In an attempt at cutting off any thought of an Israeli withdrawal of the Golan Heights as part of any peace deal with Syria, PM Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the Golan Heights will remain in Israeli control.

According to Ynet: “Netanyahu’s remark clarifies that the Turkish-mediated talks held between Damascus and the Ehud Olmert government have been frozen and would likely remain that way. The Syrians are demanding an Israeli declaration on the Jewish state’s willingness to withdraw from the Golan Heights as the basis for any continued dialogue.

The prime minister has said in closed forums that he is ready to hold negotiations with Syria, without preconditions. Before the Knesset elections in February, Netanyahu visited the Golan and planted a tree there as a symbol of Israel’s sovereignty over the area.”

Let’s hope that Netanyahu can stay strong cause as he gets set to meet Prez. Obama, the pressure is sure to mount.

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It appears that newly minted PM Benjamin Netanyahu will actually keep a campaign promise. Legislation will be introduced to privatize the Israel Lands Authority.

According to Globes: “The reform includes the transfer ownership of land from the ILA to the tenants who currently lease it under long-term leases for residences or business, and who will now assume full ownership. The terms for the transfer of ownership, including compensation, will be determined by the ministerial committee. If necessary, legislation will be prepared for this purpose. The marketing of new land will be solely for sale, not leases, even if there is no detailed plan for the land.

Under the reform, the ILA will cease to have any role in planning and developing infrastructures, and the responsibility will be transferred to local authorities and the private sector. Cases that require government involvement in planning and development will come under the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and Construction, which will outsource the work.

The ILA will be replaced with a Land Authority, which will have a headquarters and three divisions. The business division will market land and carry out transactions, the land protection division will oversee and enforce the state’s land rights, and the service division will be responsible for current leases. The service division will outsource its work.”

Now let’s hope that the pledge to cut taxes will be implemented as well.

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A 49 year old man who just returned form a trip to Mexico is the 2nd confirmed case of pig flu in Israel.

PM Netanyahu called for a special meeting to see how Israeli health ffciails should deal with the diesease. According to Ynet: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a special meeting in his office Tuesday evening regarding the looming threat of swine flu spreading in Israel.

Netanyahu was said to have the Defense Ministry take point on the matter, but eventually tasked the Health Ministry with ensuring the nation’s readiness in case of an outbreak.

A regional conference on the perils of the swine flu pandemic is expected to be held on Thursday, with delegates from Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in attendance; although Cairo has yet to confirm its delegation to the meeting.

Earlier, foreign and health ministries’ officials met with various government representatives on the matter. They were briefed on the origin of the H1N2 virus and were told that so far, the only confirmed deaths form swine flu were found in Mexico.

The problem, they were told, is the fact that the flu in undetectable while the virus is still in the incubation stages, and therefore the dangers is that Israelis who are unaware of being infected, will return to Israel in the next few days.

The Foreign Ministry is said to be making every effort to locate any Israelis who may have been infected before the leave Mexico. The ministry’s situation room is currently in contact with the World Health Organization and various health bureaus worldwide.”

Don’t eat the pork!

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Citing continued failure and a flawed process the new Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, looks like it will be taking a  much different approach in peace negotiations that previous Israeli governments.

According to the Daily Mail: “Liberman said: ‘The historic approach has so far not brought any result or solution.’

He said they would need to find a ‘new approach’.

He added: ‘Past prime ministers were prepared to make wide-ranging concessions and the result of the Olmert-Livni government was the second Lebanon war, the operation in Gaza, severance of relations with Qatar and Mauritania, Gilad Schalit still in captivity and the peace process at a dead end.’

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials of the new government have spoken at length about the emotional and strategic ties between Israel and the United States, clear differences are emerging over the outlines for an Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Ultra-nationalist Lieberman made waves after after taking office last month, saying the past year of U.S.-led negotiations was no longer relevant and concessions to Palestinians only invite war.”

Looks like Israel will hold the Palestinians accountable for terrorism, as we demand that they acknowledge, officially, that Israel has a right to exist in their own Jewish homeland.

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