Looking for help from the U.S.

          Due to all of the recent revolts and uprisings in the Middle East, Israel is considering asking the United States for approximately $20 billion in security assistance to help protect Israel and it's borders.

          The changes are a "movement in the right direction," said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. However, the changes still pose a threat to Israel, and precautions need to be taken.

          About 9% of Israel's gross national product is spent on protection and prevention of potential threats. It doesn't appear that Israel is in immediate danger of any threats, but precautions are being taken in order to keep Israel out of the uprisings in the Middle East.

          TelAviv has been keeping an eye out on all the government protests in Egypt and across the Middle East in order to keep protests and uprisings from reaching Israel borders.

-information from alJazeera Magazine: www.aljazeera.com

Defense Minister Ehud Barak

photo from: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fcas.nova.edu/arts/distinguished_speakers_series/ehud_barak/grfx/Barak_Ehud_250.jpg

Israel Still Pushes for Peace Negotiations with Palestine

          New efforts to create peace with the Palestinians were brought up on Wednesday, but as of now, it seems as if Israel will have to step back from reaching some sort of framework agreement and resolve some of the core issues going on between the two countries. 

          Instead of having a finalized peace and border agreement by fall, Israel is considering pushing for an interim arrangement as a step toward a two-state solution, potentially without the approval or agreement by the Palestinians. 

          It seems unlikely, though, that the Palestinians would be peaceful with such an arrangement. They have consistently rejected similar proposals since 2003 and all attempts to implement such a plan have never made it past the first stage without revolts. 

          Saleh Raafat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee, commented that "the position of the P.L.O is unchangeable. We have strictly rejected all Israeli and non-Israeli offers that call on the establishment of a Palestinian State with temporary borders. The P.L.O. has also affirmed its refusal of all interim and partial solutions." 

Israel Continues its attacks on Gaza Border

          Palestinian sources reported that Israel war planes have once again attacked the Gaza Border. The jets dropped bombs on two training camps, but no immediate casualties have been reported at this time.

          Tel Aviv has spread their attacked on these besieged areas to both ground and air attacks, shooting at civilians from all areas. The Israel military, however, did not comment on the addition of ground attacks as well as air attacks.

          Attacks also happened earlier this week on Wednesday and Thursday on the Gaza Strip, causing for major problems and some injuries to civilians in the area.

          Gaza is currently dealing with many issues, including poverty, unemployment, and lack of medicine, and the United Nations has stepped in and has warned of a humanitarian crisis to Gaza's 1.5 million residents.



Information collected from aljazeera.com 

Three "Fishermen" from Gaza Killed in Israel

          Three suspected militants were killed in Israel on Thursday on due to suspicions that they were plotting to plant explosives. 

          The Palestinians were inspected by Gaza's ministry on health and were determined to be fishermen using their nets on shore when they were killed. Jihad Khalaf, 20, Talaat al-Awagh, 25 and Ashraf al-Kteifan, 29 were later identified by Adham Abu Selmiya, a spokesman for the Hamas-run emergency services. 

           Due to increased tensions with the Gaza border, several strikes have been carried out by Israel on Hamas-ruled Gaza. 

information collected from : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121775215281864.html

H.E. Anders Fogh Rassmussen at the Herzliya Conference 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xQwyQaLnbpg#at=39

Possibility of NATO Stepping in

          NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has extended an offer to Israeli-Palestinian peace issues on three conditions: if peace between the two nations can be reached, if both parties will help NATO implement the the agreement, and the UN endorses NATO helping the nations. 
          However, those conditions are very far from being met. Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen spoke with Mr. Netanyahu about getting NATO involved in several Israeli problems, but not much information was given out about what was discussed. 
          Previous rulers of both Israel and Palestine had agreed on having NATO step in and help in the past, Mr. Netanyahu has expressed the concern that there would have to be some sort of Israeli presence along the eastern boarder in order to create a separate Palestinian state, and that just NATO's third party would not be sufficient to create one. 
          Israel, however, is the only reliable ally for NATO in the Middle East, and that cooperation between Israel and the alliance needs to be strengthened. 
          Rasmussen pointed out that as events in Egypt and the Middle East keep unfolding, the possibility of NATO stepping in may increase or decrease, and that ensuring democracy and full human rights is a necessity. 






information collected from...
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=207559

Problems in Egypt spread to Israel

          With Egypt and other neighboring countries in upheaval, Israel is having a very difficult time making peace with the Palestinians (and anyone else for that matter) extremely tough.

          Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Parliament on Wednesday, saying that the future of Israel lies in the ability to "[bolster] the might of the state of Israel." (NYT, A13) Mr. Netanyahu spoke with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, but both felt that the gaps between the two sides may be too wide to attempt to form peace treaties. 

          

          The two peace treaties that Israel currently has- one with Jordan and one with Egypt- are unfortunately both signed with dictator leaders, while Israel is run through a more democratic system. 

          Many problems unfortunately face Israel and the safety of its borders and people. Many people believe that if any chance exists to solve the unrest, it may be now.

Original Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt, March 26, 1979

-New York Times Article; "Egypt's Upheaval Hardens Israel's Stance on Peace" by Isabel Kershner

February 3, 2011

-picture from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org