JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.
OTHER RUSSIA-UKRAINE NEWS I DONE
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/malaysia-airlines-plane-with-239-on.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/crimea-russia-ukraine-situation-this-day.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/crimea-wants-independence-not-russian.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-blamed-for-deaths-in-ukraine.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russian-forces-tighten-grip-on-crimea.html http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-ukraine-situation-today.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-has-this-crimea-situation-well.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/eu-leads-diplomacy-on-ukraine-crimea.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/putin-pulls-back-from-brink-of-world.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russias-stock-market-fell-11-and-lost.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/watch-stock-markets-oil-today-from-this.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russian-troops-surround-ukraines-army.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-unanamously-approves-troops-in.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/russia-troops-copters-in-crimea-and-kiev.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/watch-for-afghanistan-to-have-next-arab.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/is-this-ukraine-situation-beggining-of.html
THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 10:50AM THU MAR 13,14
March 11, 2014 3:38 am JST-China may hold key to Ukraine deadlock
EIJI FURUKAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer-The Asian Review-MAR 11,14
TOKYO -- China has not taken sides outwardly on the Ukraine crisis, hiding behind its noninterventionist rhetoric. But it is grasping for ways to influence the events in the country, a key source of grain and military gear.Last December, after Ukraine broke off preparations to sign an association agreement with the European Union, then-President Viktor Yanukovych flew to China to meet with counterpart Xi Jinping. The two leaders cemented a "strategic partnership" between their countries, with China even promising to shelter Ukraine under its nuclear umbrella.Crimea, now in Russia's grip, occupies a critical juncture along the modern-day Silk Road that Xi envisions linking China and Europe across Central Asia and the Black Sea. China plans to invest some $3 billion in port facilities and other infrastructure in the southern part of the peninsula. It had also been working on a deal to lease 3 million hectares of Ukrainian farmland, potentially one of China's biggest foreign holdings of soil for feeding its masses.Ukraine is also a key exporter of arms to China. It sold China the old Soviet warship that was rebuilt into the Middle Kingdom's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. In addition, Ukrainian companies help maintain Chinese fighter jet engines. Xi and Yanukovych discussed joint aircraft development at their summit in December.No surprise, then, that the Chinese government saw Yanukovych's ouster last month as a setback that threw its bilateral agreements with the Ukraine into doubt. Beijing seems to have feared the new government in Kiev would move the nation closer to Europe, which has restricted arms exports to China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi have discussed the Ukraine situation since December, according to a source in the Russian government, who says that "China sides with Russia's position." The West is also reaching out to China on the Ukraine crisis. U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned Xi on Sunday and Monday.While China has voiced opposition to Western sanctions against Russia in response to its intervention in Crimea, it has avoided expressions of support for Moscow's actions. Like the rest of the world, Beijing has no way of knowing whether Russia will succeed in peeling the peninsula away from Ukraine. At a news conference Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described China's position as "just and objective.""We will play a constructive role in bringing about a political settlement," Wang added.Cui Hongjian, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "China and Russia clearly have different visions of Ukraine's future."While treading cautiously, aware of both its geopolitical rivalry with the U.S. and its cooperation with Russia, "China is acting with an eye to eventual relations with the new government" in Kiev, Cui added.The EU has sought out China, among other countries, as a possible partner in financial aid for Ukraine. China can also influence possible action by the United Nations Security Council, where it holds a veto. Beijing's weight could conceivably tilt the tug of war between Russia and the West in either direction.
Ukraine parliament appeals to U.N. over Crimea
3 hours ago-mar 13,14-YAHOONEWSKIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament appealed on Thursday to the United Nations to discuss the occupation by Russian forces of its Crimea peninsula and said it reserved the right to ask individual countries for help in resolving the issue.In a debate hours before Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk was to address the Security Council in New York, some members called for a U.N. peacekeeping force, though the resolution that was passed did not specify that form of assistance.In a second vote, the chamber endorsed a document confirming that Ukraine sought deeper integration with the European Union.A total of 250 members in the 450-seat assembly, which last month removed a Moscow-backed president, endorsed the appeal to the U.N., citing the "flagrant violation by the Russian Federation of the fundamental principles of international law".Ukraine, the appeal said, reserved the right to ask "any state or regional system of collective security for help in restoring its sovereignty"."Parliament must ask the U.N. to bring in a peacekeeping contingent," Oles Doniy, an independent member allied with parties favoring integration with Europe, told the chamber. "We cannot compete with Russia on our own."But with Crimea now firmly in Moscow's hands for more than a week ahead of a referendum this Sunday on joining Russia, the parliament split along political lines.
Pro-European parties voted in favor.
Only two members of ousted president Viktor Yanukovich's Party of Regions voted in favor while others, saying they wanted first to see the outcome of Sunday's plebiscite in Crimea. Communists also abstained.The appeal made no specific reference to the U.N. Security Council. Pro-European member Borys Tarasyuk, a former foreign minister, said such a move would be pointless as Russia enjoyed veto power in the 15- member Council."All attempts to appeal to Russia have produced no results," Tarasyuk told the chamber."I therefore believe an appeal to the U.N. is justified so that a special session of the U.N. General Assembly can be held. Unfortunately, Russia will use its veto in the Security Council."Prime Minister Yatseniuk received support for Ukraine's position during talks on Wednesday in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama. He is to take part in a session of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.Parliament also approved a resolution "confirming Ukraine's policy of integration with the European Union".The resolution authorized Yatseniuk to "conclude as quickly as possible from the Ukrainian side an association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union".Three months of crisis gripping Ukraine, culminating in Yanukovich's removal, were triggered by Yanukovich's decision to abandon plans to sign such an accord with the EU. Officials in the EU have said the pact can be revived.(This version of the story corrects day of week to Thursday)(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)
03/10/2014 - VATICAN INSIDER-A bold "j'accuse" to Putin by prominent Ukrainian Jews on behalf of all Ukrainians-“Open letter” signed by Jewish intellectuals and public figures challenges Putin’s “lies” and hegemonic goals-Lisa Palmieri-BilligRome-“Mr. President! We are Jewish citizens of Ukraine: businessmen, managers, public figures, scientists and scholars, artists and musicians” begins the “Open letter To the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.” “We are addressing you on behalf of the multi-national people of Ukraine, Ukraine’s national minorities, and on behalf of the Jewish Community.”The letter now circulating, signed by significant Ukrainian Jewish personalities and still gathering more signatures, charges Putin with “consciously choosing lies and slander from the massive amount of information about Ukraine” to “delegitimize the new Ukrainian government”, defame the revolutionary movement for democracy of Maidan Square and divide the country.”Lies have been circulated in Russian media, the letter holds, regarding the trampling of civil rights of Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine and “bans on the Russian language” existing only ”in the heads of those who invented them”. The letter notes that “historically, Ukrainian Jews are also mostly Russian – speaking”. Putin is also charged with falsely accusing Kiev of anti-Semitism and “Fascism.” “Your certainty of the growth of anti-Semitism in Ukraine also does not correspond to the actual facts. It seems you have confused Ukraine with Russia”, the letter states, “where Jewish organizations have noticed growth in anti-Semitic tendencies last year.” The letter hits out hard against Russia’s hypocrisy in attributing extremism to Kiev while nurturing it at home. It states that while it is true that nationalistic groups are part of “the political opposition and forces of social protests who have secured changes for the better…even the most marginal do not dare show anti-Semitism or other xenophobic behavior. And we certainly know that our very few nationalists are well-controlled by civil society and the new Ukrainian government – which is more than can be said for the Russian neo-Nazis, who are encouraged by your security services.”Moreover, “there are quite a few national minority representatives in the Cabinet of Ministers: the Minister of Internal Affairs is Armenian, the Vice Prime Minister is a Jew, two ministers are Russian. The newly-appointed governors of Ukraine’s region are also not exclusively Ukrainian.”The real threat, the letter holds, “is coming from the Russian government, namely – from you personally.”“It is your policy of inciting separatism and crude pressure placed on Ukraine that threatens us and all Ukrainian people, including those who live in Crimea and the Ukrainian South-East. South-eastern Ukrainians will soon see that for themselves”, the letter warns.The letter closes with irony and clear-cut demands. “Vladimir Vladimirovich, we highly value your concern about the safety and rights of Ukrainian national minorities. But we do not wish to be ‘defended’ by sundering Ukraine and annexing its territory. We decisively call for you not to intervene in internal Ukrainian affairs, to return the Russian armed forces to their normal fixed peacetime location, and to stop encouraging pro-Russian separatism.”“Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are quite capable of protecting our rights in a constructive dialogue and in cooperation with the government and civil society of a sovereign, democratic, and united Ukraine. We strongly urge you not to destabilize the situation in our country and to stop attempts of delegitimizing the new Ukrainian government.”Estimates of the total Jewish population in the Ukraine today vary from 70,000 to 300,000. According to Josef Zissels, Chairman of the Association of Jewish Communities and Organizations of Ukraine (VAAD) who is the first signer of this document, the higher figure is the more credible. Because of their historic experience of pogroms and massacres during and between wars, Ukrainian Jews are fearful of exposing their religious or ethnic sense of identity, afraid this will lead to a proverbial “knock at the door” of their homes with subsequent violence. The estimated population includes both religious and secular Jews well integrated into public life.“The Jewish population of Ukraine is about 0.7% of the total population of Ukraine and at least 10% of the members of the Ukrainian parliament have Jewish roots – i.e. they are part of the very same 300 000 that we count among the Jewish community, even if they do not advertise their Jewishness” says Zissels.Ukrainian Jews participate in protests on an individual basis, neither encouraged nor discouraged by the Community. “But I believe”, says the VAAD chairman, “first, that the Jewish youth participate more often than older people, and, second, that as in other actions directed to democratize society, participation of Jews is disproportionately high.” He himself, some of his family, Jewish friends and acquaintances have joined the public protest.However, as individuals living in democracy, Ukrainian Jews are also divided politically. Not all support the revolution.The small minority of Jews in Crimea (which, incidentally, once hosted Jewish collective farms, temporarily designated by Communist Russia to become a future ‘Jewish homeland’) keep a lower profile, surrounded as they are by a majority of Russian nationalists and now invaded by Putin’s men.An additional input of support for Maidan Square comes from young Israeli Jews of Ukrainian origin returning to the country in search of their roots, who have now joined the protest movement.
On Feb 28 “Haaretz” published a JTA interview with a former Israeli soldier known as “Delta”, born in the Ukraine, immigrated to Israel in the 1990s, who moved back to Ukraine several years ago and has headed the “Blue Helmets” – a nickname for a force of 35 men and women who are not Jewish plus “several fellow Israeli Defence Force veterans…in the still-unfinished revolution.”Delta is an Orthodox Jew “in his late 30s who regularly prays at Rabbi Moshe Azman’s Brodsky Synagogue”. Although Svodoba, the Extreme Right political movement is part of the protest movement, Delta claims he “never saw any expression of anti-Semitism during the protests, and claims to the contrary were part of the reason I joined the movement. We’re trying to show that Jews care” he said.” Delta says the Kremlin is using the anti-Semitism card falsely to delegitimize the Ukrainian revolution, which is distancing Ukraine from Russia’s sphere of influence.”He and Rabbi Azman “are organizing the airborne evacuation of seriously wounded protesters – none of them Jewish – for critical operations in Israel.”All are hoping that this time, in contrast to past history, Ukraine’s Jewish citizens will not be cynically sacrificed as scapegoats for conflicting political strategies for hegemony – on one side or the other.Several synagogues have been firebombed recently in the South-east, creating anxiety regarding future developments.
Merkel: Comparing Crimea to Kosovo is 'shameful'
Today @ 11:34-MAR 13,14-EUOBSERVER-By Valentina PopBerlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday (13 March) told the Bundestag it is "shameful" to compare the independence of Kosovo with the referendum for independence in Crimea and called on Russia to stop its actions in Ukraine or face economic sanctions."In Kosovo we had years in which the international community had no power to intervene while Slobodan Milosevic carried out his ethnic cleansing. Nato then decided to act alone because Russia continuously blocked any UN mandate on Serbia. That situation is in no way similar to what is happening today in Ukraine," she said."In my opinion it is shameful to compare Crimea to Kosovo. And even if there had been other breaches of international law - Kosovo not being one of them - Russia's actions in Ukraine are still a breach of international law," she added.Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month justified a decision to send troops to Crimea by comparing it to the international intervention in Kosovo in the late 1990s.He said he wanted to protect ethnic Russians, who make up the majority of the population on the Crimean peninsula.But to Merkel "this conflict is about spheres of influence and territorial claims" and a repeat of Russian actions during the 2008 Georgian war, which ended with two Georgian regions under Russian occupation.Merkel noted that the independence referendum called by Crimean authorities, and advanced from 25 May to 16 March, is in violation of Ukraine's constitution because it was not approved at national level."In a phase of big insecurity in Ukraine, Russia is not acting like a stability partner, but uses its neighbour's weakness to advance its own interests. It is the power of the mightiest put above the power of law. What we are witnessing now is oppressive and I fear we need to be prepared for the long haul in solving this conflict," she said.Unlike the US, whose army chiefs have prepared for military action and whose diplomats say "all options are on the table" against Russia, Merkel insists that there is "no military option" to solve this conflict.She spoke of a three step approach against Russia. The first - freezing EU-Russia talks on visa freedom and trade - has already been taken.A travel ban on Putin allies is the second step. This could be triggered on Monday at a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. The third step - economic sanctions - may be then agreed by EU leaders when they meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday."Nobody wants these measures, that is clear. But we would be willing and determined to go this road if it is unavoidable. This has been agreed among all 28 EU states and in close coordination with Nato and G7 partners.""If Russia stays the course, it would not be just a catastrophe for Ukraine, not just a threat for us as its neighbours, but it would massively hurt Russia, economically and politically," Merkel warned.The sanctions move is unpopular in Germany. A recent poll showed only 24 percent in favour of economic sanctions while 69 percent believe it would not help solve the Crimea crisis.
OTHER RUSSIA-UKRAINE NEWS I DONE
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/malaysia-airlines-plane-with-239-on.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/crimea-russia-ukraine-situation-this-day.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/crimea-wants-independence-not-russian.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-blamed-for-deaths-in-ukraine.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russian-forces-tighten-grip-on-crimea.html http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-ukraine-situation-today.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-has-this-crimea-situation-well.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/eu-leads-diplomacy-on-ukraine-crimea.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/putin-pulls-back-from-brink-of-world.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russias-stock-market-fell-11-and-lost.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/watch-stock-markets-oil-today-from-this.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russian-troops-surround-ukraines-army.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/03/russia-unanamously-approves-troops-in.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/russia-troops-copters-in-crimea-and-kiev.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/watch-for-afghanistan-to-have-next-arab.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/is-this-ukraine-situation-beggining-of.html
THE RUSSIA - UKRAINE SITUATION AT 10:50AM THU MAR 13,14
March 11, 2014 3:38 am JST-China may hold key to Ukraine deadlock
EIJI FURUKAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer-The Asian Review-MAR 11,14
TOKYO -- China has not taken sides outwardly on the Ukraine crisis, hiding behind its noninterventionist rhetoric. But it is grasping for ways to influence the events in the country, a key source of grain and military gear.Last December, after Ukraine broke off preparations to sign an association agreement with the European Union, then-President Viktor Yanukovych flew to China to meet with counterpart Xi Jinping. The two leaders cemented a "strategic partnership" between their countries, with China even promising to shelter Ukraine under its nuclear umbrella.Crimea, now in Russia's grip, occupies a critical juncture along the modern-day Silk Road that Xi envisions linking China and Europe across Central Asia and the Black Sea. China plans to invest some $3 billion in port facilities and other infrastructure in the southern part of the peninsula. It had also been working on a deal to lease 3 million hectares of Ukrainian farmland, potentially one of China's biggest foreign holdings of soil for feeding its masses.Ukraine is also a key exporter of arms to China. It sold China the old Soviet warship that was rebuilt into the Middle Kingdom's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. In addition, Ukrainian companies help maintain Chinese fighter jet engines. Xi and Yanukovych discussed joint aircraft development at their summit in December.No surprise, then, that the Chinese government saw Yanukovych's ouster last month as a setback that threw its bilateral agreements with the Ukraine into doubt. Beijing seems to have feared the new government in Kiev would move the nation closer to Europe, which has restricted arms exports to China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi have discussed the Ukraine situation since December, according to a source in the Russian government, who says that "China sides with Russia's position." The West is also reaching out to China on the Ukraine crisis. U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned Xi on Sunday and Monday.While China has voiced opposition to Western sanctions against Russia in response to its intervention in Crimea, it has avoided expressions of support for Moscow's actions. Like the rest of the world, Beijing has no way of knowing whether Russia will succeed in peeling the peninsula away from Ukraine. At a news conference Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described China's position as "just and objective.""We will play a constructive role in bringing about a political settlement," Wang added.Cui Hongjian, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "China and Russia clearly have different visions of Ukraine's future."While treading cautiously, aware of both its geopolitical rivalry with the U.S. and its cooperation with Russia, "China is acting with an eye to eventual relations with the new government" in Kiev, Cui added.The EU has sought out China, among other countries, as a possible partner in financial aid for Ukraine. China can also influence possible action by the United Nations Security Council, where it holds a veto. Beijing's weight could conceivably tilt the tug of war between Russia and the West in either direction.
Ukraine parliament appeals to U.N. over Crimea
3 hours ago-mar 13,14-YAHOONEWSKIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament appealed on Thursday to the United Nations to discuss the occupation by Russian forces of its Crimea peninsula and said it reserved the right to ask individual countries for help in resolving the issue.In a debate hours before Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk was to address the Security Council in New York, some members called for a U.N. peacekeeping force, though the resolution that was passed did not specify that form of assistance.In a second vote, the chamber endorsed a document confirming that Ukraine sought deeper integration with the European Union.A total of 250 members in the 450-seat assembly, which last month removed a Moscow-backed president, endorsed the appeal to the U.N., citing the "flagrant violation by the Russian Federation of the fundamental principles of international law".Ukraine, the appeal said, reserved the right to ask "any state or regional system of collective security for help in restoring its sovereignty"."Parliament must ask the U.N. to bring in a peacekeeping contingent," Oles Doniy, an independent member allied with parties favoring integration with Europe, told the chamber. "We cannot compete with Russia on our own."But with Crimea now firmly in Moscow's hands for more than a week ahead of a referendum this Sunday on joining Russia, the parliament split along political lines.
Pro-European parties voted in favor.
Only two members of ousted president Viktor Yanukovich's Party of Regions voted in favor while others, saying they wanted first to see the outcome of Sunday's plebiscite in Crimea. Communists also abstained.The appeal made no specific reference to the U.N. Security Council. Pro-European member Borys Tarasyuk, a former foreign minister, said such a move would be pointless as Russia enjoyed veto power in the 15- member Council."All attempts to appeal to Russia have produced no results," Tarasyuk told the chamber."I therefore believe an appeal to the U.N. is justified so that a special session of the U.N. General Assembly can be held. Unfortunately, Russia will use its veto in the Security Council."Prime Minister Yatseniuk received support for Ukraine's position during talks on Wednesday in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama. He is to take part in a session of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.Parliament also approved a resolution "confirming Ukraine's policy of integration with the European Union".The resolution authorized Yatseniuk to "conclude as quickly as possible from the Ukrainian side an association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union".Three months of crisis gripping Ukraine, culminating in Yanukovich's removal, were triggered by Yanukovich's decision to abandon plans to sign such an accord with the EU. Officials in the EU have said the pact can be revived.(This version of the story corrects day of week to Thursday)(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)
03/10/2014 - VATICAN INSIDER-A bold "j'accuse" to Putin by prominent Ukrainian Jews on behalf of all Ukrainians-“Open letter” signed by Jewish intellectuals and public figures challenges Putin’s “lies” and hegemonic goals-Lisa Palmieri-BilligRome-“Mr. President! We are Jewish citizens of Ukraine: businessmen, managers, public figures, scientists and scholars, artists and musicians” begins the “Open letter To the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.” “We are addressing you on behalf of the multi-national people of Ukraine, Ukraine’s national minorities, and on behalf of the Jewish Community.”The letter now circulating, signed by significant Ukrainian Jewish personalities and still gathering more signatures, charges Putin with “consciously choosing lies and slander from the massive amount of information about Ukraine” to “delegitimize the new Ukrainian government”, defame the revolutionary movement for democracy of Maidan Square and divide the country.”Lies have been circulated in Russian media, the letter holds, regarding the trampling of civil rights of Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine and “bans on the Russian language” existing only ”in the heads of those who invented them”. The letter notes that “historically, Ukrainian Jews are also mostly Russian – speaking”. Putin is also charged with falsely accusing Kiev of anti-Semitism and “Fascism.” “Your certainty of the growth of anti-Semitism in Ukraine also does not correspond to the actual facts. It seems you have confused Ukraine with Russia”, the letter states, “where Jewish organizations have noticed growth in anti-Semitic tendencies last year.” The letter hits out hard against Russia’s hypocrisy in attributing extremism to Kiev while nurturing it at home. It states that while it is true that nationalistic groups are part of “the political opposition and forces of social protests who have secured changes for the better…even the most marginal do not dare show anti-Semitism or other xenophobic behavior. And we certainly know that our very few nationalists are well-controlled by civil society and the new Ukrainian government – which is more than can be said for the Russian neo-Nazis, who are encouraged by your security services.”Moreover, “there are quite a few national minority representatives in the Cabinet of Ministers: the Minister of Internal Affairs is Armenian, the Vice Prime Minister is a Jew, two ministers are Russian. The newly-appointed governors of Ukraine’s region are also not exclusively Ukrainian.”The real threat, the letter holds, “is coming from the Russian government, namely – from you personally.”“It is your policy of inciting separatism and crude pressure placed on Ukraine that threatens us and all Ukrainian people, including those who live in Crimea and the Ukrainian South-East. South-eastern Ukrainians will soon see that for themselves”, the letter warns.The letter closes with irony and clear-cut demands. “Vladimir Vladimirovich, we highly value your concern about the safety and rights of Ukrainian national minorities. But we do not wish to be ‘defended’ by sundering Ukraine and annexing its territory. We decisively call for you not to intervene in internal Ukrainian affairs, to return the Russian armed forces to their normal fixed peacetime location, and to stop encouraging pro-Russian separatism.”“Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are quite capable of protecting our rights in a constructive dialogue and in cooperation with the government and civil society of a sovereign, democratic, and united Ukraine. We strongly urge you not to destabilize the situation in our country and to stop attempts of delegitimizing the new Ukrainian government.”Estimates of the total Jewish population in the Ukraine today vary from 70,000 to 300,000. According to Josef Zissels, Chairman of the Association of Jewish Communities and Organizations of Ukraine (VAAD) who is the first signer of this document, the higher figure is the more credible. Because of their historic experience of pogroms and massacres during and between wars, Ukrainian Jews are fearful of exposing their religious or ethnic sense of identity, afraid this will lead to a proverbial “knock at the door” of their homes with subsequent violence. The estimated population includes both religious and secular Jews well integrated into public life.“The Jewish population of Ukraine is about 0.7% of the total population of Ukraine and at least 10% of the members of the Ukrainian parliament have Jewish roots – i.e. they are part of the very same 300 000 that we count among the Jewish community, even if they do not advertise their Jewishness” says Zissels.Ukrainian Jews participate in protests on an individual basis, neither encouraged nor discouraged by the Community. “But I believe”, says the VAAD chairman, “first, that the Jewish youth participate more often than older people, and, second, that as in other actions directed to democratize society, participation of Jews is disproportionately high.” He himself, some of his family, Jewish friends and acquaintances have joined the public protest.However, as individuals living in democracy, Ukrainian Jews are also divided politically. Not all support the revolution.The small minority of Jews in Crimea (which, incidentally, once hosted Jewish collective farms, temporarily designated by Communist Russia to become a future ‘Jewish homeland’) keep a lower profile, surrounded as they are by a majority of Russian nationalists and now invaded by Putin’s men.An additional input of support for Maidan Square comes from young Israeli Jews of Ukrainian origin returning to the country in search of their roots, who have now joined the protest movement.
On Feb 28 “Haaretz” published a JTA interview with a former Israeli soldier known as “Delta”, born in the Ukraine, immigrated to Israel in the 1990s, who moved back to Ukraine several years ago and has headed the “Blue Helmets” – a nickname for a force of 35 men and women who are not Jewish plus “several fellow Israeli Defence Force veterans…in the still-unfinished revolution.”Delta is an Orthodox Jew “in his late 30s who regularly prays at Rabbi Moshe Azman’s Brodsky Synagogue”. Although Svodoba, the Extreme Right political movement is part of the protest movement, Delta claims he “never saw any expression of anti-Semitism during the protests, and claims to the contrary were part of the reason I joined the movement. We’re trying to show that Jews care” he said.” Delta says the Kremlin is using the anti-Semitism card falsely to delegitimize the Ukrainian revolution, which is distancing Ukraine from Russia’s sphere of influence.”He and Rabbi Azman “are organizing the airborne evacuation of seriously wounded protesters – none of them Jewish – for critical operations in Israel.”All are hoping that this time, in contrast to past history, Ukraine’s Jewish citizens will not be cynically sacrificed as scapegoats for conflicting political strategies for hegemony – on one side or the other.Several synagogues have been firebombed recently in the South-east, creating anxiety regarding future developments.
Merkel: Comparing Crimea to Kosovo is 'shameful'
Today @ 11:34-MAR 13,14-EUOBSERVER-By Valentina PopBerlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday (13 March) told the Bundestag it is "shameful" to compare the independence of Kosovo with the referendum for independence in Crimea and called on Russia to stop its actions in Ukraine or face economic sanctions."In Kosovo we had years in which the international community had no power to intervene while Slobodan Milosevic carried out his ethnic cleansing. Nato then decided to act alone because Russia continuously blocked any UN mandate on Serbia. That situation is in no way similar to what is happening today in Ukraine," she said."In my opinion it is shameful to compare Crimea to Kosovo. And even if there had been other breaches of international law - Kosovo not being one of them - Russia's actions in Ukraine are still a breach of international law," she added.Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month justified a decision to send troops to Crimea by comparing it to the international intervention in Kosovo in the late 1990s.He said he wanted to protect ethnic Russians, who make up the majority of the population on the Crimean peninsula.But to Merkel "this conflict is about spheres of influence and territorial claims" and a repeat of Russian actions during the 2008 Georgian war, which ended with two Georgian regions under Russian occupation.Merkel noted that the independence referendum called by Crimean authorities, and advanced from 25 May to 16 March, is in violation of Ukraine's constitution because it was not approved at national level."In a phase of big insecurity in Ukraine, Russia is not acting like a stability partner, but uses its neighbour's weakness to advance its own interests. It is the power of the mightiest put above the power of law. What we are witnessing now is oppressive and I fear we need to be prepared for the long haul in solving this conflict," she said.Unlike the US, whose army chiefs have prepared for military action and whose diplomats say "all options are on the table" against Russia, Merkel insists that there is "no military option" to solve this conflict.She spoke of a three step approach against Russia. The first - freezing EU-Russia talks on visa freedom and trade - has already been taken.A travel ban on Putin allies is the second step. This could be triggered on Monday at a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. The third step - economic sanctions - may be then agreed by EU leaders when they meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday."Nobody wants these measures, that is clear. But we would be willing and determined to go this road if it is unavoidable. This has been agreed among all 28 EU states and in close coordination with Nato and G7 partners.""If Russia stays the course, it would not be just a catastrophe for Ukraine, not just a threat for us as its neighbours, but it would massively hurt Russia, economically and politically," Merkel warned.The sanctions move is unpopular in Germany. A recent poll showed only 24 percent in favour of economic sanctions while 69 percent believe it would not help solve the Crimea crisis.
