This issue looks at the latest Palestinian strategy for Statehood, the expectations of an Israeli strike against Iran, Obama’s exposed disdain for Prime Minister Netanyahu, an additional story behind Galid Shalit’s release, America’s wimpy responses to Iran’s growing nuclear program, and America’s defunding of UNESCO.

OUR ISRAELI CONNECTION

Palestinians to Abandon UN Security Council Bid, Approach General Assembly
The Israel Project reports: The Palestinian Authority said Wednesday it does not have enough votes to secure full United Nations membership from the U.N. Security Council and said it will instead turn to the General Assembly for upgraded status. Anonymous PA officials conceded to the Associated Press and the Jerusalem Post that they did not have enough support to overcome U.S.-led opposition to the Statehood bid. Britain said earlier Wednesday it had decided to abstain from any UNSC vote, but the officials placed the blame largely on the United States. Read more.
 
Israel Expected to Attack Iran by Christmas
The Jerusalem Prayer Team reports: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report this week reveals that Iran’s nuclear program is clearly focused on building nuclear weapons. An attack by Israel to halt the work of the mad mullahs of Tehran seems more likely than ever. A top British diplomat revealed that government leaders there expect an attack “as early as Christmas.” The costs of a strike against Iran’s nuclear program will be huge. Thousands and thousands of rockets and missiles will rain down death and destruction in retaliation on the Jewish people. Hundreds of thousands will be driven from their homes to live in bomb shelters for weeks…or longer. Hundreds if not thousands are likely to die. But the cost of doing nothing is even higher. Israel needs our help right now!
 
Obama Caught on Live Mic Blasting Netanyahu to French PM
The Blaze reports: In a “faux pas” for the ages, President Barack Obama conducted what he assumed was a private conversation about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with French President Nicolas Sarkozy after the G20 summit on Thursday. The only problem, however, was that the microphones the two men were wearing from their earlier press conference, had not in fact been turned off. What ensued was a major public embarrassment after both Obama and the French PM disparaged Netanyahu, saying they  cannot “stand” dealing with him. According to a Monday report in the French website “Arret sur Images,” Sarkozy told Obama, “I cannot stand him [Netanyahu]. He is a liar.” Rather than exercising diplomacy, however, Obama hopped on the bash-wagon, reportedly telling Sarkozy: “You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day!”
 
Egyptians Stage Forced Interview with Shalit on his Way Home
One Jerusalem reports: The pictures are disgusting. On his layover in Egypt, Gilad Shalit was humiliated and intimidated one more time. He was forced to sit for an interview with Egyptian television with a Hamas goon at his back. Read more.

IT’S NEWS TO ME

Is America Serious About Stopping Iran?
One Jerusalem reports: Remember the recent reaction of the US to Iran’s plot to assassinate a foreign national on our soil? Our representatives pounded their chests declaring that Iran would pay for this illegal and outrageous activity. In the heat of the revelations which centered on the arrests by the Justice Department there was some talk of perhaps putting a credible military option in the mix of policies aimed at stopping Iran’s nuclear program. 
 
To no ones surprise, our military option has not materialized and it seems that all the bluster about increasing economic sanctions comes the story that the United States is backing away from sanctions on Iran’s national bank. Is the Obama Administration trying to prove to the world that it is not committed to stopping Iran’s nuclear program? Because that is what this decision does. This troubling news comes just days before the International Atomic Energy Agency is reportedly going to declare that Iran’s nuclear programs is speeding ahead with the development of weaponized nuclear energy. 
 
Iranian Intentions Confirmed
Jay Seculow reports: A new United Nations report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms what we have long believed. Iran – a nation committed to the total annihilation of Israel and the destruction of the United States – is actively developing nuclear weapons.
 
UNESCO Violates Charter, Admits Palestinians, Loses $70 Million in U.S. Funding
FLAME reports: Last week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to accept the Palestinians into the body, despite the fact that UNESCO’s charter limits membership to actual recognized states. As is so often the case in U.N. votes, Western nations were swamped in this vote by Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American nations. The final tally was 107 members in favor, 14 against (including the U.S. and Israel), and 52 abstentions. The consequence of this action is an immediate cut of all U.S. funding of UNESCO by the United States, a measure mandated by Congress in a 1990s law, which withholds funding of any U.N. organization that admits the Palestinians prior to statehood. The U.S. currently contributes about $70 million annually to UNESCO, about 22% of its total funding.

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