November 5, 2002

Israel will likely have elections on January 28, 2003 but they may be delayed if there is fighting between the US and Iraq during this time. Until then former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be the Foreign Minister and will likely make an all out effort to replace Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the leader of the Likud party in the near future. Writing in the Jerusalem Post Gerald M. Steinberg has an optimstic view of what a renewed mandate can allow Sharon to achieve. 11:22:46 PM

New Defenses A jointly developed US-Israeli ground based laser beam weapon successfully shot down a shell in a test in New Mexico. 11:22:03 PM

The Jerusalem Post reports that Amnesty International's latest report on alleged IDF human rights violations in Jenin and Nablus during Operation Defensive Shield understates civilian deaths caused by terrorism in March of this year by more than a factor of three. The report states that 40 civilians were killed in March while Israel lists 131 killed. This inaccuracy would cast a shadow over the whole report except it is useless to begin with as it is based on unverified Palestinian accounts. 11:21:41 PM

Looks like killing terrorists from the air by shooting missles at their cars is okay for the US to do. Hopefully this will lessen the complaints when Israel does the same. 1:01:09 AM

Alan Dershowitz in Toronto Professor Alan Dershowitz presented the keynote speech at the reception marking the end of the UJA Federation Israel Emergency Campaign 2003 in Toronto, Ontario. Professor Dershowitz examined the themes of his book, Why Terrorism Works noting that as long as states and institutions such as European Nations, Canada, and the Church among others react to terrorism in ways that give in to or promote the terrorists agenda, it will continue. He stated that the only way to stop goal-oriented terrorism such as Palestinian is to take actions that reverse the terrorists gains creating disincentives for terror. He had fewer solutions for apocalyptic terrorism such as al-Qaida but noted cutting off their money supply is a key tool and that some civil liberties may have to be carefully comprised. For example he suggested a national ID card, which would be used in places such as airports where it is important to verify identifies. Since cutting off the money supply of terrorists is a key tool in fighting terror, Professor Dershowitz expressed anger that Canada’s Foreign Minister Bill Graham stated that there is a difference between money going to support Hezbollah military actions and civilian programs it might run. He noted that the Nazis no doubt had doctors, lawyers and civil workers and that Mussolini made the trains run on time, but nobody uses these civil works to excuse overall actions. Overall the speech was very informative and held out hope that if governments realize that the way to stop terror is to fight it and not try to give in to it or pay off the terrorists then it can be stopped. Professor Dershowitz speaks on Tuesday Tues. Nov. 5th : 12:00 – 1:00 p.m at Hart House in the downtown Univeristy of Toronto Campus on , Divesting From Morality : "Israel and the Culture on Campus". An article from Monday's National Post gives a taste of his opinions on the matter. 12:46:05 AM