LUTHERN CHURCH ELECTS FIRST FEMALE BISHOP

KING JESUS IS COMING FOR US ANY TIME NOW. THE RAPTURE. BE PREPARED TO GO.

08/22/2013 VATICAN INSIDER

American Lutheran Church elects first female presiding bishop

Elizabeth Eaton

Elizabeth Eaton was elected leader of the Evangelical Lutherans last week

Maria Teresa Pontara Pederiva Rome While the Anglican Church has pulled back the handbrake on women’s ordination to the priesthood in England, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has stepped down on the accelerator, electing its first female presiding bishop last week. The woman in question is Harvard Divinity School graduate Elizabeth Eaton, 58.


Eaton – who won in a 600-287 landslide at the denomination’s triennial Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh, against outgoing president Mark Hanson and two other female candidates – is Bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod, based in her hometown Cleveland and is married to the Rev. Conrad Selnick, an Episcopal priest. Like Hanson, Eaton supported the decision to allow gay clerics to be ordained bishops, taking what was perhaps an even “softer” line, because more understanding than many of those who were against. “Being an inclusive church meant respecting those who had a different understanding of Scripture and doctrine.” “These people also have voice in this church,” she said.Last 12 May, Guy Erwin, a member of the Osage tribe who holds a degree from Yale and a PhD from Yale, was the first openly gay figure to be elected bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Southwest California Synod, becoming one of 65 ELCA bishops across the U.S.The ELCA changed its rules in 2009 to allow gay and lesbian individuals to be ordained priests in what is the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. It is estimated that over 600 congregations abandoned the Lutheran Church following this decision. Today, the Lutheran Church has almost ten thousand congregations (9638 to be precise) across the U.S., the Caribbean and the Virgin Islands, with over sixteen thousand priests and more than four million members.The main problem President Eaton will be facing is how to hold the Lutheran Church together and in particular how to meet the varying needs and expectations of families and young people. In her acceptance speech, she stressed the need to meet people’s needs by going out to meet them. Missionary action needs to be strengthened. “Today people search for a new church on the Internet, so those without a website are invisible,” she said.  Hence new technologies need to be used in a more efficient and intelligent way, although searching for God’s help through prayer remains the number one priority, Eaton stressed.Bishop Eaton will be installed on 5 October (probably at Rockefeller Chapel in Chicago’s Hyde Park) and her first day in office will be N1 November. She is now on a par with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who in 2006 became the first woman to become a primate of an Anglican province. The two Churches are in full communion, meaning they are able to share clergy and have shared ministries. “Today we are closer,” said the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber the day after Eaton’s election.When asked, in a press conference, to comment on what it meant for a woman to be elected president, she replied: “Everyone has gifts to serve” When we say everyone is welcome and that God’s gifts have been poured out on everyone, as it says in Joel, that it can also be poured out on someone who happens to be female from Ohio.” “We are a church that is overwhelmingly European in a culture that is increasingly pluralistic. We need to welcome the gifts of those who come from different places, that is a conversation we need to have as a church,” she said.

08/20/2013 VATICAN INSIDER

Iran: Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing copies of the Gospel

The Iranian Parliament

Young people’s interest in and conversion to Christianity is concerning Iranian authorities

vatican insider staff Rome
An Iranian man, converted from Islam to Christianity, was sentenced to ten years in prison for "crimes against state security".
 
This is neither the first nor the last of such cases unfortunately. This time it was Mohammad-Hadi Bordbar’s turn. The man, also known as Mostafa is a native of the city of Rasht and has been found  guilty for distributing copies of the Gospel in Iran.As reported to Fides news agency, “the court documents show that the man confessed to "having abandoned Islam to follow Christianity", and "considering evangelization his duty, he distributed 12,000 pocket gospels". After having received baptism, Mostafa had set up a "house church", an assembly of home worship, with prayer meetings at home, which are considered "illegal".”“Mostafa was arrested in Tehran on December 27, 2012, after a police raid at his house. The security officers detained and interrogated all those present at the meeting for hours, about 50 Iranian Christians,” Fides news agency reports.“In his home the police found material and Christian publications, such as movies, books, CDs and over 6,000 copies of the Gospel. Mostafa had already been arrested in 2009 for conversion to Christianity, found guilty of apostasy, then released on bail. In another recent case, reported to Fides by the Iranian Christian Agency "Mohabat News", a court in the city of Robat-Karim, south of Tehran, sentenced the young Ebrahim Firouzi, another Iranian Christian to one year in prison and two years of exile, for "evangelization activities and distribution of Bibles", considered "in opposition to the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran”,” Fides went on to say.“In the ruling, the judge describes Ebrahim Firouzi of being "guilty of criminal acts for holding prayer meetings at home and for having spread among the young doubts on Islamic principles". The young man was arrested in March 2013.” “As recalled by the NGO "Barnabas team" and "Christian Solidarity Worldwide", committed to the defence of Christians in the world, in recent years the interest of young Iranians towards Christianity has made conversion to Christianity a disturbing problem for the Iranian authorities,” Fides wrote.“Many churches of Farsi-language have been closed in Tehran and in other cities, while the pressure on Christian converts from Islam is on the rise. The new Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, spoke of a possible "reform of civil rights" recently asking Islamic religious clergy to "stop state interference in the private lives of people".”

08/22/2013 VATICAN INSIDER

Francis and Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima

In October, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima will travel from Portugal to Rome, where the Pope will entrust the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Andrea Tornielli vatican city This coming 13 October Pope Francis will entrust the world to Mary, as part of the Year of Faith initiative. This is in continuation with the acts performed by his predecessors, from Pius XII to John Paul II and is a demonstration of Francis’ deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.The original statue of Our Lady of Fatima, with the bullet that struck John Paul II (in the 13 May 1981 attempt on his life) set in the Virgin Mary’s crown, will arrive in St. Peter’s Square in the afternoon of Saturday 12^th and Francis will be there to receive it. This is the 10^th time in just under a century that the Marian effigy leaves the Chapel of Apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. In the evening the statue will be taken to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love in Rome, where a prayer vigil will be held. On morning of October 13^th, the statue will return to St. Peter’s Square, where the Pope will celebrate mass after the Rosary and will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.The first of these consecrations took place during Pius XII’s pontificate. On 31 October 1942, right in the middle of the Second World War, Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the radio in Portuguese, mentioning Russia especially, according to the instructions received by the three little shepherds during the apparition at Fatima. Another consecration was made by John Paul II on 25 March 1984, when tensions were running high because of the European missile crisis.
 
The original statue was brought back to the Vatican on 8 October 2000, when John Paul II entrusted the new millennium to Mary in the presence of 1500 bishops from all across the world. His words –pronounced eleven months before the September 11 attacks – were not understood at the time. He said the world was at a crossroads and could either transform itself into a blooming garden or into a pile of ruins. Pope Francis mentioned the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in his first Angelus prayer on Sunday 17 March, referring to one of the replicas of the statue that were travelling around the world. “I remember, when I had only just become a bishop in the year 1992, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima had just arrived in Buenos Aires and a big Mass was celebrated for the sick. I went to hear confessions at that Mass…” Francis said, before going on to recount a story about an old woman who came to him for confession and surprised him with the simplicity of her faith: “If the Lord did not forgive everything, the world would not exist.” A month later, the then Patriarch of Lisbon, Cardinal José Policarpo, announced that Pope Francis had asked him to consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima: “Pope Francis asked me twice if I could consecrate his new ministry to Our Lady of Fatima.”Cardinal Policarpo accepted ad the consecration was carried out last 13 May. “O Blessed Virgin, we are at your feet to carry out the request clearly expressed by Pope Francis to consecrate to you, O Virgin of Fatima, his ministry as Bishop of Rome and universal pastor,” Cardinal Policarpo said, marking the 96^th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to the three shepherd children. Francis has made his devotion to Our Lady of Fatima very clear, visiting the Basilica of St. Mary major as many as five times to pray. His first visit was on 14 March, straight after he was elected Pope. He laid some flowers before the Salus Populi Romani icon and asked the Virgin Mary to protect the city of Rome.The Pope returned there on 4 May to recite the Rosary and again on the Feast Day of Corpus Domini after the procession to the basilica. Francis also went to pray before the Salus Populi Romani before his trip to Rio, to entrust World Youth Day to the care of the Virgin Mary. He then visited the basilica again, straight after landing in Ciampino last 29 July and before returning to the Vatican, to pray and give thanks to the Virgin Mary. One of Francis’ favourite Marian devotions is to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots (Maria Knotenlöserin), a devotion he helped spread across Argentina. This devotion is inspired by an 18^th century Bavarian image, which currently adorns one of the chapels of the St. Peter am Perlach church in Augsburg, Germany.Fr. Bergoglio discovered it on one of his study trips and began to spread word of it in Argentina. When he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he dedicated a shrine in the city to Mary Untier of Knots and had a prayer printed on the back of an image of the Virgin Mary which he used to send out with his correspondence; this roughly translates as: “May evil never ensnare you in its chaotic web… May you act as an example of how to unravel the knots in our lives and help us through difficult times with simplicity and patience, through the intercession of Your Son.”

08/21/2013 VATICAN INSIDER

The Pope and the Curia’s spoil system

The Roman Curia

The U.S. has criticised Pope Francis for not having replaced the Vatican Secretary of State yet

andrea Tornielli vatican city

“We also wanted someone with good managerial skills and leadership skills, and so far that hasn't been as obvious.” This is what the Archbishop of New York and American papal candidate, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, had to say about Pope Francis at World Youth Day in Rio a few weeks ago. The cardinal voiced this rather frank criticism during an interview with Vatican correspondent John Allen, published on the National Catholic Reporter website last 24 July.Basically, one of the most media-friendly protagonists of the last Conclave that elected Bergoglio to the Throne of Peter just four months ago has said that Francis, the Argentinean Pope “from the other side of the world” has not been enough of a “manager”. In his comment, Dolan was particularly referring to the fact that the Vatican Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, has not been replaced yet. Bertone, who was Benedict XVI’s right hand man, was widely criticised during the pre-Conclave discussions. “I would expect that after the summer lull, we'll see some more signs of management changes,” Cardinal Dolan added, after stating that he had expected the replacement to happen before the summer, as many had wrongly predicted.Dolan’s comment is completely separate from other statements made by top figures in the U.S. Catholic Church, such as the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput. In an interview with the National Catholic Reporter he admitted that "the right wing of the church ... generally have not been really happy about his election, from what [he has] been able to read and to understand." Unlike certain conservative and traditionalist circles, the Archbishop of New York does not complain about such things as the little changes made to the liturgy, about the current Pope’s simple style or about the fact he has not repeatedly stressed the Church’s well-known position with regard to abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality. But Dolan has not hidden his dissatisfaction regarding Francis’ failure so far to act as a real “manager” - a typically American concern.After he had been Pope for one month and just before Holy Week was about to begin, with all its demanding rites, on 13 April, Francis announced he was setting up a group of eight advisors to help him reform the Curia and govern the Church. He got stuck in straight away with the Vatican Bank (the IOR) given the rather unevangelical scandals it was at the centre of. He nominated a trusted prelate as its head and set up a commission to reform the Bank. He started restructuring all of the Holy See’s economic and financial structures. He met and listened to numerous people and took decisions. Dolan, and perhaps even others, expected to see some important figure get the axe, starting with Cardinal Bertone who will turn 79 at the start of December.In the weeks following their election, neither Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II nor Benedict XVI changed the Secretary of State they inherited from their respective predecessors. They waited years (Paul VI waited six and Benedict XVI over one year) or months (the Secretary of State Jean Villot was replaced less than five months after the Conclave which elected Wojtyla, but only because he died). Pope Francis is waiting to do so “post aquas”, after the summer holidays that is, although he has in fact continued working throughout this period.In his book Open Mind, Faithful Heart, a collection of spiritual reflections published in 2012, Bergoglio, who was still a cardinal at the time, speaks of Abraham and detachment from oneself and reminds readers of certain priests who, once appointed to a higher position, immediately start making changes to the office, changing secretaries, putting new carpets down, curtains up, kitting themselves out with all sorts of office equipment and reshaping the environment they’re in to suit them. This inevitably leads to conflict.Francis’ words may say something about the method used by the new Pope, who is prepared to make changes to the structures and composition of the Roman Curia - starting with the position of Secretary of State, which could undergo changes as part of the reforms that are being prepared – but without making any hasty decisions, always taking people into account. On the return flight from Rio de Janeiro, Francis told journalists he appreciated collaborators who told him “I don't see that, I disagree: that's what I think, you do as you wish,” because those who do say such things are real collaborators, as opposed to those who say: “Oh, how wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful”, and then they say the opposite somewhere else.”As the last 8 years show, Benedict XVI’s pontificate was conditioned by collaborators who were not always up to the job. It is understandable therefore, that his successor should exercise due caution when selecting his key collaborators.

MUSLIM NATIONS (SLAUGHTERED BY NUKES FOR COMING AGAINST ISRAEL)

EZEKIEL 38:1-12
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog,(RULER) the land of Magog,(RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW)and Tubal,(TOBOLSK) and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW) and Tubal:TOBOLSK)
4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,(GOD FORCES THE RUSSIA-MUSLIMS TO MARCH) and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY) of the north quarters, and all his bands:(SUDAN,AFRICA) and many people with thee.
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.(RUSSIA-EGYPT AND MUSLIMS)
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages;(ISRAEL) I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil,(OIL IS IN SPOIL) and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

EZEKIEL 39:1-8,11-18
1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal: (TUBOLSK)
2 And I will turn thee back,(RUSSIA-ARAB MUSLIM ISRAEL HATERS) and leave but the sixth part of thee,(5/6TH OR 300 MILLION DEAD RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS I BELIEVE) and will cause thee to come up from the north parts,(RUSSIA) and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands,( ARABS) and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog,(NUCLEAR BOMB) and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog (RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS) a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers (EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN JORDAN VALLEY) on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog (RUSSIAN) and all his multitude:(ARAB/MUSLIM HORDE) and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.(BURIEL SITE OF THE 300 MILLION,RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS)
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.(OF ISRAEL)
13 Yea, all the people of the land (OF ISRAEL) shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I (GOD-JESUS) shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment,(NUCLEAR BOMB EXPERTS) passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it,(WON'T TOUCH IT) till the buriers have buried it (PROPERLY) in the valley of Hamongog.(RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS NEW BURIEL SITE)
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.(OF THE ISRAEL-GOD HATERS)
17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl,(500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS THREW ISRAEL EVERY SPRING,FALL) and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.(OF THE RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM ARMIES)
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye (MIGRATING BIRDS IN ISRAEL) shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.(RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM ISRAEL HATERS)
20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
21 And I (GOD-JESUS) will set my glory among the heathen,(WORLD NATIONS) and all the heathen (WORLD NATIONS) shall see my judgment that I have executed,(AGAINST ISRAELS ENEMIES) and my (GODS) hand that I have laid upon them.(ISRAELS HATER ENEMIES)

JEREMEIAH 49:35-37 (IN IRAN AT THE BUSHEHR NUKE SITE SOME BELIEVE)
35  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,(IRAN/BUSHEHR NUCLEAR SITE) the chief of their might.(MOST DANGEROUS NUKE SITE IN IRAN)
36  And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven,(IRANIANS SCATTERED OR MASS IMIGARATION) and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.(WORLD IMMIGRATION)
37  For I will cause Elam (IRAN-BUSHEHR NUKE SITE) to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger,(ISRAELS NUKES POSSIBLY) saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:(IRAN AND ITS NUKE SITES DESTROYED)

Iran warns US over military move against Assad

Republican Guards commander says Washington should beware of ‘trespassing over the red line in Syria’

By AP August 25, 2013, 1:35 pm 2-The Times of Israel

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian commander warned the United States Sunday over a possible military move against the Tehran-backed regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.The semi-official Fars news agency, which has close ties to Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, quoted Gen. Masoud Jazayeri as warning that “trespassing over the red line in Syria will have severe consequences for the White House.”Gen. Jazayeri did not provide details but said Washington is well aware of such red lines. He said the war in Syria is a product of a US plot and “regional reactionary” countries, a common reference to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.Earlier Saturday, Washington said US naval forces are moving closer to Syria as President Barack Obama considers a military response to Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons.Hundreds of people were killed in a reported chemical attack Wednesday, prompting international calls for action against the Syrian regime.

Iran is considered one of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s strongest backers.The Times of Israel contributed to this report.

Only 60% of Israelis have gas masks

Postal Service says requests have jumped fourfold in recent days

By Gavriel Fiske August 25, 2013, 3:53 pm 1-The Times of Israel

As the prospect of a US-led Western military intervention into the Syrian civil war dominated Israeli headlines on Sunday, a new report revealed that, due to budget constraints, some 40 percent of Israeli citizens do not possess government-supplied gas masks to protect them from a potential chemical weapon attack.The post office said Sunday that requests have jumped fourfold in the last few days, likely the result of the news out of Syria.Only 60 percent of Israelis currently have gas masks, a Home Front Command official told Channel 2. “We’re not 100% ready, of course,” he reportedly said. “There is no 100% defense… but every person should be equipped.”In May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new $350 million initiative to equip every Israeli with a gas mask. However, official said that the shortfall was due to a “question of budget.”Despite the lack of gas masks, the official went on to say that Israel is more prepared that ever before for the case of a chemical weapons attack. “We are prepared for any scenario,” he said, adding that Home Front Command forces are “continually learning and training” for such a scenario.

Since the reports of a mass chemical gas attack outside Damascus surfaced last week, debate has raged in the US and Europe about possible military intervention. Israel is said to be preparing for the possibility that, in response to an American attack, Syria might retaliate against targets in Israel. Syria is reported to have an arsenal of at least 100,000 missiles, some of which can target any area in the country.In Israel, gas masks are distributed via the post office, which maintains an information page (Hebrew). Citizens can order and check availability by calling *2237.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

Syrian Islamists vow revenge for alleged gas attack

Leader of al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front says he will target Shiite Muslim villages to hit back at Assad regime

By Jamal Halaby August 25, 2013, 3:58 pm 0-The times of Israel

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The leader of an al-Qaida-linked Syrian rebel group vowed on Sunday to attack villages home to President Bashar Assad’s minority sect to avenge a deadly alleged chemical weapons attack on opposition-held suburbs of Damascus last week.Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani’s comments came in an audio recording posted on a militant website that usually carries al-Qaida and similar groups’ statements. It also appeared on the group’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, although the authenticity of the claim could not be immediately verified.Last Wednesday’s purported chemical attack in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta has prompted U.S. naval forces to move closer to Syria as President Barack Obama considers a military response.Al-Golani said he plans to target villages inhabited by President Bashar Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that dominates his regime.

Addressing the families of children killed in the alleged chemical attack, al-Golani said: “The revenge for the blood of your children is a debt to be paid back … 1,000 rockets will be fired at them in revenge for the massacre of Ghouta.”In Jordan, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was set to meet with Arab and Western peers later in the day to discuss ways to bolster the security of Syria’s neighbors against possible attacks, chemical or other, by Assad’s regime, a Jordanian security official said.The meeting, closed to the press and held at an unspecified location, gathers chiefs of staff from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to brief reporters. 

Forbes ranks Sara Netanyahu Israel’s most powerful woman

The prime minister is ‘totally influenced’ by his wife, magazine says, placing her ahead of bank chiefs, billionaires and cultural icons

By Ron Friedman March 26, 2013, 1:24 am 0-The Times of Israel

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu casts his vote in the Likud primary elections together with his wife Sara, on November 24 (photo credit: Gil Yohanan/Flash90)

She may not hold an official government post, draw a huge salary or run an international corporation, but Sara Netanyahu’s purported influence over her husband, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, earned her the No. 1 spot on Forbes Israel’s list of the country’s 50 most powerful women, published last week.

Netanyahu, a child psychiatrist by training, beat out billionaires, CEOs, Cabinet ministers and cultural icons to gain the top spot, with the magazine citing her ostensible tight control over senior government appointments as her main leverage tool.“She is not directly involved in making decisions on economic, military or diplomatic matters. She won’t intervene in deciding on raising the VAT or launching a strike on Iran, but she is deeply involved in deciding who the people who make the critical decisions are,” a source who worked closely with the Netanyahus told Forbes. “Most of the appointments surrounding the prime minister — not only in his bureau — go through Sara Netanyahu. Major roles in the most important office in the country as well as minor government jobs — she is involved in all of them,” the unnamed source said.

Another unnamed official described the relationship as follows: “For someone to be influential, he or she needs to find a subject willing to be so totally influenced; that is the prime minister. He is completely under her influence, and doesn’t indicate any desire to be freed of it. He is very committed to her, and apparently loves her very much.”Immediately following Sara Netanyahu on the list is a more conventional pick, Bank Leumi CEO Rakefet Russak-Aminoach. Russak-Aminoach, 47, is the youngest person to stand at the head of the leading Israeli bank and over the past year steered it through tumultuous financial times, seeing through painful staff cuts and internal reforms.Filling out the Forbes top three was real estate magnate Shari Arison, who is also the driving force behind the annual Good Deeds Day, a philanthropic venture that this year included participants in 50 countries.The top ranked female politician was Tzipi Livni in 11th place, followed closely by opposition head Shelly Yachimovich. Both women led their parties (Hatnua and Labor respectively) in January elections. Though the results were less impressive than they had hoped for, today both find themselves in positions of power, Livni as the country’s justice minister and Yachimovich as the chief opposition political thorn in Netanyahu’s side.Israel’s favorite supermodel, Bar Refaeli made the list in 45th place, with the magazine citing her constant coverage by the media, her popularity on online social networks, and her income, as her claims to power.

Rural Living

Bees dying by the millions

By Jon Radojkovic

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 9:42:22 EDT AM

One of many dead hives at Schuit's Saugeen Honey, in Elmwood.

• Bees dying by the millions in Grey-Bruce

ELMWOOD - Local beekeepers are finding millions of their bees dead just after corn was planted here in the last few weeks. Dave Schuit, who has a honey operation in Elmwood, lost 600 hives, a total of 37 million bees.“Once the corn started to get planted our bees died by the millions,” Schuit said. He and many others, including the European Union, are pointing the finger at a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids, manufactured by Bayer CropScience Inc. used in planting corn and some other crops. The European Union just recently voted to ban these insecticides for two years, beginning December 1, 2013, to be able to study how it relates to the large bee kill they are experiencing there also.Local grower Nathan Carey from the Neustadt, and National Farmers Union Local 344 member, says he noticed this spring the lack of bees and bumblebees on his farm. He believes that there is a strong connection between the insecticide use and the death of pollinators.“I feel like we all have something at stake with this issue,” he said. He is organizing a public workshop and panel discussion about this problem at his farm June 22 at 10 a.m. He hopes that all interested parties can get together and talk about the reason bees, the prime pollinators of so any different plant species, are dying.At the farm of Gary Kenny, south west of Hanover, eight of the 10 hives he kept for a beekeeper out of Kincardine, died this spring just after corn was planted in neighbouring fields.What seems to be deadly to bees is that the neonicotinoid pesticides are coating corn seed and with the use of new air seeders, are blowing the pesticide dust into the air when planted. The death of millions of pollinators was looked at by American Purdue University. They found that, “Bees exhibited neurotoxic symptoms, analysis of dead bees revealed traces of thiamethoxam/clothianidin in each case. Seed treatments of field crops (primarily corn) are the only major source of these compounds.Local investigations near Guelph, led to the same conclusion. A Pest Management Regulatory Agency investigation confirmed that corn seeds treated with clothianidin or thiamethoxam “contributed to the majority of the bee mortalities” last spring.“The air seeders are the problem,” said Ontario Federation of Agriculture director Paul Wettlaufer, who farms near Neustadt. This was after this reporter called John Gillespie, OFA Bruce County president, who told me to call Wettlaufer. Unfortunately, Wettlaufer said it was, “not a local OFA issue,” and that it was an issue for the Grain Farmers of Ontario and representative, Hennry Vanakum should be notified. Vanakum could not be rached for comment.Yet Guelph University entomologist Peter Kevan, disagreed with the EU ban.
“There’s very little evidence to say that neonicotinoids, in a very general sense, in a broad scale sense, have been a major component in the demise of honeybees or any other pollinators, anywhere in the world,” said Kevan.But research is showing that honeybee disorders and high colony losses have become a global phenomena. An international team of scientists led by Holland’s Utrecht University concluded that, ”Large scale prophylaxic use in agriculture, their high persistence in soil and water, and their uptake by plants and translocation to flowers, neonicotinoids put pollinator services at risk.” This research and others rsulted in the Eurpean Union ban.The United Church is also concerned about the death of so many pollinators and has prepared a “Take Action” paper it’s sending out to all its members. The church is basing its action on local research. The Take Action paper states among other things, “Scientific information gathered suggests that the planting of corn seeds treated with neonicotinoids contributed to the majority of the bee mortalities that occurred in corn growing regions of Ontario and Quebec in Spring 2012.”Meanwhile Schuit is replacing his queen bees every few months now instead of years, as they are dying so frequently. “OMAFRA tells me to have faith. Well, I think it’s criminal what is happening, and it’s hard to have faith if it doesn’t look like they are going to do anything anyway,” Schuit says.

MAJOR BLAZE AT ROBS SPORTS BAR IN WALKERTON ONTARIO CANADA

KING JESUS IS COMING FOR US ANY TIME NOW. THE RAPTURE. BE PREPARED TO GO.

ROBS SPORTS BAR
http://www.explorethebruce.com/restaurants/Robs-Sports-Bar-Roadhouse-9335.php
https://plus.google.com/100527251910736634326/about?gl=ca&hl=en
PICTURES FROM THE FIRE-LAURA MACDUFF-HANOVER POST
http://www.thepost.on.ca/2013/08/25/fire-rips-through-walkerton-bar
http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/photo-galleries/fire-at-rob-s-sports-bar-in-walkerton-1.1427106
VIDEO OF FIRE
http://video.theloop.ca/news/top-stories/watch/extended-video-fire-at-a-walkerton-bar/2628532990001?sort=start_date&page=1#.UhqYPH99kwo
http://video.theloop.ca/news/top-stories/watch/fire-destroys-walkerton-bar/2628549754001?sort=start_date&page=1#.UhqZx399kwo

IN WALKERTON ONTARIO CANADA WE HAVE AT LEAST FIRE TRUCKS FROM WALKERTON, HANOVER, MILDMAY AND ELMWOOD FIGHTING A MAJOR UPTOWN BLAZE A BLOCK FROM THE MAIN STREET.THE BLAZE SITE IS ROBS SPORTS BAR.I CAN'T CONFIRM-BUT HEARD IT STARTED UPSTAIRS FROM GREECE.SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE LEFT THE GREECER ON.THE 4 ALARM FIRED STARTED ABOUT 12:30PM.THE BLACK SMOKE BLARING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.AND OFF AND ON THE FIRE JUST WON'T GET UNDER CONTROL.ITS 2PM NOW.AND NO SIGN OF THIS FIRE STOPPING.OH I AM WATCHING THE WHOLE THING FROM MY WINDOW AS I ONLY LIVE A BLOCK FROM ROBS SPORTS BAR.THERES ROOFS EVERYWHERE.THIS COULD GET UGLY IF THEY CAN'T GET THIS FIRE UNDER CONTROL.I SEEN EMBERS FLYING ON THE BANK ROOF ALREADY.AND THERES A FOODLAND GROCERY STORES ROOF RIGHT BESIDE THAT.AS WELL AS THE POST OFFICE AND ANOTHER BUSINESS ACROSS THE STREET WITH APARTMENTS ABOVE IT.LIKE I SAY THIS COULD GET UGLY IF ITS NOT UNDER CONTROL SHORTLY.ITS BEEN BURNING OFF AND ON FOR A HOUR AND A HALF NOW.AND JUST WHEN IT LOOKS CONTROLLED.THE ROOF CORNER JUST JUMPS BACK INTO FLAMES.I WILL KEEP EVERYONE UPDATED ON IT.

ITS 2:05PM AND ANOTHER FIRE TRUCK I HEAR IS GOING TO THE SCENE.AS OF 2:05pm THE ROOF IS STILL ON FIRE.THE EMBERS ARE STILL FLYING EVERYWHERE.THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE A HOSE CONNECTED TO A LARGE LADDER.AND BLARING THE HOSE ON THE ROOF TO TRY TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL.AND FROM THE GROUND I SEE WATER FLYING FRONT AND BACK.I CAN NOT SEE THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING FROM MY WINDOW VIEW JUST THE ROOF BLARING OFF AND ON.BUT MY SISTER PHONED ME AND SAID THE WHOLE BUILDING IS ON FIRE ON THE INSIDE.I CAN ONLY SEE THE FIRE AND SMOKE BLARING FROM THE ROOF FROM MY VIEW.

ITS 2:30PM AND ONE SIDE OF THE ROOF HAS BURNED DOWN AT LEAST 10 FEET OR COLLAPSED.ONE OF THE TWO.AND THE FLAMES ARE JUST A BLARING ON THE SMALLER ROOF NOW.THIS DEFINATELY IS NOT NEAR BEING UNDER CONTROL-EVERY FEW MINUTES NOW I HEAR FIRE TRUCKS COMING AND GOING FROM THE SCENE.ITS 2:34PM NOW AND A GIGANTIC FLAME HAS JUST STARTED FROM THE SMALLER ROOF WITH JET BLACK SMOKE JUST A BILLOWING FROM IT. 

ITS 2:45PM SUN AUG 25,13.THE LADDER WITH THE HOSE CONNECTED TO IT-IS JUST FLYING WHAT LOOKS LIKE TONS OF GALLONS OF WATER ON THE ROOF.ITS SUCH LIGHT WHITE SMOKE RIGHT NOW I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE BUILDING.BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT BE STARTING TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL.THE PLACE THAT I SEEN THE FIRE AND SMOKE BILLOWING FROM AT THE VERY BEGINING WAS THE RIGHT TOP CORNER OF THE HIGHEST ROOF-THE SMOKE IS GETTING LIGHTER NOW AT 2:52PM.OOPS I LIED,A FIRE HAS JUST STARTED BLARING ON THE LEFT SIDE CORNER OF THE HIGH ROOF AGAIN AS THE LADDER WITH THE HOSE HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN AND MOVED TO A DIFERENT SPOT.ITS 3:05PM AND THE LOWER ROOF IS STILL BURNING FROM MY VANTAGE.BUT THE SMOKE IS GETTING LIGHTER WHITE-WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN.THE EMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN FLYING FOR A HOUR OR SO.THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB CONTAINING THE FIRE TO THE SPORTS BAR ONLY.THE AIR ALL AROUND ME LOOKS LIKE A NUKE WENT OFF OR A METEORITE HIT THE EARTH AS THE NICE SUNNY DAY IS TURNED INTO A SMOKE FILLED-SUN BLOCKED DAY SINCE 12:30PM EST.

ITS 3:23PM AND BY WHAT I SEE FROM MY VIEW THE SMOKE IS LIGHT WITH THE WATER SHOOTING FROM THE RIGHT BOTTOM SIDE TO THE ROOF.IF IT WAS A GREECE FIRE OR ELECTRICAL FIRE-TO ME IT DEFINATELY STARTED ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AT THE RIGHT BACK CORNER.OR MAYBE THE GASLINE WAS AT THAT CORNER BECAUSE THATS WERE THE MAIN FLAMES WERE BLARING FOR THE FIRST 2 HOURS OF THE BLAZE.THE METAL SIDING ON THE VIEW OF THE ROOF I HAVE GOT IS JUST BURNT IN 2 PLACES.WHICH AMAZES ME-THE WAY THE FLAMES WERE BLARING.THE SIRENS JUST KEEP COMING AND GOING OFF EVERY 10 OR 15 MINUTES.THIS IS THE WORST FIRE I HAVE EVER SEEN.I KNOW FOR SURE.I NEVER HEARD YET IF THERE WAS ANYBODY IN THE SPORTS BAR WHEN THE FIRE STARTED TODAY.

ITS 4PM AND I SEE 2 GIANT LADDERS WITH HOSES.ONE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUILDING OR ROAD SIDE.AND THE OTHER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUILDING OR THE POST OFFICE SIDE.POURING TONS OF WATER ON THE SMALL AND LARGE ROOFS.I CAN TELL THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER AND THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL.AS OF 4PM-I DON'T SEE ANY FLAMES COMING FROM THE BUILDING.THE TOP LEDGE OF THE BUILDING IS ALL CHARCOAL BLACK AROUND IT.BUT THE SIDING IS HARDLY BURNT.LATER ON I WILL GO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE FOR MYSELF.AND UPDATE USE.

ITS 5:30PM THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARE STILL DOSING THE BUILDING WITH BOTH GIGANTIC LADDERS WITH THE HOSES OVER THE SPORTS BAR AND  WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER FIRE ENGINES ARE STILL THERE.SINCE I CAN'T SEE HOW MANY SINCE I AM A BLOC AWAY.THE SIRENS ARE STILL GOING OFF SO THEY MUST STILL BE REFILLING THEIR FIRE TRUCKS.THERES HARDLY ANY SMOKE COMING OFF THE ROOF NOW.BUT THE ORIGINAL CORNER WERE THE FIRE WAS THE WORST IS STILL SMOKING.AND IS GETTING THE GREATEST DOSE OF WATER YET.THE POLICE HAVE HAD 2 BLOCKS BLOCKED OFF EVER SINCE ABOUT 1PM ON MAINSTREET HERE.SO THEY MUST HAVE AT LEAST A 4 BLOCK RADIAS BLOCKED OFF WITH THIS MAJOR FIRE.IT SURE IS NICE TO SEE THE CLEAR SKY AND NO FOG FROM THE SMOKE FROM THE FIRE.I SEE THE SMALLER ROOF IS STARTIING TO SMOKE AGAIN.AND THE 2 GIGANTIC LADDERS OF HOSES ARE DOING AN EX WITH THE WATER TO COVER THIS BIG AND SMALLER ROOF. 

ITS 7:20PM I JUST WENT OVER TO SEE THE RESULTS FROM THE FIRE.THERE WAS BETWEEN 50 AND 100 OTHER PEOPLE WATCHING FROM THE CORDENED OFF SCENE OUT FRONT OF THE POST OFFICE.AND ALMOST A BLOCK FROM THE SCENE.

I SNUCK OVER TO THE USED CAR SHOP TO GET MY REPORT HERE-WHICH WAS ONLY 100 OR SO FEET FROM THE BURNT OUT BUILDING.I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PLACE IS EVEN STANDING BY THE LOOK OF IT.THE FIREMEN ARE STILL DOSING THE ROOF AS WELL.IN FACT THERE WAS FIREMEN INSIDE THE BUILDING DOSING ROOMS I COULD TELL.THERE ALSO DOSING THE OUTSIDE WITH WATER.THIS BUILDING LOOKS LIKE A TOTAL DESTRUCTION WRITE OFF.THERES STILL 4 FIRE TRUCKS ON THE SCENE AND I STILL HEAR THE SIRENS FROM THE TRUCKS AS THEY LEAVE TO GET A REFILL.THE BACK PART WERE I WAS WATCHING FROM MY WINDOW.WAS TOTALLY BURNT OUT.THAT TELLS ME THATS WERE THE MAIN FIRE STARTED.THIS WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND IF SOMEBODY IS REPONSIBLE FOR THIS BLAZE-LETS GET THEM CAUGHT. 

ITS 8:30PM AND THE BUILDING IS STILL SMOKING AND THERES STILL 4 FIRE TRUCKS AT THE SCENE.AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT MIGHT BE ARSON.I DON'T KNOW WERE MY SISTER HEARD IT WAS A GREECE FIRE.THERE SAYING MAYBE SOMEONE BROKE IN THE SIDE DOOR WERE I WAS SURE IT STARTED FROM AND THEY OR HIM OR HER STARTED THE FIRE AND LEFT.

THE PEOPLE ARE STILL COMING TO SEE THE FIRE.THERES AT LEAST 20 AT MY CORNER LOOKING AT THE BUILDING TO GET A GLIMPSE OF IT.AND PEOPLE WALKING BY AND GOING TO WATCH FROM THE BACK OF THE BUILDING OR THE FRONT FROM THE POST OFFICE.

ITS 10:30PM AND THE LIGHT SMOKE IS STILL COMING OFF THE NOW PUT OUT FIRE AT ROBS SPORTS BAR.THE ROAD IS BLOCKED OFF BY MY PLACE AND THE BURNT BAR.I GOT A BIT OF VIDEO I TAPED FROM THE BEGINING OF THE FIRE.BUT AFTER 2 OR SO MINUTES MY CAMERA FELL OFF THE WINDOW AND BROKE.AND THAT WAS THE END OF MY CAMERA AND TAPING THE FIRE.I WANTED TO PUT SOME FOOTAGE ON YOUTUBE.BUT I DECIDED TO ASK THE OFFICER ON THE SCENE IF HE NEEDS A BIT OF FOOTAGE OF THE FIRE.BUT HE SAID NO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOTAGE AND STUFF TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.TOMORROW I WILL TRY TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SCENE.TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DESTRUCTION.AND BY THE LOOK OF IT.THEY MIGHT TEAR IT DOWN QUICK SO IT DOES NOT FALL OVER AND HURT SOMEONE.SINCE IT SURE DID NOT LOOK STURDY WHEN I BREIFLY LOOKED AT IT EARLIER.

HELP POLICE IF ANYBODY HAS IMFORMATION ABOUT THIS DISASTEROUS FIRE AT ROBS SPORTS BAR TODAY.

 OPP says when crews arrived on scene the building was fully engulfed in flames. There was no injuries reported, however the building was completely destroyed by the fire.

The South Bruce OPP is investigating the cause of the fire with assistance from the Fire Marshall’s Office and the South Bruce OPP Crime Unit.

They are also requesting anyone with information that can assist police to call 1-888-310-1122 or call Crime Stoppers. 

UPDATE ON THE FIRE-8:50AM MON AUG 26,2013.AND EVEN THOUGH IT RAINED A LOT DURING THE NIGHT.I STILL SEEN A BIT OF SMOKE RISING FROM THE ROOF.I HEARD THEY WILL BE TEARING THE BUILDING DOWN SOMETIME TODAY.I WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.AND KEEP USE UPDATED. 

ITS 5:30PM MON AUG 26,13 AND THE SPORTS BAR IS NOT TORN DOWN YET TODAY LIKE I HEARD.BUT FOR SOME REASON THERE BLASTING THE BACK PART WITH ALL KINDS OF WATER AGAIN.MAYBE IT WAS STARTING TO GET HOT AGAIN.I DON'T SEE ANY SMOKE COMING FROM THE BUILDING THOUGH. 

ITS 8:00PM AND I SEE A RED OR ORANGE BACK HOE STARTING TO DESTROY THE BUILDING OR JUST BRINGING THE UNSTABLE PARTS DOWN.I WILL KNOW IN A WHILE IF THEY ARE NOW BRINGING THE BUILDING DOWN. 

ITS 8:50PM AND SHES COMING DOWN FOR SURE NOW.BECAUSE I CAN SEE FROM MY WINDOW.THE BACK WERE IT STARTED FROM.THERES NO WALLS LEFT.THERE ALL TAKIN DOWN.IT MUST TOTALLY SOON BE DOWN NOW.AND THE CLEANUP WILL PROBABLY BE DONE TOMORROW.IT LOOKS LIKE THERES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BY THE POST OFFICE WATCHING THE FINAL LOOK AT ROBS SPORTS BAR.AS THE COMPLETE TEARDOWN IS ALMOST COMPLETE.THE DUMP TRUCKS WILL BE ON THE SCENE TOMORROW IF NOT TONIGHT ALREADY.THAT IS GONNA BE ONE BARE BLOCK AFTER THIS INCIDENT.AND CITY HALL WHICH WAS RIGHT BESIDE ROBS SPORTS BAR BESIDE THE POST OFFICE WAS CLOSED TODAY DUE TO SMOKE I THINK.THIS ENDANGERED BUILDING WAS DANGERED BY SOMEONE.THEY STILL NEVER GAVE AN AMOUNT OF THE FIRE YET.TO SEE HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THE OWNERS LOST.GOODBYE ROBS SPORTS BAR.I WAS ONLY EVER IN THE PLACE ONCE.AND I THINK IT WAS LIKE 4 YEARS AGO.BUT EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN I GOT MY MAIL.I SEEN POOL PLAYERS COMING OUT.THEY MUST HAVE HAD POOL TOURNAMENTS AT LEAST ONE NIGHT A WEEK. 

ITS TUE AUG 27,2013 AT 5:45PM.AND I WENT OVER TO LOOK AT ROBS SPORTS BAR 20 MINUTES AGO.AND THERES A SECURITY LADY GUARD SITTING IN THE CAR. WATCHING THE PLACE AND THE BLOCK WERE ROBS SPORTS BAR WAS.IS CHAIN LINKED OFF.AND THE CHAIN LINK FENCE IS AT LEAST 8 TO 10 FEET HIGH.ALL AROUND THE WHOLE QUARTER BLOCK PLACE WERE THE SPORTS BAR SAT.AND ALL THATS LEFT IS A PILE OF RUBBLE FROM WHEN THAT BACKHOE TORE IT DOWN LAST NIGHT.THE ODD BIT OF A WALL IS STANDING YET.BUT NOT MUCH.ONLY OUT FRONT WERE THE GAS LINE OR HYDRO WAS SITUATED.THE PILE OF RUBBLE IS ABOUT 30 OR 40 FEET HIGH OF WOOD AND STUFF.AND ONE THE ONE PART OF THE STANDING WALL WAS WERE IT SAID ROBS PORTS BAR ON IT AT THE FRONT DOOR.OR WHAT USED TO BE THE FRONT DOOR.I STILL NEVER HEARD THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS LOST IN THE BUILDING YET.BUT WERE I LIVE THEY WANT $150,000.00 FOR IT.SO I FIGURE ROBS MUST HAVE BEEN AT LEAST WORTH $400 OR $500 THOUSAND DOLLARS AT LEAST IF NOT MORE.NOW JUST THE DUMP TRUCKS HAVE TO COME AND GET RID OF THE REMAINS OF ROBS.I NEVER HEARD IF THEY WILL REBUILD AGAIN EITHER. 

Ken August 25, 2013 at 4:52 pm

I was there and spoke personally to the owner who said that the fire started at the back deck. He had a tenant who stuck his head out the window and noticed there was smoke bellowing out the window and he immediately ran and told the owner who was there at the time. He said I think your building is on fire. The owner immediately ran inside and vacated everyone safely from the building. He lived there himself for the past 20 years and had three occupied apartments above the restaurants below. The owner was clearly disappointed by what he was witnessing. Police soon attended and expressed there sympathies and asked him for an interview. We were soon asked to leave the immediate area and retreat back behind the OLD BELL building as the fire was growing much larger and taking over the entire rooftop. I have observed several buildings burn before, I was there when the Dollar store burned in Listowel, I seen buildings burn in Etobicoke and even had a fire in my own apartment unit. Whereby I had to run door to door an vacate my tenants. I can assure you that from what I have seen I knew when I saw the firefighters trying to put the fire out and fire was winning the war that this building was not going to survive this fire. They are still fighting it hours latter, though I’m not there now I still hear the sirens.. as the firetrucks run back and forth pumping their trucks full of water out of the river at Lobbes camp grounds. The back Hoe stands idly waiting to move in and knock the walls in the contain the fire.. Many spectators came from all around Walkerton and area to observe this fateful fire. Some not so respectful of ROAD CLOSED signs were driving right by them to get an even closer look. Town water contractors were running around town making sure there was ample supply to put the fire out. People and home owners were beings asked to refrain from using he water till the fire was out in order to conserve supplies.

Ken August 26, 2013 at 9:49 am

I took a walk by at about 6pm and some fire fighters had time to sit for a much needed rest while the fire was mostly out (no flames) there was still enough heat to create smoke and frequent flare ups. A few fire fighters were still tending to these flare ups and probably would be well into the night.I returned at midnight to see steam from the distance, clearly there were still hot spots and occasional flare ups. As I got closer I saw that the smoke was increasing, this could only mean that another flare up was happening. I walked past and saw that a small crew had been left on scene through-out the night to tend to these flare ups. As I went on my way home I looked back and could hear crackling. I saw flash lights beaming out of the mist and knew that they night crew was back at work battling another flare up. Soon more steam filled the air above this ghostly scene. It looked like a scene out of a horror flick.Impressive job and kudos to the volunteer firefighters from all neighboring towns who came to help out and of course our own local firefighters teams.

Ken August 26, 2013 at 9:52 am

I’m sure this rainfall will provide the final dousing to put this fire to it’s end and keep any further flame-ups from occurring. Alas this fire will see it’s end.. again kudos to all the volunteers.

PICTURES FROM THE FIRE-LAURA MACDUFF-HANOVER POST
http://www.thepost.on.ca/2013/08/25/fire-rips-through-walkerton-bar
http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/investigation-into-fire-that-demolished-walkerton-bar-continues-1.1427623  

The investigation continues

By Laura MacDuff, The Post, Hanover

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 2:53:38 EDT PM

WALKERTON - A fire that destroyed Rob's Sports Bar in Walkerton Sunday is still under investigation, but foul play isn’t suspected, Brockton’s fire chief said Wednesday.“At this point, the cause is still under investigation but there certainly isn't any suspicion of foul play,” said Chief Mike Murphy.Walkerton firefighters stayed at the scene until sunrise Monday battling hot spots. They were dispatched at 12:22 p.m. Sunday.“Traffic and pedestrian congestion was our biggest challenge in the downtown core,” Murphy said.
He said the cost of the fire is still to be determined but because it will be more than $500,000 the fire marshal's office had to be notified.A fire marshal’s office investigator was on scene from Monday and Tuesday. Control of the property was handed back to the owners later Tuesday.Murphy said many fire departments worked to keep the fire from spreading from the sports bar building."Certainly the cooperation between the departments was exceptional. They worked well together. It was a job well done,” he said.
Departments from Kincardine, Hanover, Mildmay, Elmwood, Paisley and the Bruce Power air unit responded. More than 50 firefighters battled the blaze.The landmark Victoria Jubilee hall is across the street from the bar. Buildings housing long-standing businesses are only a few metres from where the building stood. Brockton’s municipal offices and the town’s Canada Post office are separated from where the burned-out building by a small alleyway.Scott St. and Jackson St. were opened Tuesday after fences were assembled around the rubble and no trespassing signs were hung. Security was keeping watch over the rubble this morning.There was no word about when the scene will be cleaned up or when the investigation will be complete.laura.macduff@sunmedia.ca

Employees escaped unscathed

By Laura MacDuff, The Post, Hanover

Monday, August 26, 2013 5:17:04 EDT PM

WALKERTON - The walls of the building that once housed Rob's Sports Bar in Walkerton were still standing Monday, but the inside was gone after a devastating fire Sunday.Rob Lippert, part-time disc jockey at Rob's Sports Bar, said it’s is a real loss to the community."It was a great place to work," he said.
"It was around forever and everyone knew about it. I think that it will be missed by the people in this community. It was the last real bar in town. It definitely is a major loss to the community. This is a real hit."
All employees escaped unscathed after a pedestrian told them the roof was on fire.Smoke enveloped Walkerton’s downtown for most of the day, but fire crews from as far away as Kincardine battled the blaze until Sunday evening and managed to contain it to the one building.Most nearby businesses were back in business Monday, but streets were still blocked off to traffic. Many pedestrians stopped to look at the old building's remains.Amazing Assets, a lingerie store located on Jackson St. was closed while owner Susan Wright surveyed whether there was damage to her store.The Brockton municipal office, which is next door to Rob's Sports Bar, was closed as the air was cleared Monday. Canada Post was still open for people to get their mail.Rob Ferrier, owner of Rob's Sports Bar, declined to comment about the fire, as did other family members connected with the property.Lippert said the building has been owned and operated by the Ferrier family for more than 20 years. He added Rob Ferrier lived in one of the apartments upstairs.
Demolition will start this evening. laura.macduff@sunmedia.ca
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2013/08/26/employees-escaped-unscathed 

Fire rips through Walkerton bar-brockton

By Laura MacDuff, The Post, Hanover

Sunday, August 25, 2013 2:56:59 EDT PM 
 

WALKERTON - A fire was destroying the Rob's Sports Bar building downtown Walkerton Sunday afternoon.Fire crews from local departments were battling the blaze as of 4 p.m. Sunday Owners of businesses next to the bar said they believed the fire started in the late morning Sunday. So far, there had been no fires at other buildings in the area. Other business include MacDuff Motor Sales, Skip's Service, Wright's Foodland, Canada Post, the municipal building which also houses the municipal office, Bentinck Auto Sales, HDTV and Electronics, and the iconic Victoria Jubilee Hall.Smoke could be seen from as far away as the Chesley area.Many residents gathered to watch the old building burn.

Flames are seen shooting from the rear windows of the building which houses Rob's Sports Bar in downtown Walkerton Sunday afternoon.

WALKERTON - Fire crews from four different departments are on the scene of a blaze at Rob's Sports Bar in downtown Walkerton.No other structures are on fire at this time. Traffic is being diverted around the area.
Smoke can be seen from as far away as Chesley. Hanover, Mildmay and Chesley Fire Departmetns have been called into assist Walkerton Fire Department in putting the blaze out.The fire broke out late this morning. No cause is known as of yet.Rob's is located at the northwest corner of Scott and Jackson streets, near the Brockton municipal office and the historic Victoria Jubilee Hall.

Fire Rips Through Sports Bar

August 25th, 2013 2:36pm

Photo Courtesy Heather Barrett via Twitter

A fire has ripped through Rob’s Sports Bar in Walkerton.We first received reports of the blaze around one Sunday afternoon.Fire Crews from surrounding communities, including Hanover and Kincardine were on scene help fight the blaze. Police were also on scene diverting traffic through the downtown.We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.

Photo Courtesy of Jesse McGurgin via Twitter

Photo Courtesy: Nick Sawicki via Twitter

TORAH PORTION FROM AUG 25 - 31,2013

KING JESUS IS COMING FOR US ANY TIME NOW. THE RAPTURE. BE PREPARED TO GO.

TORAH PORTION FROM AUG 25 - 31,2013
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2011/09/parshah-nitzavim-deuteronomy-299-3020.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2011/09/parshah-vayelech-deuteronomy-311-3130.html 

THE SILENT JIHAD

KING JESUS IS COMING FOR US ANY TIME NOW. THE RAPTURE. BE PREPARED TO GO.

Silent Jihad - Posted by Heidi Begley at 6:45 PM-AUG 25,13

Not once but twice do we look into the faces of men, women and children poisoned by nerve gas. They lay dying in their homes, the streets, the make shift hospitals. They vomited and they go into seizures as they drift in and out of consciousness. Their pain is unimaginable as they are doused with water in futile attempts to wash the poison from their skin. Most will die. The remnant that does survive is faced with the grief of being the sole survivor of their family, their group of friends, their neighbors and even their whole village.

Even as these images of mass graves, predominantly of children, are televised across the world by independent film makers, the lies begin and proliferate throughout the mainstream media. These latest images are simply the punctuation mark of the greater than 100,000 loss of souls that have happened in Syria. That is an estimate as the words of a local Christian religious figure tells of being a witness to nine beheadings. Were these ever recorded?  They tell their story because the stories being told in the media are not what are being witnessed. Christians in the towns of Aleppo and Homs are being murdered, raped, burned, beaten and essentially being exterminated. Muslims are dying too, neighbors that have lived together for thousands of years in some of the most ancient Christian settlements recorded. The odd thing was, the "murderous gangs" that were responsible were not known to the Christian community or the Muslim community. They were strangers, heavily armed, taking full advantage of an unspeakable blood bath. Despite these atrocities there is silence.In Egypt Christians were crucified outside the palace of Mursi. Again the ancient foundation of the Coptic Christian was being exterminated by murderous gangs of men that live by the creed of a formidable fraternity. While chaos ensued in the latest coup, yes I called it what it is a coup, opportunist again moved in and burned, raped, beat and killed hundreds of Coptic Christians. These atrocities were also met with silence. So many tragedies took place as of late to Christians on various pilgrimages; the train in Spain derailing and destroying the pilgrimage to St James festival, a bus crashes suddenly in Avellino, Italy killing all but 9 of the passengers as they were returning home from a pilgrimage to Padre' Pio's home, and closer to home a bus' brakes fail and overturns in Indianapolis as a youth group returns home from a Christian retreat in Michigan. The media, which are experts at drawing lines of conclusion together in other stories, totally misses the obvious common thread in these stories; Christians are being killed in horrific accidents. Again these facts are usually buried under an unspoken wall of silence.

Let's talk about the situations where the name of Jesus is to be given credit for averting tragedy. How about when the father who has been pronounced dead after 45 minutes of no heart beat returns to life after his son declares, "You are not going to die today dad". What they failed to report was that he declared this in the name of Jesus.  Or how Antoinette Tuff is hailed as a hero as she was able to talk down the troubled young man, Brandon Hill,  who was armed with an AK 47 and 500 rounds of ammo. What they failed to tell you was that Ms. Tuff, who offered herself as a human shield, was a faithful Christian who was armed with the name of Jesus and covered by the blood of the lamb, was also professing her love and faith to Brandon who was mentally ill and had not been taking his medication.  Two gaping holes of silence in these heart warming stories of determination and courage. As the world is lulled into an apathetic state, the assault of silence continues; placing an x instead of Christ in the word Christmas, replacing Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays, replacing prayer in school with gender bender days, legislating that counselors can no longer be therapeutic at the risk of politically incorrect when a client seeks assistance in gender identity, and families that have friends over for prayer or Bible study now need legislative bound permits as the families down the street have double the attendance at their alcohol laden gatherings, without any legislative interference.

This is not a new thing. In Acts five the apostles were beaten and admonished NOT TO SPEAK THE NAME OF JESUS.  There is power in that spoken name.

⁴⁰ And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

So let us return to the faces of the latest victims that are guilty only of professing the Name of Jesus, the dead men, women and children of Syria. While Washington, D.C., Britain, Russia and the rest of the world try to figure out what side to take and what cover story to tell, the silent Jihad marches on slaughtering our brothers and sisters in, Nigeria, about 12,000 Christians killed at the hands of the Boko Haram. Stealing our youngest sisters right out of their homes in Pakistan  to be wed to men as a recompense for someone else's sins, burning our churches in Orissa, India. If we peer deeper we find even more disturbing evidence of these ruthless armies being manned by impoverished and orphaned little boys that have been abducted in such countries as Afghanistan, India, and multiple African nations. Who financially backs these armies? Who financially arms these armies? Are these the same armies of strangers that the Syrian Christian and Muslims claim are infiltrating their country as "murderous gangs"?  Again these questions are answered with seemingly silence. What these enemies do not realize is that the rivers of blood of the martyrs is rushing throughout nations and throughout the world with the echoes of the saints saying; . .....How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Rev 6:10 

DANIEL 9:26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks(62X7=434 YEARS+7X7=49 YEARS=TOTAL OF 69 WEEKS OR 483 YRS) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;(ROMAN LEADERS DESTROYED THE 2ND TEMPLE) and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.(THERE HAS TO BE 70 WEEKS OR 490 YRS TO FUFILL THE VISION AND PROPHECY OF DAN 9:24).(THE NEXT VERSE IS THAT 7 YR WEEK OR (70TH FINAL WEEK).
27 And he ( THE ROMAN,EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant (PEACE TREATY) with many for one week:(1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE ANIMAL SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

JEREMIAH 6:14
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

JEREMIAH 8:11
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:3
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

ISAIAH 33:8
8  The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant,(7 YR TREATY) he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.(THE WORLD LEADER-WAR MONGER CALLS HIMSELF GOD)

ISAIAH 28:14-19 (THIS IS THE 7 YR TREATY COVENANT OF DANIEL 9:27)
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

Obama to talk up peace process in Rosh Hashana call to US rabbis

In conference call to 1,000 spiritual leaders across the religious spectrum, president aims to encourage support for talks in synagogue sermons

By Rebecca Shimoni Stoil August 25, 2013, 2:57 pm 8-The Times of Israel

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is set to make a pre-Rosh Hashana conference call to some 1,000 US rabbis in which he will discuss key issues of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the hopes that the spiritual leaders will raise enthusiasm for those talks among their congregants in their High Holiday speeches.Policy experts close to the administration told The Times of Israel that support for the negotiations would be a major part of what has become the traditional presidential Jewish New Year conference call to rabbis. They said the president would also touch upon domestic issues, including immigration and economic recovery. Rosh Hashana starts this year on the eve of September 4.The call will not be the first time that the administration has reached out to representatives of American Jewry to discuss the peace process. Shortly after the first round of resumed talks concluded in Washington last month, Secretary of State John Kerry and an A-list group of colleagues met with 19 representatives of major American Jewish organizations to discuss the new 9-month effort to broker a permanent Israeli-Palestinian accord. During that meeting, Kerry told the leaders that he feared for Israel’s future if a peace deal were not reached.That early August conversation would not be the last attempt by the administration to stress to American Jews the importance of the new peace bid, policy experts close to the administration said at the time. While many US Jews support the talks, there is widespread pessimism that they will yield real results.

Obama has made the Rosh Hashana conference call an annual feature, using it to advance specific administration talking points, usually framed in the context of Jewish ethics.

Barack Obama, far right, meeting with Jewish leaders in 2011. (photo credit: Official White House Photo/Pete Souza)

In 2009, he pushed some 1,000 rabbis to discuss the health-care plan now known as Obamacare. The year after, in the midst of the previous attempts at brokering a peace deal, he used his call to discuss his Middle East peace thinking. In his 2011 call, he combined domestic and foreign policy, discussing both his jobs bill and American attempts to block a Palestinian declaration of statehood at the United Nations.Last year, in the heat of the presidential election campaign season, all ears were on the phone lines as Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney offered their Rosh Hashana greetings — and talking points. Buffering himself against complaints that he was lax on security issues, Obama talked tough on Iran to an audience of some 1,200 rabbis.Obama has voiced strong support for the new Kerry-led peace effort and the administration has been at pains to stress his personal involvement and interest in the negotiations. When the negotiators gathered in Washington last month, the American president said that it was “a promising step forward, though hard work and hard choices remain ahead.”Unlike other administration meetings, such as the August sit-down with Kerry, the annual conference call is specifically geared toward rabbis rather than lay leaders. The 1,000 or so rabbis invited to join the call traditionally come from across a wide spectrum of Jewish practice.“The White House call is a reflection of where the American-Jewish community is today and its importance to the political mosaic of the country,” said Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, of Congregation B’nai Tzedek, a Conservative synagogue in the Washington suburb of Potomac, Maryland.As of Sunday, rabbis said they had not yet received word as to when the call will be. Veteran participants say that the call is often scheduled on short notice. The White House would not comment on when or even if the call would take place, or on the likely subject matter.Left-wing group J Street has already issued both a High Holiday brochure “in an effort to build support for Middle East peace negotiations” and a sermon guide for rabbis “to build a connection between the tones of these important days of spiritual observance with the renewed, U.S.-led diplomatic effort to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”Last week, Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the United States Michael Oren held a pre-High Holidays conference call with dozens of US rabbis.

Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States (photo credit: Yossi Zamir/Flash 90)

Oren touched upon a wide range of issues, including peace talks, Iranian nuclear ambitions, the developing situations in Syria and Egypt and religious pluralism in Israel, an issue that has garnered significant attention from American Jewry. Oren told the rabbis that there was progress toward the compromise proposal currently being brokered by Jewish Agency head Natan Sharansky, and emphasized the Netanyahu government’s willingness to reach a negotiated solution to egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall.Oren also reflected on his four-and-a-half year tenure as ambassador, which will draw to a close in September, discussing the difference between the challenges facing Israel in 2009 and today.Embassy officials told The Times of Israel that “traditionally during his tenure, Ambassador Oren has reached out before Jewish holidays to the Jewish community, organizations and leaders, in order to convey his greetings. This is part of the continuous dialogue that the Embassy of Israel has with the Jewish community in the greater DC area in particular and across the country.”Said Weinblatt, “The call from the ambassador is a reflection of the strong connection between American Jews and Israel.”The outreach by Obama, Oren and groups like J Street are part of a growing trend, in which organizations attempt to bring their messages to the large number of Jews who attend synagogue services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. In recent years, the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC has also begun holding a similar conference call.Weinblatt says that he believes that the sermons delivered by US rabbis during peak attendance on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are very important. “We need to be conscious of the fact that people at high holiday services might not be there during the rest of the year,” he said.“I try to get the message to my congregants to examine what is happening behind the headlines — they are subjected to so much negative coverage of Israel in the media,” he added. “Rabbis have a very important role to help contextualize and frame the issues and give the background materials that congregants might not otherwise hear.”

French FM: Israel-PA Peace Would be Like a 'Thunderbolt'

France’s Foreign Minister says that a successful outcome to peace negotiations would be like a "thunderbolt" for peace in the Middle East.-By Elad Benari-First Publish: 8/25/2013, 5:21 AM-INNews

Fabius and Abbas-Flash 90

France’s Foreign Minister said Saturday that a successful outcome to the U.S.-brokered negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority would be like a "thunderbolt" for peace in the crisis-ridden Middle East."Even if we speak of other neighboring countries -- the dramatic conflict in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt -- the fact remains that the Israeli-Palestinian issue is one of the issues, perhaps the central one, for the region," Minister Laurent Fabius said in Ramallah after meeting PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, reported AFP."In a particularly troubled regional environment, it is even more important that we advance towards peace here," Fabius said."If these negotiations are successful, it will be a thunderbolt for peace...a great stabilizing element.""Our support is more necessary than ever," he added. "This is the moment when  we must make a breakthrough for peace."Israeli and PA negotiators formally resumed direct peace talks earlier this month after a hiatus of nearly three years, thanks to an intense bout of shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.Speaking in Amman on Saturday after talks with chief PA negotiator Saeb Erakat, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said he expected the next round of talks to take place "in a few days from now.""On all sides, particularly that of the United States, there are elements which are serious and encouraging regarding the success of the negotiations," official Jordanian news agency Petra quoted him as saying.Sources in the PA, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they expect the talks to be held early next week in Jericho.Fabius arrived early Saturday on a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority aimed at encouraging the sides.Speaking at a joint press conference with the visitor, Abbas said that his team entered the talks, about which no details have so far been revealed, in good faith."I should like to say that the Palestinians are negotiating with good intentions," he said, according to AFP. "We want to negotiate in a positive spirit.""We hope that it is the same on the Israeli side, we want to create the proper climate for stopping settlement, which is illegal to us and to the world," said Abbas.Fabius will meet in Jerusalem on Sunday with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel's lead negotiator in the talks.On Thursday, Abbas met with members of the Meretz party and claimed that if a peace agreement is reached with Israel, it would bring an end to his people’s demands of the Jewish state."I know your concerns, but guarantee that at the conclusion of successful negotiations, we undertake to end all the demands. We will not ask to return to Yafo, Akko and Tzfat,” he said.The members of Meretz said that Abbas told them a “fair agreement” will end the conflict with Israel and that a “peace agreement with Israel will be final and binding." He did not, however, specify what is meant by a fair peace agreement and did not commit to the fact that PA would give up its demand for the “right of return”.While details of the discussions between the sides have not been revealed, apparently consistent with a request from Washington last week for a strict news blackout, Erekat  told the Nazareth-based Arabic language A-Shams this that the PA would not have returned to the negotiating table with Israel had it not received a letter of assurances from the United States, guaranteeing its main negotiating preconditions.Erekat said in the interview that the U.S. had assured the PA in writing that talks would recognize the indefensible pre-1967 borders as the basis of a Palestinian state, would deal with all core issues (Jerusalem, refugees, borders, security and water), would take place within six  to nine months and would not allow for any interim solutions before a final status agreement is signed.Meanwhile, not all PA factions are on board the peace talks. On Friday, hundreds of people in Gaza protested against Israeli-PA peace talks, in marches organized by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups.Marchers set off from mosques across the coastal strip before converging on a square in the middle of Gaza City, with protesters brandishing signs saying "No to negotiations" and slamming Abbas's "political failure."

Poll: Only 21% Believe in PA State as Real Solution

Just 21% of Israelis think the PA will create a new Arab state. Most see “status quo” as the most realistic scenario.-By Maayana Miskin-First Publish: 8/25/2013, 2:59 PM-Israelnationallnews

Abbas and former PM Salam Fayyad-AFP photo

A new survey conducted by Maagar Mohot (Brain Base) for the Professors for a Strong Israel group has found that only a small minority of Israelis believe the Palestinian Authority will establish a new Arab state in Judea, Samaria (Shomron) and Gaza – and only 11% hope it will.The poll asked respondents to choose the solution to the Israel-PA conflict that they most prefer, and the solution they think is most realistic.The most popular answer in both cases was simply to maintain the status quo. Currently Judea and Samaria is split into three areas, called A, B, and C. The PA has full control over Area A, Israel controls Area C, and in Area B the IDF is tasked with oversight of security, while the PA has legal power over other aspects of daily life.
Forty-one percent of respondents said the status quo is their preferred solution, and 51% said it is the most realistic solution. In comparison, just 21% said the creation of a new PA state is the solution with the best chance to take place.When it came to preferred solutions, the idea of a PA state proved very unpopular, with just 11% expressing support. Nineteen percent said their preferred solution would be the “Plan B” that Professors for a Strong Israel has proposed – the annexation of Judea and Samaria.However, only 7 percent said they believe annexation is the solution with the best odds of being put into effect.Professors for a Strong Israel pointed out that the poll shows their proposal is more popular than the plan the government is actually pursuing.“The purpose of this conference is to prove to the Israeli public that something that a large part of the population wants – is realistic,” said Professor Aryeh Eldad.“This is the arena of the battle for public awareness, which Professors for a Strong Israel recently entered under my leadership,” he added, concluding, “This poll proves that we are not operating in an empty vacuum, but rather, putting a real alternative out there for debate.”