely desired, and have made a total mess of it by killing one another. If necessary, Israel will do to Gaza what it was forced to do to Lebaon. Nasrallah deeply regreted that he started that war and has clearly stated so. That so-called "Saudi Peace Agreement" is front loaded by the Saudis, requiring Israel to forfeit certain rights before the Arabs will deign to sit down to talks. Arabs don't want peace, the want all of Israel. Muslims are so peaceful they're killing each other in Gaza and ditto for Iraq.
Paulo wrote "It is you who has your head in the sand over the criticism levelled at this organisation from within Israel, from conservative Jews." Note to Paulo: Conservative Jews are not the same as Orthodox or ultra-orthodox Jews. A number of ultra-orthodox Jews refuse to recognize the state of Israel, it is no surprise (nor particularly relevant) that a number of 'Orthodox' Jews will gripe about any interaction with Christians or Muslims or even Secular Jews. Fortunately, many Conservative and Reform Jews aren't as unreasonable.
If you wish to give an intelligent discourse, first rule is find out what you're talking about, otherwise your ignorance and bias is revealed for all to see. "Rabbi" Yechiel Eckstein founded IFCG in 1983. He's a JEWISH rabbi, not some faker posing as a jew. Google it and do some reading, gain some knowledge, which you're sorely lacking.
Dear Gina; In your respoonse to Paulo (#1), you indicated that the organization was run by a "Jewish Rabbi". May I enquire; Is there any other kind of Rabbi?
paulo my little chum, you seem to know nothing about realpolitik
better lives if they were not all about "ruling the world". However, we could NEVER support their desire to claim Israel, Jerusalem in paticular. As Holy as the land is to the Christians, you don't see them demanding to pocess it. This land cannot be taken, only God given.
Home reinforcement is a band-aid. We need to be proactive. If we destroy the Qassams before they land, they cannot hurt anyone.
You hit the nail on the head. This is the core of the problem. Although it is said to make peace you have to talk to your enemy, but such a statement presumes although the two parties are at war with eachother, neither of them negates the basic right of the opponent to exist and live.
BURN GAZA TO THE GROUND AND BULLDOSE THE REST, AND WE WILL NOT NEED ANYMORE SHELTERS! ENOUGH SAID!
it seems that there is not any money left to protect the Sderot residents after it has all been spent on illegal settlers
Your analysis is brilliant except there is a small problem: Hamas refuses to accept the presence of the state of ISRAEL and vows to destroy it. How can Israel and Hamas make a peace plan when one of the parties is set on eradicating the other?
if they'd extend that kind of support to the civilians of Palestine who have to live under Israeli occupation and/or control.
but for you, very worry when you will go? stop being a warmonger, trying to sow discord between jews and christians. Yes, we believe that only by accepting the L-rd Jesus' death on the cross, that His blood cleanse us from all sins, then we shall be saved. But, we loves the jewish brothers from our hearts, because our Heavenly Father loves them unconditionally, and wants us to pray for them unconditionally, not just to convert them! Seek for your own salvation, then to point fingers at the jews. As written in the Bible, plenty of jews will be saved in the last days before the throne of G-D, after seeing the Messiah they had waited all these millenium. See Romans 11, Revelation, see Jeremiah, Zechariah.
It doesnt matter who runs that organization the fact is at long last people recognising that the POOR PEOPLE of Sderot are suffering under constant bombardment of Qassams. No one should have to live like that and the media ignores it concentrating only on the IDF when it retaliates (putting the retaliation in small print!)
You stated the organization was run by evangelical Christians. I've given you information to show otherwise. It is run by both Jews and Chrisitans. It is irrelevant to me who criticizes this organization. All that matters to me is that they will contribute to the protection of innocent Israeli civilians.
In his youth the Pope even played sometimes for a football team of local Yeshiva when Jewish studendts met with their rivals from local Catholic Seminary (and numbers of players were not equal). The Pope established diplomatic relations between Vatican and Israel. Some Jews were personal friends of the Pope, others were his admirers.
The Israeli government is responsible for the safety of Sderot citizens, as it forced the Jews to leave Gush Katif, leaving room for the Hamas mad dogs to start terrorism. As the Olmert government remains inactive, it is great new that foreign friends try to protect Sderot people. Who cares what they believe, they are trying to save lives. The Paulo's of this world are just waiting to see the Jews being pushed into the sea.
Understandably, due to almost 2000 years of Christian anti-semitism and anti-Jewish missionary activity, there are Jews who are suspicious of any Christian evangelical group. However, groups like IFCG and many other evangelical groups that support Israel *explicitly* disavow proselytizing Jews. I prefer the attitude that I believe was attributed to Menachem Begin. To paraphrase, in the present both Jews and evangelical Christians are ardent supporters of Israel. For now we can put aside our divergent theological beliefs about the nature of the Messiah. When the Messiah comes, we will ask him whether he is coming or returning and then we will know who is right and whom to follow. In any case, unfortunately the left in general and the Christian left in particular is become increasingly anti-Israel. Conversely, the right in general and the Christian right in particular are some of the most ardent supporters of Israel.
"I live in Los Angeles" - I like LA, I can patronise Americans and speak Spanish all in the one place. "The organisation is founded by Rabbi Yechiel" - I never disputed this. It is you who has your head in the sand over the criticism levelled at this organisation from within Israel, from conservative Jews.
Obviously Israel cannot tolerate the rocket attacks upon Sderot or in any other part of Israel. All of the measures that Israel has used to combat these attacks have failed. Today Hamas is stronger than ever and launches rocket attacks on a regular basis. Even the last occupation of northern Gaza did not halt the attacks. All of the tough talk from Israeli hard-liners is merely sillyness which seeks to jeapordize the general Palestinian population with attacks and humanitarian crisis. This has all been tried before to negative effect. The only way to stop the attacks is a comprehensive peace agreement and an independent Palestinian state. This is a process which will take years to complete and has not even started yet. Once this is underway then the rocketeers can be treated as a criminal element rather than a paramilitary organization. The process will be painful and full of problems but there is no other solution.
who needs enemies?
I live in Los Angeles. Whether you like it or not, the organization is founded by Rabbi Yechiel Z. Eckstein. Check the website if you don't believe me.
does not even recognize Israel's right to exist?
"The organisation is run by a Jewish rabbi" - This criticism isnt coming from only me, the Orthodox Jewish Party has told its members to not accept any support and funds from the IFCG and they're as Jewish as you get. Gina pass on a big hello to everyone in Texas for me.
Shalom There is only one solution to stop these Kassam rockets. I will guarantee they will stop. Yisrael government must allow Yisraeli citizens to defend themselves. How? Allow Sderot residents and all other citizens to fire rockts into Azza, Rammallah and all other Arab cities in the Yehuda and Shomron. Shoot Arab cars and bomb their places without government intervention and support. Bezrat Hashem! This for sure will work.
Did the Mossad give George W Bush the Skull and Bones name "temporary?" If not the Mossad, who then? The CIA? The KGB? The MossadCIAKGB? Baruch Hashem Mind over matter. NBC keeps showing a "documentary" called "God's Banker," and in it they claim that "no one live to tell these secrets." Wrong. Not so. Anymore. ALL secrets will be revealed. Each and every one of them. Out you to save your Life, bend over backwards to share and care, be inherently good and kind, be God -like and like God as "Charity saves from death," literally speaking. Shabbat Shalom Bamidbar.
Christians, Jews abroad step in in Sderot... Step in right where you are to save your Life. The ego, the "I," argues and minds the thought of unquestioning generosity and the concept of unconditional sharing, but we are to Know that "Charity saves from death," and that sharing is not 'socialist,' or 'communist,' but the foundation and the cornerstone of Judaism. It is all the (modern) political spin of 'fiscal conservatism,' a (modern) code for fascism, Baruch Hashem, that has pushed us all to the brink of a dead end and Shoah2, The Sequel by Illuminati design. Again. We have the KnowHow, Baruch Hashem, in principle of how to employ wealth but we don't practice our KnowHow because we are in spiritual "Egyptian bondage." All rise www.zohar.com and receive -Kabbalah - (y)our Revelation above time, space and motion, at "Sinai," (y)our spiritual Peak and Summit,to usher in the Age and Era of Universal Messiah of "love thy neighbor." Shabbat Shalom Bamidbar to all.
This is a terrific organization: The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews was founded in 1983 to promote understanding and cooperation between Jews and Christians and to build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns. Our vision is that Jews and Christians will reverse their 2,000-year history of discord and replace it with a relationship marked by dialogue, understanding, respect and cooperation. Based in Chicago and Jerusalem, The Fellowship operates under the leadership of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, and is governed by an independent board of directors, people from both faith groups who share our strong belief in building bridges between the Christian and Jewish communities. www.ifcj.org/site/PageServer
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews - Israel certainly has some strange friends. This group is run by Evangelists who believe that when the 'holy land' is once again under the control of Jews then Jesus will return to Earth. Christians will be taken up to heaven and Muslims and Jews will be left behind in a world to be destroyed by god. Certainly these are people I would like to have on my side.