Bush Invites Israel's Olmert to Visit Washington

U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday invited Israel's interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to visit Washington immediately after he forms a cabinet following his win in parliamentary elections. Olmert's office said Bush telephoned to congratulate the interim leader on the victory of his centrist Kadima party. (Reuters/Yahoo)

Palestinian Parliament Approves Hamas Government. Hamas Vows to Fight Israel by Nidal al-Mughrabi

A Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament approved the Islamic militant group's cabinet and program on Tuesday, clearing the way for it to take control of the government two months after its shock election victory. Chanting "God is Greatest" after the 71-to-36 vote, Hamas lawmakers hugged and kissed Ismail Haniyeh, their teary-eyed prime minister-designate who vowed to not to abandon the fight against Israel.

"The Koran is our constitution, Jihad is our way, and death for the sake of God is our highest aspiration," Hamas lawmaker Hamed Bitawi said.

On Tuesday, Haniyeh said: "We were born from the womb of resistance, we will protect resistance and the arm of resistance will not be touched." Addressing Mariam Farhat, a newly-elected Hamas lawmaker whose three sons died fighting Israel, Haniyeh said: "This the fruit of the sacrifices by martyrs, including your sons. You've got to be proud of this day." (Reuters)

Three Young Gush Katif Evacuees Join New Jersey School

The three new students who joined the Moshe Aaron Yeshiva High School in South River in mid-February have come a long way. Seventeen-year-olds Yedidya Harush, Barak Zigdon, and Yosef Amichay lived in the Gush Katif bloc of settlements in the Gaza Strip until last summer, when they were forced to relocate during Israel's Gaza withdrawal.

Last month, with the help of a legendary New Jersey-raised Israeli basketball player, they arrived in South River for a year and a half of studying and playing for the school's hoops team.

"We were approached to assist three kids under tension, to help them disengage from the disengagement," said MAYHS principal Rabbi David Wadler. "They asked and I said of course. We have raised money to help the evacuees from Gush Katif, but this is the first time that the kids can touch a mitzva and get involved in it."

Following Israel's emotional pullout from the Gaza Strip in August, all three boys were relocated to new, temporary homes. Yedidya's family moved to a guest house in the southern town of Yad Binyamin, Barak's family is temporarily residing in Jerusalem's Regency Hotel, and Yosef's family now lives in Nitzan, a new community of temporary housing north of the Gaza Strip built for the evacuees.

But none of the three had succeeded in adapting to new schools when they received an offer from Tal Brody, Israel's most famous former basketball star and Israeli sports ambassador. Brody acted as a matchmaker, setting up children who lacked homes with schools with a heart.

It all started when Brody watched the Gush Katif high school basketball championship on television the day before the evacuation was due to begin. Brody, a Trenton native who led Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv team to its first European basketball championship in 1977, called the Gush Katif coach and offered to give some of the players a new start.

Brody spoke to his friend, MAYHS basketball coach, Ed Leibowitz, and then Brody finalized details with Wadler to have the boys study and live in New Jersey. "When I watched the game, I saw that the players' level was okay and that the next day the guys wouldn't have a place to live, study, or play," Brody said. "It's a good feeling to be able to help them out. It's a beautiful thing. I hope they'll be okay and study well and play well and take what they learned back home."

[Editor's note: League rules did not permit the boys to join the team in mid-season for this year's games.] (Katif.net)

Harvard Disowns Attack on Jewish Role in U.S. Policy
by Richard Beeston

Harvard University is distancing itself from a report by one of its senior academics that accuses the Jewish lobby in America of subverting US foreign policy in Israel's interest. After a furious outcry from prominent American Jews, Harvard has removed its logo from the study and disowned any responsibility for the views put forward in the working paper, released two weeks ago.

Yesterday it confirmed that Stephen Walt, the co-author of The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy, will be stepping down in June as academic dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government to become an ordinary professor. (Times - UK)

Likud Wins - Among Foreign Jewish Students

Students at over 85 campuses and Jewish student unions throughout North America and the world took part in a mock election to pick the new leaders of Israel as part of a program called IsraelVotes.com an initiative of Upstart Activist, a Jerusalem-based education and advocacy organization.

The results of the mock election showed Binyamin Netanyahu's Likud Party winning 44 mandates (some 37% of the total votes cast). Kadima won 33 seats, Labor-Meimad received 14 mandates, and National Union-NRP received 15 seats. The Likud would have no trouble forming a strong, right-wing coalition of 65 seats that would include UTJ and Israel Beiteinu if students in the Diaspora had a say in Israel's real elections.

This is the second mock election Upstart Activist has organized, along with partners Caravan for Democracy, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, Hasbara Fellowships of Aish HaTorah, the Jewish Agency for Israel, World Union of Jewish Students, and the Bureau of Jewish Education Rhode Island. (Jerusalem Post)

Dallas, TX Students Take Sides in Israeli Elections
Yavneh Academy Students Run Mock Campaigns for Israeli Parties by Daniel Bonner

Throughout a week of Israel-related activities, students at Yavneh Academy of Dallas prepared for the election of their "Knesset" - a mock Israeli election in the other "Lone Star State." Wednesday, March 22 saw Israeli Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubenstein's visit to the city, speaking on his life in Israeli politics and more specifically, the status of "synagogue and state" in Israel. "Obviously it was an honor, really amazing, to have him speak there," said junior Aviv Schor, who enjoyed welcoming the Justice, whose special trip to the Yavneh campus was organized by Israel Bonds.

A day later, Yavneh students were divided into many of Israel's major parties: Kadima, Likud, Labor, Meretz, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beiteinu, National Union, and the Arab List. Over the next week, the students competed for votes on campus and organized a public relations campaign - flyers and posters obviously abound. After an exciting debate between the leaders of Yavneh's three leading parties - Labor, Likud, and Kadima - students voted in Dallas as Israelis headed to the polls in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and throughout the state. Kadima, which also emerged victorious in the actual Israeli elections, gained 39 seats, slightly more than in the Israeli election. Likud earned 25, and Labor only gained 7. Dallas' "Sephardi Party," Shas, received 10 mandates. Even those who were not successful in leading in the polls in Yavneh's election found the experience gratifying: Alex Horn, 16, thoroughly enjoyed heading the National Union party, which garnered 9 seats in Yavneh's Knesset. "It gave me a chance to feel like I was involved in the electoral process," he said, "I definitely learned a lot."

Pictured: Daniel Bonner (left), leader of Yavneh Academy's Likud Party, debates David Fine (right), head of Labor.

Within a week, Yavneh's party leaders must form a majority coalition, just as Ehud Olmert, Kadima's leader, seeks to unite many of Israel's political factions. When that task has been completed, a representative of Israel's Houston consulate will arrive to swear in the new Knesset.

Daniel Bonner is an Israel HighWay Student Advisor and a sophomore at Yavneh Academy in Dallas, TX. He is Vice President of Public Relations of Students Against Terrorism. (Special to the Israel HighWay)

Likud Wins by a Landslide at Kushner High School by Michelle Stark

At the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ, we had a mock Prime Minister debate in which the three major Israeli parties at the time, Labor, Likud, and Kadima, were represented. I played the role of Kadima's leader Ehud Olmert, while two of my peers played the roles of Likud's Binyamin Netanyahu and Labor's Amir Peretz. The "party leaders" were asked a series of questions by other students, ranging from basic information about the party platforms to their policies on how to deal with Hamas.

After the mock debate, students went back to their classrooms to cast their votes. At Kushner, a majority of the students tend to be more right-wing politically, so the results weren't surprising. Unlike the real elections, the Likud party took the lead with 47% of the votes. Kadima followed with 35% of the votes, while Labor took the remaining 18%.

Michelle Stark is a senior at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, New Jersey. She is a member of the Israel HighWay Student Advisory Committee. (Special to the Israel HighWay)

Los Angeles High School "Vote" Places Likud in First Place
by David Landau

Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles, CA had a mock election corresponding to the recent elections in Israel. In one of our weekly town halls, an hour when the entire school gathers, we talked about the different major parties in the campaign. After a school vote, Likud won.

Not only was this a fun activity, it was a way to educate our student body about the political aspects of Israel.

David Landau is a senior at Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles, CA. He is the Israel Affairs Vice President for the Far West region of United Synagogue Youth (USY) and is a Student Advisor to the Israel HighWay. (Special to the Israel HighWay)

Bikers with a Cause Pedal through Israel by Michelle Howe

With every turn of his bike pedal, through five days and 250 grueling miles, up hills and through rainstorms, Nate Wiener found the strength to keep going. Why? Because whatever it took for him to complete the course would be nothing compared to what the mission translated into for the hundreds of hospitalized youngsters helped by his decision to take part in the Wheels of Love international charity bike ride in Israel.

The trek benefited Alyn Children's Hospital in Jerusalem.

Wiener, a Teaneck resident, was among more than 300 cyclists who wended their way from some of the highest peaks of the Golan Heights, through pastoral Galilee and into Jerusalem. The cyclists, ranging in age from 15 to 77, came from all over the world. "We biked for about eight hours each day, starting in the northern part of the country and finishing in Jerusalem, and every night we ended up staying in a different spot, from a youth hostel to a hotel in Tel Aviv. And our meals were provided for," said Wiener,

"I didn't connect to the cause until the end of the ride, though, when we went to the hospital and took a tour of the facility. It's such an incredible place with such a positive atmosphere. It's about fun and getting better. There are Arab kids and Israeli kids there for treatment and it's open to children of all races and religions," Wiener said.

Editors' note: The next International Alyn Charity Bike Ride from Jerusalem to Eilat will take place Oct. 29 - Nov. 2 (New Jersey Star Ledger)

High School Students Urge Toronto to "Eat for Israel" by Frances Kraft

High school students at Ulpanat Orot in Toronto got on board a project initiated last year by their counterparts at a Baltimore Jewish high school to raise money for Israeli victims of terror.

America Eats for Israel raised $27,800 last year by enlisting 135 kosher restaurants in the United States to donate 10 per cent of their gross revenues for one day.

This year, on Monday, March 27, four Toronto area restaurants took part in the fundraiser, said Miryam Spiegel (pictured center), 17, a Grade 12 student at Ulpana who is co-chairing the project with classmates Tali Magder (left) and Rachel Boussiban (right).

Mollie Sharfman, a project co-ordinator and Grade 12 student at the religious Zionist school Yeshivat Rambam of Baltimore, where the project originated, said that last year some people had three or four meals out that day. The school brought in waffles and omelets for breakfast, and pizza for lunch. Later, she said, she went out for Chinese food. "You could feel the energy. Everyone felt connected." (Canadian Jewish News)

LEADing Through Example by David Brinn

There might not seem to be any direct connection between one of the world's biggest customer management systems companies, and one of Israel's most successful youth leadership training programs LEAD.

But for Morris Kahn, founder of the powerhouse company Amdocs, visionary, and philanthropist extraordinaire, it's a simple case of the means determining the ends.

According to LEAD general manager Eliav Zakai, the program has some very specific goals, and has been enormously successful at achieving them.

"We've taken upon the task of encouraging and developing youth leadership in Israel. Our goal is to establish a group of young adults who have been trained according to the most advanced leadership techniques and concepts and ten or 20 years from now will find themselves in roles of leadership in government and business in the country," he told ISRAEL21c.

"If we invest and develop at a young age and provide them with a bigger arsenal of tools, we'll get a better quality of leader than what we have today, ones that have a greater awareness of social sensitivity and obligation. I don't know what the graduates will ultimately decide to do, or what projects they'll be part of, but we'll be very disappointed if we find one of our graduates who ended up in a career aimed solely at maximizing his own profits with no regard for the greater good. It's fine to make a living, but we expect them to take responsibility for other people. That's what we're teaching."

The participants meet once every two weeks and are guided to launch social projects in communities. They have to raise their own funds, arrange for people to help and insure that the project will outlive their participation in the course once they graduate and go to the army. Today the LEAD ambassadors have over 60 community projects running throughout the country, said Globus.

"For example in Haifa, in one of the lower income neighborhoods, one of the Lead ambassadors discovered that there were no youth community services. He located an old building that was not being used, and raised the funds to renovate and open a community center with the help of the Municipality and some of his other colleagues," she said. (Israel21c)

Points for Peace Shoots, Scores Winner by Daniel Bonner

"Malki would have been elated to see over 300 basketball players supporting Israel as participants in Students Against Terrorism's Points for Peace basketball tournament," said her father, Arnold Roth, writing from Jerusalem last Sunday. The 3-on-3 "hoop it up" style tournament, which brought more than 300 players, 100 volunteers, and hundreds of spectators to Dallas' Aaron Family Jewish Community Center on Sunday, March 5, was a "resounding success," according to leaders of Students Against Terrorism. At the conclusion of the tournament, S.A.T.'s treasurer, Josh Abrams, 18, proudly declared the group had surpassed its $30,000 goal for Keren Malki. Seventy-five teams, a record for "Points for Peace," competed in games that ran from early on Sunday morning past 7 p.m. Each participant, the members of the organization's leaders agreed, had a large role to play in increasing the total funds raised by the four-year-old organization to nearly $150,000. One team of high-school girls, which included Yavneh students Britney Herson, Laura Kreditor, Elizabeth Weinstein and Natalie Taub (pictured), raised over $1,500, a portion of which was raised at a fund-raiser they organized at Carvel Ice Cream in North Dallas.

Also known as the Malki Foundation, Keren Malki was founded by Arnold and Frimet Roth, shortly after their 15-year-old daughter Malki (pictured), her best friend Michael Raziel, and 14 others were murdered in a suicide bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria in the heart of Jerusalem. "Malki was a beautiful girl, full of the love of life, a maker of sweet music," her father said in a letter thanking the Jewish community for its efforts. "She was a teenager with a constant smile from ear to ear."

Malki's story inspired the Jewish high school students at Dallas' Yavneh Academy. They selected Keren Malki to become the beneficiary of the fourth annual Points for Peace tournament. "We researched a number of organizations and, as this one is fairly new, we wanted to help it mature," said Students Against Terrorism president and Yavneh senior Jordan Hirsch.

Students Against Terrorism was formed in 2002, by six Yavneh students who returned from a leadership conference ready to take an active role in supporting the people of Israel in their fight against terrorism. This year's executive board is comprised entirely of Yavneh students. Since the organization's founding, through Shavuot learn-a-thons, the sale of internationally recognized "Standstrong 4 Israel" wristbands, and other programs, S.A.T. has completed the Dallas Jewish Community's fund to purchase an ambulance for Magen David Adom, Israel's version of the Red Cross, and sent 60 children to a nurturing camp for those affected by terrorism in Israel called "Camp Koby." In 2004, the "S.A.T. Ambulance" was seen in use by visiting Dallasites near Israel's Dead Sea.

Daniel Bonner is vice president, public relations of Students Against Terrorism and an Israel HighWay Student Advisor (Texas Jewish Post)

My Bat Mitzvah Went to the Dogs by Elana Fink

Areyvut is an organization dedicated to empowering Jewish youth with the experiences that will enable them to infuse their lives with the core Jewish values of chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (social justice). They focus on one theme per month with related projects to help teens put these ideals into practice. They also have an annual Essay Contest, and Elana Fink was one of two third place winners with the following article on her meaningful tzedakah project.

Jackson, a sweet, lovable Benji-type terrier mix, has been part of my family longer than I have! He has influenced my life and my enormous love of dogs. So when we began to prepare for my Bat Mitzvah, I wanted it to involve dogs somehow - and did it ever!

Deciding on a chesed project was 'doggone' easy after I read a sad but inspiring article in the Cleveland Jewish News about a bomb-sniffing dog who died in the line of duty. The dog was part of Pups for Peace, and as soon as I could, I checked out the website. "Pups for Peace is a humanitarian, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to reducing death and injury through the use of explosive-detection dogs to counter terrorism in Israel," I learned. Basically, Pups for Peace acquires and trains capable dogs to sniff out bombs in everyday situations in order to save innocent lives. In three years over 100 dogs and their handlers have been trained, mostly used in public transportation security. And there is a great demand for more detection dogs and handlers. Pups for Peace needs money to continue and expand its work. I knew what I had to do.

This was the perfect Bat Mitzvah chesed project for me, combining dogs AND Israel, but how could I raise money? I'd use dogs! Soon I developed a flyer telling about myself, my upcoming Bat Mitzvah, my cause, and my prices for dog-walking, letting out your dog, and cleaning up your yard.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's note: Read also about Charles Breitbart of Great Neck, NY, who raised money to build an outdoor basketball court in Tiberias.
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A line in one of the P4P pamphlets says, "Supporters of the organization do not believe Pups for Peace will stop terrorism - only that it will save innocent lives." That reminded me of a popular Hebrew song we sing at my school and at summer camp: Lo alecha hamlacha leegmor, v'lo atah ven choreen l'heebatel meemena... "Even though we are not responsible for completing a job, that doesn't mean we are free to disregard it." We have to at least make an effort, and that's why I decided to do what I can to help Pups for Peace.

March 31st is the second annual Areyvut "Make a Difference" Day when synagogues, schools, and organizations arrange activities that teach their students the importance of Making a Difference. This year the "day" is being extended throughout the weekend through Sunday, April 2nd, so that everyone can be included in this event. For more information, visit www.areyvut.org. For teens in the New York area, click here to see information about Areyvut's "Make a Difference Day" Expo this Sunday. (Areyvut)

Imams, Rabbis Deplore Calls to Eliminate Israel by Walter Ruby

In a stunningly positive denouement after days of unremitting hostility by Palestinian participants, the 2nd World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace being held in Spain issued a concluding statement deploring "any incitement against a faith or people, let alone a call for their elimination," a statement Jewish and Israeli representatives took to be a rebuke of Hamas calls for the elimination of Israel.

In an apparent behind-the-scenes deal to win approval of Palestinian imams and scholars attending the gathering of the concluding statement, Israeli representatives, including Haifa Chief Rabbi She'ar Yashuv Hacohen, agreed to language calling upon governments to show respect for "holy sites, houses of worship and cemeteries."

The statement by the eight-member steering committee of rabbis and imams, which included Hacohen and Imad Al Falouji of Gaza, a former PA communications minister, affirmed. "There is no inherent conflict between Islam and Judaism," and declared, "While modern politics has impacted negatively upon the relationship, our two religions share the most fundamental values of faith in the One Almighty whose name is Peace," and called upon all human beings to act accordingly in their daily lives.

The Seville event, convened by the Paris-based Hommes de Parole organization, brought together over 200 rabbis, imams and other religious leaders from the Muslim and Jewish communities around the world, including Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger (pictured), the Imam of Gaza as well as notables from the Middle East, Europe and North America. (Jerusalem Post)

LA's New Community Jewish High School Students Visit Peers at Ironi Tet, Tel Aviv by Lisa Preiss

Last night I waited with over 200 kids, staff and parents of Ironi Tet High School for the arrival from the airport of 45 tenth graders from the New Community Jewish High School in Los Angeles. There was much excitement as the kids descended from the buses and were picked out by their Israeli hosts who helped them with their luggage.

The welcoming reception was held in the school auditorium which was decorated with Israeli and American bunting. There was music, drumming, and upbeat speeches by the Principal, the head of the parents' committee, the head of the students' committee, Mordechai (twinning coordinator from NCJH), former MK Avram Burg and myself.

Noteworthy were Avram Burg's opening remarks: "Years ago, when I was Chairman of the Jewish Agency, the LA Federation came to me with the request that they create a partnership with the city of Tel Aviv. 'No way,' I said. 'We are all Bolsheviks here! You shouldn't partner with the rich city of Tel Aviv - find an outlying community!'

They did not heed my advice, and as I look out at all of the people gathered here in Yad Eliahu, I realize now that I was wrong. Obviously, the LA Federation has created a wonderful program, and I wish you continued success." (Jewish Agency)

Oscar Instead of High School by Itamar Eichner

Their lives on film: three young Israeli directors, including a high school senior from Petach Tikva and two female soldiers from Kfar Saba, will walk the red carpet in Hollywood next month as films they directed compete for awards as part of the international "Jiponi" youth film festival Known as the "Children's Oscars," the ceremony, is funded by Hollywood's big studios. Many stars, including Meryl Streep, Brendan Fraser and Will Smith, sponsor the festival and also sit on the judges' panel, which mostly consists of children and teens. The festival is held at some of Hollywood's most famous theaters and the awards ceremony will take place at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, just like the big boys. Mark the date: April 26.

And the candidates are: Limor Epstein, a graduate of Rabin High School in Kfar Saba, for the movie "Touched the Sky." The film tells the story of a lonely girl who conjures up an imaginary friend, and was awarded a prize with high distinction at the Jerusalem Film Festival.

Brith Harel, also a graduate of Rabin High School and set to enlist in the IDF the day of the awards ceremony, has also been nominated, for the film "Golem," a movie centered on a young man looking for the "perfect moment" in life.

Last, but not least: Igor Rochlin, a senior at Ehad Ha'am High School in Petach Tikva, with the film "Our War." The movie tells the story of a newly-arrived immigrant from the former Soviet Union who cannot find his place in society, and appropriates neo-Nazi behavioral characteristics.

Rochlin's film won first place at the Israeli Oscars for teen films last September, as well as the People's Choice Award at the Wolgin Festival in Jerusalem. (Ynet News)

Miss Israel Is Still in High School by Nathan Burstein and Greer Fay Cashman

An 18-year-old high school student from Kiryat Shmona was named Israel's "Queen of Beauty" last week in Haifa. Yael Nizri, an aspiring lawyer and future army recruit from the northern border town, was named winner of the 2006 Miss Israel pageant.

Clad in a white evening gown, the dark-haired Nizri, the product of a Dutch mother and a Moroccan father, became Israel's 56th Malkat Hayofi (Queen of Beauty). Scheduled for army service following her high school graduation later this year, Nizri earned a car for her victory and will receive Israel's spot at the 2006 Miss Universe pageant.

Most winners of national and international beauty contests go on to make careers for themselves as international fashion models, and two former Israeli beauty queens have gone on to become Miss Universe and Miss World. Rina Mor (Messinger), then a soldier in the IDF, was crowned Miss Universe in 1976 and Linor Abargil was crowned Miss World in 1998. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Documentary '39 Pounds of Love' Makes HBO Debut

39 Pounds of Love, an acclaimed Israeli documentary, will be screened throughout the United States on the HBO/MAX cable network beginning this week, with broadcasts set to stretch into the middle of next month.

An audience favorite at film festivals across the United States, 39 Pounds of Love tells the story of Ami Ankilewitz, an Israeli-American born with SMA/2, a rare form of muscular dystrophy that severely impairs victims' ability to grow and function physically. The doctor who delivered Ankilewitz predicted the infant wouldn't live past the age of six; 34 years later, the film follows him on a road trip across the United States to track down the doctor and show him he'd lived.

"One must never give up hope for love and for life. I have the soul of a Harley Davidson. Even after I die, I shall be alive," he says in the film, written, directed and produced by Israeli filmmaker Dani Menkin. "I am a filmmaker and I'm always looking for a good story," Menkin told the Dayton Jewish Observer. When he first saw Ami in 2001, Menkin was on a blind date at a bar in Israel.

"I was distracted by something that looked like a plastic doll, but when I looked again, I was shocked to realize that it was a real person in a wheelchair. He was drinking beer through a straw and surrounded by friends and a beautiful girl. I was no longer interested in the date and I went over to meet him. Ami was an incredible story." (Israel21c)

Soccer Star to Aid Terror Victims by Uri Kuper

The world's best soccer player, Brazilian Ronaldinho, has joined the efforts to help Israeli children who fell victim to terror attacks. Brazil's newspapers reported that the famous athlete will soon grant the kids footballs signed with his personal autograph.

The Israeli One Family Fund, whose members initiated the contact with Ronaldinho, lauded the contribution and said that "this will warm the hearts of the children who have suffered so much."

The fund's romance with the world of soccer started last year, when a contact person working for "One Family" approached Ronaldinho and asked that he donate signed footballs for the children. The soccer legend immediately agreed to cooperate, and the footballs were soon after sent to Israel and distributed among the thrilled kids.

Following the initiative's great success and the joy it brought the children, the fund decided to ask Ronaldinho for another donation of footballs, as well as other merchandise signed by him, such as socks and shirts. Barcelona's star again consented willingly.

Notably, Ronaldinho was quoted in the past as saying he would like to assist in improving the situation in the Middle East, and has expressed his desire to visit Israel.

"We thank Ronaldinho for the contribution that will put a smile on the faces of many kids," a spokesman for the fund said last week. (Ynet News)

Irshad and Wafa by Saul Singer

Since a single interview on Al-Jazeera on February 21, Wafa Sultan, a Syrian-born psychologist now living in the U.S., has become an overnight sensation. The link to the clip on www.memritv.org has received over a million hits, and Sultan has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Sunday Times and Le Monde. Sultan, in her original five-minute interview, became the Rosa Parks of the global struggle against jihad: the catalyst whose stubborn courage marks a turning point.

"The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations," Sultan said in that interview. "It is a clash between civilization and backwardness... between barbarity and rationality... between human rights on the one hand and the violation of these rights on the other, between those who treat women like beasts and those who treat them like human beings."

Then she went even further.

"The Jews have come from tragedy and forced the world to respect them," she said, "with their knowledge, not with their terror; with their work, not with their crying and yelling. We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant... Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people and destroying embassies. ... The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind before they demand that humankind respect them."

Perhaps the most striking and radical entry in this "Muslim Spring" of fresh thinking, however, was an op-ed in this week's New York Times by author Irshad Manji, "How I Learned to Love the Wall."

"Like all Muslims, I look forward to the day when neither the [IDF] jeep nor the wall is in Abu Dis. So will we tell the self-appointed martyrs of Islam that... before the barrier, there was the bomber? And that the barrier can be dismantled, but the bomber's victims are gone forever?" (Jerusalem Post)

Hamas Wins Elections, Forms New Palestinian Parliament
by Dan Porterfield

On Jan. 25, 2006, the political fabric of the entire Middle East was forever changed. On this date, Palestinian voters elected a vast majority of Hamas politicians over the former power of Fatah, establishing the organization as Palestine's most influential power for years to come.

Most commonly associated with violent terrorist attacks and their mission to destroy Israel, Hamas received an overwhelming amount of criticism on both foreign and domestic fronts.

Specifically, many western nations such as the United States have threatened to cut off all international aid to Palestine unless Hamas meets certain demands in their governing. This is done in fear of increased violence between people of Jewish and Muslim faith, but others have supported the organization on behalf of democracy.

Although Hamas has control of the parliament, the Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, is of the Fatah party. This means that Hamas will not have as much influence over foreign and domestic policy as they would with one of their own as the executive leader. However, this is a group that was created to destroy the very nation they are supposed to be working with towards peace.

Despite the fact that they have agreed to open peace talks with Israel, they have been hesitant to identify them as a nation. On the other side, the Israelis are refusing to deal with any government led or influenced by Hamas. Although there is plenty of speculation on this issue, only the future can tell how hard both sides will strive for peace and no partisan speculations will be able to predict this.

The writer is Senior Editor of The Fourth Estate at the Laguna Blanca High School in Santa Barbara, CA. (Fourth Estate)

An End of U.S. Role in Pushing for Peace by Richard Beeston

Thirty years of intense U.S.-led diplomacy, aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, could draw to an end in the wake of Tuesday's Israeli elections and the confirmation of a new militant Palestinian government. Ever since Washington brokered the Camp David agreement in 1979, successive U.S. administrations have dispatched envoys to the region and produced dozens of plans in the search for an elusive peace. Now, however, the "peace process" could be coming to an end.

For the time being there is no question of direct official contact between the new Palestinian government and the West at any senior level until the movement fundamentally changes its policies. America and the EU insist that Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist and abandons the use of violence. Western diplomats concede that in the present climate the chance of any real negotiations is virtually nil. (Times-UK)

Historic Milestones

In Tuesday's general election, several historic events occurred. Voter turnout in the elections for the 17th Knesset dropped to an all-time low of 63.2 percent, a decrease of 5.7 percentage points compared to the 2003 general election. The drop on Tuesday was a continuation of the downward trend in election participation during more than 50 years.

"Not good," said Haifa University political scientist Professor Asher Arian to The Jerusalem Post in response to the figures. "The percentage of voters went down in 2003 and now it has gone down even more." Arian added that the trend in Israel was similar to developments in the rest of the world and appeared to reflect disenchantment with the ability of the state to solve problems. "It is a general unease, not one that is directed at the democratic system per se."

The second historic event of these elections was that neither the Labor Party nor Likud received the most votes. Kadima, the party headed by Olmert, took only 28 seats but was still declared the largest party and thus the winner of the elections, albeit in a position that was weaker than expected.

Olmert declared victory early Wednesday and said he was confident that the party would be able to move forward with its plan to disengage Israel from more territory. "For thousands of years we have carried the dream of Greater Israel in our hearts," Olmert said, wearing a yarmulke after visiting the Western Wall. "But," he continued, "because of our recognition of the realities of the situation...we are prepared to compromise."

The second place in the elections was taken by Amir Peretz's Labor Party which had attempted to re-establish itself as a social issues party and tended to focus on these issues rather than on security.

According to Ha'aretz commentator Yoel Marcus, "While the Labor Party increased its share of the pie by just one seat, thanks to Amir Peretz, it is a new Labor - fresh, full of aspirations to succeed when it comes to both peace and social issues."

According to the results after 99.5% of the votes were counted, Likud sank to the fifth largest party with a paltry 11 seats in the Knesset. The Likud Party, the dominant force in Israeli politics for 30 years, was knocked out of the ring.

"We have no doubt the Likud has suffered a tough blow," Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu told a crowd of supporters. Netanyahu, however, remained defiant and declared that he will remain as party chairman and declared he will make Likud relevant again. "I intend to continue along the path we have only just begun in order to ensure this movement is rehabilitated and takes its rightful place in the nation's leadership," Netanyahu said.

The biggest beneficiary from Likud's fall and one of the greatest surprises of these elections was Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" Party. Amassing 12 seats, Yisrael Beiteinu has replaced Likud as the standard bearer of the right-wing.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us. This is just the beginning of our fight for Israel's future," said the 47-year-old Lieberman. Lieberman was not resting on his laurels. "After the next election, we will be the ruling party," pledged the former Russian hard-liner.

Respect Your Elders

The other big winner in the election was a brand new party, the Pensioners' Party, which secured seven seats in the next Knesset. The Pensioners' Party platform deals entirely with advancing the rights of the elderly, including ensuring pensions for all citizens and providing state-subsidized medications and medical treatments for the elderly.

Ironically, the Pensioner's Party relied heavily on young disillusioned voters who were not intending to vote. According to author Linda Grant, who recently wrote a best-selling book about Israeli society, these voters turned to their elderly family members as a means of political protest. "Two days ago, word started to spread that something really odd was happening in Tel Aviv: the urban young, committed not to voting at all, convinced that all politicians were corrupt and that they should grit their teeth, do their army service, chill out at the beach on weekend leave and then head straight off to Thailand or Goa when they [finished the army], had started to campaign on behalf of their grandparents."

"So why did so many young people propel the Pensioners party into the Knesset?" Grant continued. "Somehow, between Sunday and Tuesday, it became cool; it was the hip thing to do. The young seem to be giving their vote not to the political classes, to Israel, to Zionism, but to the actual individuals who laid the first foundations for the country where they were born. Watch that trend."

Many see the Pensioners Party as possible kingmakers in the future coalition-building process. As a party with a heavily weighted single issue, the party is seen as a good coalition partner to carry out security related policies at the cost of granting the pensioners' demands.

The Religious Parties

The ultra-Orthodox parties will send 19 representatives to the Knesset, with 13 from the Sephardic Shas Party and six from the predominantly Ashkenazic United Torah Party. One of Shas' Knesset members will be Mazor Beyana, the first Ethiopian Jew to be elected to the Knesset. He is a rabbi from Be'er Sheva.

The merger of two right-wing parties, the National-Religious and National Union parties, did not bear fruit. After months of anticipation over the merger, the National Union and National Religious Party were stunned Tuesday night by exit polls that showed them losing strength from the last Knesset, and the unequivocal failure of the Right to attain enough votes to block an Olmert-led center-left government.

The three Arab party lists will have a total of 10 seats in the next Knesset. The dovish Meretz Party received four mandates. Shinui, which took the political map by storm in the last elections by campaigning against the religious parties, did not receive enough votes to pass the two percent threshold needed to qualify for a Knesset seat.

What's Next?

Olmert, as the leader of the party with the most votes, will be invited in the coming days by President Moshe Katsav to form a coalition government. The coming weeks will see political horse-trading among the parties as each one makes ministerial demands of Olmert in return for their loyalty to his government coalition. This period is sometimes just as interesting as the period leading up to the elections.

The people of Israel have had their say. Now the politicians get to work to present a sound government to represent Israel for the next four years. (The Israel HighWay)

Additional information

Israeli Politics and Society - Awesome Seminars

Israel's Electoral System - Caravan for Democracy Votes for Israel

Israeli Elections: - Jewish Virtual Library

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