JERUSALEM—It is not difficult to accuse the Palestinians, including those who are citizens of Israel, of scuttling all chances for peace by insisting on extreme demands.

Jews also are not angels in this process.

This week the Knesset passed, by a vote of 64 to 16, the first reading of a bill to forbid the leasing or sale of Jewish National Fund land to non-Jews. Read that Arabs, but perhaps as well the estimated 300,000 non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union and elsewhere granted the possibility of citizenship under the Law of Return because they are related to a Jew. And what about all those Americans and others with Jewish fathers but not Jewish mothers? Reform rabbis recognize them as Jews, but not the Orthodox who manage the Israeli Rabbinate. Can they buy an apartment on Jewish National Fund land if someone whispers to the JNF that they are not really Jewish?

The bill is intended to skirt around a Supreme Court ruling that ruled against JNF policy. The bill must pass through two more votes in the Knesset, and there will be a fair amount of public controversy before then. Nonetheless, the lopsided vote, with an absolute majority of the Knesset on the side of supporters, suggests that the chances are good for a public embarrassment.

Those in favor of the legislation note that the Jewish National Fund began collecting money from Jews around the world early in the 20th century for the express purpose of buying land in Palestine for Jewish settlement. Formally it is a non-governmental organization, but it is also integrated into the government establishment. The Israel Land Authority administers for the JNF its substantial land holdings. The Land Authority has twisted and turned when an Arab wants to buy a home on JNF land. It has traded its own state land for JNF land in order to accommodate the Arab. On occasion this has occurred only after a court order. The new law may complicate this process further, if it is enacted and if it manages to avoid the snares of the Supreme Court.

And what will it do to all those people who think of themselves as Jews, but do not pass muster with the Orthodox Rabbinate? That will depend on how much trouble one or another zealot wishes to make.

We are talking about legislating against Israeli citizens. Arabs comprise 20 percent of Israel's population. They do not threaten to flood Jewish neighborhoods with undesirables any more than ultra-Orthodox Jews, who also make life miserable for those who are allergic to them.

Restricing property transfers to non-citizens is conventional, and provides all that is necessary to protect Israel from the uncounted millions in the region who might want to overewhelm us with their presence.

It is no surprise that the principal sponsor of the bill is a member of the National Religious Party, and a leading figure in the movement of settlers. This suggests a combination of religious and nationalist motivations. But what about the secular members of Knesset who gave the bill its majority?

An optimist may be tempted to say that they are teaching the Palestinians a lesson: Jews, too, can put outlandish demands on the table; if Palestinians cease the demands that would end the chance of agreement, Jews will make it possible for Israeli minorities to live like minorities in other western democracies.

A pessimist would fear that the secular MK's who voted for this bill really believe that JNF land should be forbidden to non-Jews. If this is true, they are aligning themselves with all those who support restrictive covenants, and insist that rights of private property allow one to discriminate against Jews, Catholics, Asians, African-Americans and others who can afford the price, but fall outside the realm of the desirable.

Israel prides itself on morality. Often it deserves the self-praise. Not this time.

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The Peres Diary

Editor's Note: Israel's President Shimon Peres has been putting up on his website each day since taking office an account of his day. The San Diego Jewish World plans to carry his entries on a regular basis so we can all share his special perspective on Israel and world Jewry.

Invitation received from France's president

JERUSALEM (Tuesday, July 18)—The President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, this morning sent a letter to the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, in which he invited him to pay a State Visit to the Elysée Palace. President Sarkozy invited President Peres to join him in opening the International Book Exhibition, which will take place in Paris in March, and informed him that this year the country to be honoured at the exhibition will be the State of Israel.

It should be noted that the Book Exhibition in Paris is an international book event, which draws tourists from all over the world and receives wide international media coverage. Every year a country is chosen as honoree and, this year, President Sarkozy informed President Peres, Israel will be the honouree and, as a result, a huge Israeli pavilion will be erected in the center of the exhibition. Israeli writers will be sent to the event and their lectures will be the center of attention in the international exhibition

*
Condolence telegram to Brazil's president

JERUSALEM (Wednesday, July 18)—The President, Mr. Shimon Peres, sent a condolence telegram to the President of Brazil, Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the tragic air disaster, which befell his country: The following are the contents;

Your Excellency,

It is with shock and deep sorrow that I heard of the terrible air crash at Sao Paulo's airport with some 200 people feared dead, and I want to extend my most profound condolences to the bereaved families and to the people of Brazil on this horrible tragedy.

We in Israel grieve together with you the loss of innocent lives, and I would like to offer my sincere sympathy in these days of mourning.

With much sympathy,

*
Meeting with Javier Solana of the European Union

JERUSALEM (Tuesday, July 17): The President of Israel to Solana: “1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza must not be permitted to determine the future of the entire Palestinian people.”

The President, Shimon Peres, met with the European Union Foreign Policy Envoy, Mr. Javier Solana. At the outset of the meeting the President said that despite the difficulties and the changes which are occurring in the region, it is now that a true window of opportunities has opened to arrive at a political agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Economic cooperation between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians which will create hundreds of thousands of new places of work, together with serious political negotiations is the best way today of reaching a peace agreement.

Referring to the Hamas’ control of Gaza, the President said that the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza must not be permitted to determine the future of the entire Palestinian people. Solana turned to the President and said that it is a great honour to sit with him in the President’s Residence. “I am certain that with your international standing, you will be able to promote the peace in the region.”

Solana also said that he agrees that this is the time for a political breakthrough: “I met with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayid, and I found a reasonable, balanced and rational side. The two sides must sit together to conduct serious negotiations because both sides do not have surplus time,” said Solana.                                             

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Hadassah 78% to fundraising goal for 14-story tower

NEW YORK (Press Release)—Inspired by its historical imperative to build the land of Israel and the medical and educational infrastructure of Jerusalem, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, announced on Thursday, July 19, that it had raised $164 million toward the construction of the new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower on the campus of Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem.

With this announcement, the organization has achieved 78 percent of its goal of $210 million in less than two years, the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by the organization. Only a week ago, Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, highly regarded in the philanthropic world, awarded Hadassah a four-star rating, its highest, for Hadassah’s level of fiscal responsibility.

The new 14-story structure, scheduled for completion during the organization’s centennial year in 2012, will include 500 beds, 20 state-of-the-art operating rooms, and 50 intensive care beds. The tower will provide a huge boost to Hadassah’s capabilities in a wide range of fields – such as cardiology, telemedicine and laparoscopic surgery – and will facilitate the use of advanced robotics and computers. In turn, these will greatly enrich the research and teaching conducted at Hadassah. A virtual tour of the tower, narrated by actress Natalie Portman, is available on Hadassah’s website at: www.hadassah.org.

In March of this year, Hadassah received a visionary gift of $75 million towards the completion of the tower from Bill and Karen Davidson, on behalf of Guardian Industries of Auburn Hills, MI. Davidson’s mother, Sarah Wetsman Davidson, one of the founders of the Hadassah chapter in Detroit, MI, created a home for her children imbued with a love of Zion and Hadassah. The tower will be named in her memory.

The announcement that Hadassah had reached 78 percent of its tower fundraising goal was made at the organization’s 93rd National Convention, just concluded in New York. It was made by Tower Campaign Chairs Sidney and Judy Swartz at a special session devoted to the tower, whose campaign slogan is: “We’re not waiting for the future, we’re building it.”

Following the announcement, Karen Davidson, who had come to New York to attend the convention and its attendant festivities, addressed the delegates: “On behalf of Bill and myself, we’re proud to be part of this high-achieving organization.”

The preceding story was provided by Hadassah

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Judaism

Rabbi Baruch Lederman Amazing tales of Judaism                 Congregation Kehillas Torah, San Diego

Tisha B'Av the time to end unwarranted grudges

On Tisha B'Av we mourn the destruction of the Temple, which was due to sinas chinam - unwarranted hatred. We also mourn the hatred itself and the disunity and isolation which it causes. We must take it upon ourselves to strengthen our positive relations with people, and to help others strengthen and establish good relations, as the following true story illustrates:

The Ponevicher Rov was once  traveling and wound up in a small town on Tisha B'Av. The leaders of the town told him that there was a dispute between two parties that needed a Rov to poskin (rule on the dispute). The Ponevicher Rov asked to meet with the two parties and hear the case. The towns leaders replied very apologetically that they meant to ask the Rov to hold court tomorrow. They didn't dream of imposing on the Rov to preside on a case on a fast day, especially right after traveling. The Rov responded that the Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was destroyed because of sinas chimam. It is incumbent upon us to mitigate machlokes in klas yisroel, and pursue peace among brothers. The Rov therefore insisted on seeing the men right away.

I was personally involved in the following relevant true story:
 
Mort Blumberg* (*name changed) once gave me a call concerning an upcoming heart bypass surgery he was slated to undergo. He asked me what religious things he could
do for a successful operation. After 'prescribing' him the standard regimen of prayer, recitation of Psalms etc., I told him that someone with a heart condition had posed the same question to the great Rabbi, the Vilna Gaon ztz"l. The Gaon told that man that if he had a problem with his heart, he should mesakain his laiv (correct his heart). Meaning that if he fixed his heart in a spiritual sense, it would help his heart physically.
 
After some thought, he asked me if this meant that he would have to make amends with his sister. I didn't know anything about his sister but I said yes, of course. He called me the next day saying, "Rabbi Lederman, I have been grappling with this and it is too difficult for me to forgive my sister for what she did to me. Are you sure I need
to?"   I said yes. He said he would think about it.
 
He contacted me the following week and said, "Rabbi, when my mother died fifteen years ago, my sister railroaded me out of my rightful inheritance. True it wasn't a lot of
money, but, there was a lot of sentimental value."
 
I replied that he still had to make peace with her. Family is very important.
 
"But Rabbi, I was so deeply hurt, and she took such glee in her heart at my pain."
 
I reminded him that it was his heart we were worried about here, not hers.  He said that he got the point.  That was the last we brought up that topic.
 
The next we spoke was while he was  in the hospital recovering from the operation.  "Rabbi, I am so happy, I called my sister and though it was hard at first, we made amends. She even flew out to San Diego to be with me in the hospital during the entire process. The support she gave me was tremendous. I don't know how I would have gotten through this whole ordeal without her."   His sister added, "After we made up, it was like nothing ever happened. It's as if we took up from where we left off fifteen years ago. All the closeness is still there."
 
Mort's heart made a wonderful recovery in every sense of the word.

Dedicated by Rabbi Ira Mrs. & Avigayil Hisler to a Refuah Shelaimah for Devorah bas Chaya Sora.
 

Jews in the News            --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Like you, we're pleased when members of our community are praiseworthy, and are disappointed when they are blameworthy. Whether it's good news or bad news, we'll try to keep track of what's being said in general media about our fellow Jews. Our news spotters are Dan Brin in Los Angeles, Donald H. Harrison in San Diego, and you. Wherever you are,  if you see a story of interest, please send a summary and link to us at sdheritage@cox.net and we'll acknowledge your tip at the end of the column. To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.

*He still considers imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff a friend but he also is cooperating with a federal probe into his activities, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial of the Northern Mariana Islands says.  The Associated Press story is in the Los Angeles Times.

*Serge Bardugo, a Jew who has been named roving ambassador for Morocco, has called for his country's late King Muhammad V to be named Righteous Among the Nations for his efforts during World War II to protect Jews from the Nazis.  The story by Itamar Eichner is on Y-Net News. 

*New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to charge commuters to Manhattan $8 per day per car in an effort to reduce congestion has been revived. Although legislators had blocked it, a new agreement allows it to be studied by a commission.  The story by Melissa Mansfield of Newsday is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Opera tenor Jerry Hadley, who portrayed Don Luis de Carvajal, in San Diego Opera's World Premiere of The Conquistador—Myron Fink's story of the Mexican Inquisition —has died at age 55 of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.  The obituary by the Associated Press is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Yosef Chiger, a 35-year-old American, will fly to Israel to donate a kidney to a 19-year-old soldier, Ayelet Katz, whom he has never met.  The match was made through the Halachic Organ Donor Society.  The story by Yaakov Katz is in the Jerusalem Post.

*Canada's former Justice Minister Irwin Cotler told the Congressional Human Rights Caucus that discussions of Middle East refugees should not only focus on Palestinians, but also on the many Jews who were driven from Arab lands. The story by Steven Edwards of CanWest News Service was in yesterday's National Post.

*San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and UCI researcher Laura Mosqueda have co-authored an op-ed piece in today's San Diego Union-Tribune about the costs and remedies for elder abuse.

*JoAnne SawyerKnoll, head of the City of San Diego's Office of Ethics and Integrity, says that in the city's handling of Aaron Feldman's controversial Sunroad Enterprises building at Montgomery Field there was bungling by the mayor's office, but no evidence of any wrongdoing to accommodate the developer.  Evan McLaughlin has the story on the Voice of San Diego news site.  Jeff McDonald had the story for the San Diego Union-Tribune. In an editorial, the newspaper said Mayor Jerry Sanders should hold some of his employees accountable for their poor performance.

*Israel will launch a satellite in September capable of closely monitoring nuclear developments in Iran, Yaakov Katz reported in Thursday's Jerusalem Post.

*UCSD Prof. Michael Provence, in an op-ed in today's San Diego Union-Tribune, places heavy blame on last year's Second Lebanon War on U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condolleezza Rice, whom he said should have stopped Israel's attack soon after the conflict began. 

*David and Layla is a movie about a romance between a Jewish American man and a Kurdish Muslim woman that explores both religions, politics, and sexual taboos. A review by Michael Ordoña is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Bob Lerner, a volunteer at the Valley Center Museum, has put together an exhibit on a famous resident of the community in northern San Diego County: Duke Morrison.  Never heard of him? Maybe you know him by his stage name better: John Wayne.  The story by Cheryl Walker is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Linda Goldzimer Meranus, a feminist who served as the City of San Diego's first affirmative action officer, has died of cancer in Melville, N.Y., at age 65.  An obituary by Michael Kinsman is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Esther Miller, one of the plaintiffs in the sex abuse case against the Catholic Church, has become a convert to Judaism.  She says she was attracted to the religion because it goes back to the roots of Catholicism. The story by  K. Connie Kang, Francisco Vara-Orta and Rebecca Trounson is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (Democrat, California) said as his House Oversight and Government Reform Committee opened hearings on the subject, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) new of the health risks posed by formaldehyde in trailers provided to Hurricane Katrina victims, but did nothing about it.  The story by Claudia Lauer is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Legislators in Sacramento are considering earmarking revenues from a sales tax increase in Los Angeles to pay down deficits.  However, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaraslovsky said the tax was sold to county voters with promises that it would fund transportation projects.  He denounced the move as a case of "bait and switch."  The story by Evan Halper and Nancy Vogel is in today's Los Angeles Times.


 Today's news tipster: Bruce Kesler
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News Sleuths: Watching the media gathering and reporting the news of Jewish interest

Tony Blair and Quartet meet the press

LISBON (Press Release)—Here is a transcript of a press conference following Thursday's meeting of the Quartet (United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia) concerning the peace process in the Middle East. Participants appearing before the media were United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov; High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana; European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner; Foreign Minister of Portugal Luis Amado, and Envoy of the Quartet of the Middle East Tony Blair.  The transcript was provided by the U.S. State Department. 
 

FOREIGN MINISTER AMADO: (Via interpreter) Ladies and gentlemen of the press, many thanks for coming. My first remark is addressed to you. I'd like to welcome you to Lisbon. I'd like to welcome all foreign journalists who have come here. (Inaudible) which concerns Israel and Palestine or Israel and the Arab world. It's a problem which concerns the whole of the international community because of the scale that it has taken on and the implications that it has had and has for the international system, the international community must pay great attention to this conflict. The Quartet (inaudible) the international community has adopted to monitor this process. It brings together the United Nations through the presence of the Secretary General, Russia, the European Union and the United States. It's against this backdrop that (inaudible).

(Inaudible) he has come here in this capacity to the Quartet meeting. We have also just heard a very important statement from the U.S. President concerning the developments of this process. Also, President Putin has also made certain proposals in the past (inaudible). With this in mind, we've been working over the past few hours so that we can take steps which will allow us, as swiftly as possible, to restore trust in this process. This is vital not just for the peace and stability of that region, but also for the whole of the international community.

It's with this in mind that I would like to give the floor to the United Nations Secretary General, who will present the results of our meeting. Thank you.

SECRETARY GENERAL BAN: Thank you, Mr. Minister. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the media. I'm going to pronounce the joint Quartet statement.

The Quartet principals met now and were joined by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair. The Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to bring about an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to work to lay the foundation of the establishment of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, as a step towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East consistent with the roadmap and the United Nations Security Council resolutions.  (Jump to continuation)

The Jewish Grapevine

AROUND THE TOWN—Sheriff Bill Kolender has lauded as a "true hero" Sheriff's Sergeant Conrad Grayson who has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Grayson heads the bomb/ arson squad and has spent three decades disarming volatile devices. 

CYBER-REFERRALS—Deena Feinman of the San Diego regional Hadassah office noted the story in Thursday's Boston Globe about Hadassah's new national president, Nancy Falchuk. Here is a link. ... Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles passes along a story by Yitzhak Benhorin of Y-Net News quoting former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as saying that if Iran is allowed to obtain the nuclear bomb, it could lead to a second genocide for the Jewish people...The Republican Jewish Coalition recommends a story by Jennifer Rubin in the July 18 edition, updated July 20, of The Politico in which she weighs the anti-Israel sentiment of a small group of leftwing Democratic members of Congress.  Among those she questions is Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent, Vermont) who, though Jewish himself, voted "present" rather than in support of a 2002 resolution supporting Israel's efforts to defend itself against terrorism.  Sanders at the time was a member of the House of Representatives.

ISRAEL NEWS SUMMARY—The European Jewish Congress, in its daily summary of stories in Israel's Hebrew language press, focused Thursday on developments leading up today to the release of Palestinian prisoners who signed an oath not to take up arms against Israel.  An effort was unsuccessful by protesters to get the Israeli courts to block the release.

JEWISH STUDIES— Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraum of the Association for Jewish Outreach Programs (AJOP) forwards to us two free downloads to pass on to Jewish educators and those interested in learning more about Tisha B'Av. The first is a 26-point discussion of Tisha B'Av, and the second, a 3-page teacher's guide.  
 

House approves funding for senior safety, disadvantaged students and brain trauma programs in San Diego

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) –  One education and two health care projects in San Diego supported by Congresswoman Susan Davis (Democrat, California) were allocated $400,000 in the spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (H.R. 3043).

“I am proud to help obtain funds for these dedicated organizations and the quality work they do in our community,” said Davis.  “The money included for San Diego in this bill will have a positive impact in the areas of health care and education for not only individuals but the community as a whole.”

The following projects were funded:

• Bayside Community Center -- Senior Safety Through Education and Prevention Services (STEPS):  $150,000

  • For health education, wellness programs and other outreach services to assist with chronic disease management. 
     

• Consensus Organizing Center -- College Introduction Program for Disadvantaged Students / Step-Up: $100,000

  • The Step-Up college preparation program for low-income and disadvantaged students introduces high school students from the City Heights area to college-level coursework and prepares them for higher education. 
     

• Sharp Rehabilitation Services -- Regional Center for the Comprehensive Care of Traumatic Brain Injury: $150,000

  • For the purchase of capital equipment for an integrated rehabilitation center for patients with traumatic brain injury.  The Center will be a collaborative effort between Sharp Rehabilitation Services and the Naval Medical Center of San Diego.  

H.R. 3043 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 276-140.  The bill moves to the Senate.

  The preceding story was provided by the office of Congresswoman Susan Davis

 

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Sports

The Jewish Sports Fan

Unless otherwise indicated, source for these stories is today's edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune, to which we gratefully provide the links below. We do not apply halacha to determine if a player is Jewish; rather, if he or she has a Jewish parent or has converted to the faith, we count him or her as a member of our community.

Remember the playground chant: 'Everybody hits'?  Mets did

BASEBALL—In a game Thursday in which  every New York Met got a hit, Shawn Green got two of them, including a single that drove in two runs, as the Mets defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-9.  Green's BA increased to .278.  On the Dodger side, Mike Lieberthal provided a ninth-inning pinch hit single but it was too little, too late.... In the American League, it was day four of Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox being off the Top 10 Batters List.  Pitcher Scott Feldman has been called back from the minors by the Texas Rangers.

HOCKEY—Mazal tovs were extended in the form of a U.S. Senate resoution  today by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (Democrats, California) to the Anaheim Ducks for bringing to California for the first time the championship Stanley Cup. “The Ducks have proven that hockey is alive and well in California," said Feinstein. "The entire Ducks organization is to be commended and congratulated for their magnificent achievement.”
 

                                            

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News from the       Israel Baseball League

  First Israel All-Star Game rosters announced

TEL AVIV (Press Release) – Player selections have been announced for the first Israel Baseball League All-Star Game, to be played at Yarkon Field on Sunday, July 29, a game to be televised live by Sport5 TV. 

The teams were selected by the six managers, with Netanya, Ra’anana and Tel Aviv representing the “North” and Bet Shemesh, Modi’in and Petach Tikva representing the “South” in the contest.  The managers with the best records as of July 26 will serve as manager of their respective teams, with the others managers serving as coaches.

The game will be a nine-inning game, with extra innings if necessary.  There will be free substitution of all players in the game.  There will be a home run derby exhibition before the game, with one player selected to represent each team, for the fan’s entertainment.  The derby results do not count towards the game’s outcome.

Tickets for this historic encounter are available at www.israelbaseballleague.com 

Here are teams that Jewish sports trivia buffs will cite in 2027         

NORTH (Netanya, Raanana, Tel Aviv) Pitchers: -- Rafael Rojano, NT -- Leon Feingold, NT -- Justin Prinstein, NT -- Esequier Pie, RN -- John Thew, RN -- Aaron Pribble, TA -- Adam Crabb, TA -- Daniel Kaufman, TA Catchers: -- Juan Ramirez, RN -- Dane Wigg, TA Infielders: -- Ramon Rodriguez, NT -- Hector De Los Santos, NT -- Brendan Rubenstein, RN -- Nate Fish, TA -- Raul Franco, TA -- Stewart Perez-Brito, TA -- Ryan Forsythe, NT Outfielders: -- Josh Doane, NT -- Ben Field, RN -- Matt Castillo, RN -- Josh Matlow, TA -- Jeff Hastings, TA Designated Hitter: -- Matt Brill, TA Alternates (in case of injury): -- Dan Rothem, TA,- Josh Zumbrun, RN

SOUTH (Bet Shemesh,  Modi'in, Petach Tikva) Pitchers: -- Andrew Morales, PT -- Ryan Butkowski, PT -- Abel Moreno, PT -- Alper Ulutas, PT -- Juan Feliciano, BS -- Rafael Bergstrom, BS -- Jason Benson, BS -- Maximo Nelson, MM -- Matt Bennett, MM -- Craig Eagle, MM Catchers: -- Eladio Rodriguez, MM -- Scott Jarmakowicz, BS Infielders: -- Aaron Levin, MM -- Johnny Lopez, BS -- Noah Walker, MM -- Willis Bumphus, PT -- Greg Raymundo, BS Outfielders: -- Adalberto Paulino, MM -- Jason Rees, BS -- Sean Slaughter, BS -- Moro Moanoroa, MM -- Ryan Crotin, PT -- Ben Dashefsky, PT Alternates (in case of injury): -- David Kramer, BS, -- Jamie Aimar, MM   Key: BS-Bet Shemesh, MM-Modi'in, NT-Netanya; PT-Petach Tikvah, RN-Ra'anana, TA-Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv and Modi'in now tied for second in tightening race in the Israel Baseball League

PETACH TIKVAH, Israel— The Ra'anana Express scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to come from behind and beat the Modi'in Miracle 5-4 this morning at Yarkon Field.

Ra'anana scored the tying run on a bases loaded walk before Dominican Juan Ramirez delivered the winning run on a walk-off single.  Ramirez hit his sixth homerun of the season in the sixth inning, going 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored.  Leftfielder Ben Field of Atlanta, Georgia, also had two hits and two RBI as the Express won for the third consecutive day.
     
Capitalizing on the Miracle loss was the Tel Aviv Lightning, who moved into a tie with Modi'in for second place by beating the Petach Tikva Pioneers 8-3 at Sportek Field in Tel Aviv.  Rightfielder Jeff Hastings led the offense, going 2-for-2 with a two-run homerun and personally crossing home plate twice.  Right-handed Australian Adam Crabb threw five innings for the Lightning, giving up two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks en route to his fourth win of the season.
   
Third baseman Seth Binder of California picked up two hits for the Pioneers, who lost their fourth consecutive game.
   
Meanwhile at Kibbutz Gezer, the fifth-place Netanya Tigers collected eighteen hits and scored ten runs in the sixth inning to beat the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox 17-6.

Eight of nine Netanya starting position players collected at least one hit on the day.  Dominican shortstop Hector De Los Santos hit his first homerun of the season for the Tigers, a two-run shot in the second to go 2-for-4 with three RBI.  Second baseman Josh Eichenstein of Los Angeles, California, went 4-for-5 with two RBI while leftfielder Josh Doane raised his average to .392 with a 3-for-5 day and three
runs scored.  The Netanya win snaps the Tigers five-game losing streak and ends Bet Shemesh's five-game winning streak.


Summaries:
                       1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R   H   E
Modi'in            0   0   1   1   1   1   0   4    7   0
Ra'anana          2   0   0   0   1   0   2   5    9   2
W: Max Vazquez (1-2); L: Craig Eagle (2-2); HR: Juan Ramirez (6)

                       1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R   H   E
Petach Tikva     0   0   0   2   1   0   0    3   7   0
Tel Aviv             4   0   2   2   0   0   x    8   8   3
W: Adam Crabb (4-2); L: Ari Alexenberg (0-3); HR: Jeff Hastings (2)

                        1   2   3   4   5   6   7    R   H   E
Netanya             5   2   0   0   0  10  0   17  18  1
Bet Shemesh     1   2   2   1   0    0   0   6    5   4
W: Ramon Rodriguez (1-1); L: Justin Cardinal (0-1); HR: Hector De Los Santos (1)

Standings:
Team                             W    L     %     GB
Bet Shemesh Blue Sox   16    5    .762     –
Modi'in Miracle              13    7    .650   2.5
Tel Aviv Lightning         13    7    .650   2.5
Ra'anana Express             9   12    .429   7.0
Netanya Tigers                 6   12    .333   8.5
Petach Tikva Pioneers     3   17    .150  12.5

Sunday at 5 pm it will be the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox at the Tel Aviv Lightning at Sportek and the Ra'anana Express versus the Petach Tikva Pioneers at Kibbutz Gezer.  At 6 pm the Netanya Tigers take on the Modi'in Miracle at Yarkon Field at the Baptist Village on Arutz Sport5.
 

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Story Continuations

Quartet Press Conference..
(Continued from above)

The Quartet welcomed President Bush's July 16th statement renewing U.S. commitment to a negotiated two-state solution and supported President Bush's call for an international meeting in the fall. The Quartet looks forward to consultations as the meeting is prepared. The Quartet agreed that such a meeting should provide diplomatic support for the parties in the bilateral discussions and negotiations in order to move forward on a successful path to a Palestinian state.

The Quartet welcomed the agreement by Mr. Tony Blair to be the Quartet representative and discussed with him the urgent work that lies ahead. Noting the centrality of reform, economic development, and institutional capacity-building to the establishment of this stable and prosperous Palestinian state in the Western Bank and Gaza that will unite more Palestinians and live in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors, the Quartet urged the parties and all states in the region to work closely with Mr. Blair and encouraged robust international support for his efforts including the convening of an ad hoc liaison committee meeting in the fall.

The Quartet expressed support for the Palestinian Authority Government headed by Salam Fayyad, which is committed to the political platform of President Abbas that reflects the January 13th, 2006 Quartet principles. The Quartet encouraged the direct and rapid financial assistance and other aid to the Palestinian Authority Government to help reform, preserve, and strengthen vital Palestinian institutions and infrastructure and to support the rule of law.

The Quartet welcomed the resumption of bilateral talks between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas and expressed support for steps taken by the Israeli Government, including the resumption of tax and customs revenue transfers and the decision to release Palestinian prisoners. The Quartet encouraged continued bilateral dialogue and further cooperation, including on the political horizon as a necessary framework to move forward. It urged both parties to work without delay to fulfill their previous commitments and to build confidence.

Recognizing the continuing importance of the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet looked forward to the planned visit to Israel by representatives of the Arab League to discuss the initiative. The Quartet expressed the support for continued and expanded dialogue between Israel and the Arab states. It looked forward to an early meeting with the Arab states to follow up on their May meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The Quartet emphasized the need to find ways to sustain Palestinian economic activity and the importance of creating circumstances that would allow for full implementation of the agreement on movement and access, particularly in view of the impact of crossings on the Palestinian economy and daily life. The Quartet encouraged both parties to address their roadmap obligations, including an end to settlement expansion and the removal of unauthorized outposts and an end to violence and terror.

The Quartet expressed its deep concern over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and agreed on the importance of continued emergency and humanitarian assistance. The Quartet agreed to continue to consult regularly on developments and to meet again in September to take stock of developments, hear from Mr. Blair on his strategy for the economic and institutional agenda, and discuss the way ahead. Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER AMADO: Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General. I open the floor now for some questions.

Please.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) but I have two questions, one for Mr. Blair, another for Mr. Solana. Mr. Blair, after this meeting, are you more comfortable with your mandate and what will be your next steps in the region? Mr. Solana has just come from Ramallah. Do you see -- might things move in the right direction in the territories? It's possible just to ignore Hamas and the situation in the Gaza Strip? Thank you.

MR. BLAIR: Well, first of all, I'm, of course, very content to take on the responsibilities that have been offered to me by my Quartet colleagues and this is something that's an issue that I have been passionate about for many years and I want to devote real attention to it now, now that I'm freed from the responsibility of being prime minister. I think and hope I can offer something in trying to bring about a solution to this issue, which is of such fundamental importance to the world.

And the first steps for me are -- familiar as I am with this situation, nonetheless to go and to listen to absorb and to reflect and then after an initial visit which will take place shortly, I will then go back again for significant periods of time in order to make sure that the intensity and focus is there and to try and create the conditions in which this two-state solution can become a reality. So at the present time, I'm very much going to listen to people, that is the sensible thing to do at the outset, and then at a later stage put forward proposals.

MR. SOLANA: Thank you. Thank you very much for the question. I will tell you, as I told to the members of the Quartet (inaudible), I spent meetings with the Palestinians, with Israelis, I'd like to convey to you the same sentiment that I returned with more optimism and that is not a minor thing. And when you see what have been the latest events in the period of time that we have lived in relation with the Palestinian process (inaudible).

Now, you ask about Gaza. I want to say that very clearly that we will continue to help the Palestinian people which are in Gaza. We are going to continue committed to that. That's what I would like to say at this point in time.

FOREIGN MINISTER AMADO: More questions, please. Go ahead.

QUESTION: Hi. I'm Matthew Lee with the Associated Press. I'd like to ask Special Envoy Blair, first of all, if he has adjusted to his new title and second of all, to follow up on the earlier question. If you're not at all concerned that the -- that you are constrained, your work will be virtually confined to the West Bank and not to Gaza and if that is really the way to go about building the national political institutions that the Palestinians need to become a sovereign state?

MR. BLAIR: Well, first of all, the only thing that's difficult is it's a full three weeks since I've done a press conference, so I'm a little out of practice, to be honest about it. (Laughter.) So it's kind of -- I'm trying to work myself back into the necessary psychology for it. In relation to my mandate, let me make one thing very clear to you. If how effective I can be in the situation depends on some textual analysis of the precise words that are set out then frankly, it's not going to work anyway. This is a very clear situation to me.

There is a vision that has been set out, again, by President Bush this week, but is shared by the whole of the international community and that is for two states: Israel confident of its security and a viable Palestinian state. But that state will not come about unless the conditions for it are present and those conditions are that the Palestinian state is viable, not just in terms of its territory, but also in terms of its institutions, in terms of its capability for statehood. And no political negotiation will ever work unless those conditions are present. So the important thing for me to do is to work with the Palestinians, with the international community to try to make sure that the circumstances are brought about in which Palestinian statehood can be achieved.

Now, at the moment, it's probably not sensible for me to go into all sorts of detail about the strategies that could be developed. There's a later time for that and no doubt when we have a further press conference some time towards the end of September, there are questions that I can answer better then. The most important thing for the moment is to say this, as Javier Solana has just said to you, there is a sense that we can regain momentum. That is the crucial thing. And if we are able to regain that momentum, then a whole lot of things become possible, not least the fact that those people of peace can then feel that the force is with them and not with those who want conflict.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER AMADO: Okay, another question?

QUESTION: I have a question to Minister Lavrov. To what extent do you believe the Russian-British diplomatic row might a lasting one and would you comment in Portuguese? And in his capacity as President (inaudible) Russian lack of cooperation with London on the Litvinenko affair. Don't you consider that's interference with Russian affairs?

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Inaudible) this is not up to Russia. This is up to our British colleagues. We are -- well, this is quite odd for us to hear that Russia is not right in terms of its cooperation on the Litvinenko affair. I want to remind you, that on the day in December last year when the UK asked Russia to receive its investigators, the answer was given immediately and very shortly – within one day, the British investigators arrived in Moscow and also our prosecutors met some earlier requests 100 percent.

At the same time, Russian prosecutors, since Russia also instigated a criminal case, also made a similar (inaudible). And there wasn’t a single day; they had to wait for three months. After three months, they were in a position to arrive in London but all of their requests were met by (inaudible.)

Now, with this request specifically to extradite Mr. Lugovoy, we as yet have not seen the actual document, the actual (inaudible) were still unclear as to what led the British investigators to determine that he is guilty and we can't have -- we can't provide them -- we can't violate our laws just as the UK can't violate their own laws.

But Russia (inaudible) if its citizens are -- if they are persecuted in these countries and if there's enough evidence. There has been quite a number of cases in Russia, whereby these individuals were tried in Russia consisting of a couple of dozen cases, such as (inaudible). So we don't have any particular obstacles in terms of justice. But I reiterate the on the Mr. Lugovoy affair we haven't received a single paper which would explain to us why the British investigators arrived at this conclusion.

Twenty one requests to extradite Russian citizens have been sent to London (inaudible). In the case of a well-known figure Boris Berezovsky, five times we sent our request and each time the British side explains that it wants materials submitted to in order to justify accusations because the charges against Mr. Berezovsky are not enough. And so each time the UK demands some new evidence (inaudible.) So this is how it is. We (inaudible) today that he hopes that common sense will win out particularly since the British have always been (inaudible.)

So in this particular case (inaudible.) We are aware that every time a new government comes into power in any country, it tries to find its own line. It's obviously bothersome in its relations with the European Union. We know that the UK and the European Union are not -- they don’t have absolute meeting of minds. There is a package of reforms that the EU is put forward and not all of them are to the liking of London. So I can also see here the factor of the new government in the UK, I'm quite sure that the government will settle down, will find its line (inaudible) will work for the benefit of the people and Russian-British relations (inaudible.)

QUESTION: Mr. Blair, congratulations, first of all, on your appointment to your new job. Can I venture – conveying my sense of skepticism you get living and working in the Middle East. The history of the Middle East is littered with the careers of envoys who have failed to bring peace. What makes you different, do you think?

MR. BLAIR: Well, thank you, first of all, for that. (Laughter.) I knew it had been three weeks since we'd been in conversation. Look, the view I have is very, very simple: There is no more important issue for peace and security in the world. It is imperative that we succeed and I'm prepared to try to help in whatever way I can. And I think that in the end, that is the most important attitude for me to carry into this job and I also think that there is a real will and desire, if people can find the right way forward, to get to that two-state solution that people want.

And you know, just imagine for a moment if this process were moving forward again. Just think how much hope there would be, how much there would be a sense of people coming together, how much there would be a falling away of the hatred and the division that this particular complaint often brings not just to those most intimately affected by it, but to the wider world.

So it's an important task and -- you know, as you all know from your experience of me over the 10 years, I'm nothing if not an optimistic. And I will probably have need of all that quality of optimism in this task ahead, but I'm determined to try, because I think it is important, because I'm passionate about it, I believe in it, and I think that the vision of a state of Israel that can really, for the first time in its existence, be confident of its security and a Palestinian people given the justice of a Palestinian state, I think that vision is something that's worth striving for.

So you know, you can ask me whether I'm still as optimistic in a few months time, but at the present time, I'm determined to try and I think the situation calls for that.

FOREIGN MINISTER AMADO: Okay. Just to finish, two more questions, okay?

QUESTION: Secretary of State, my questions to you are from Gaza and Ramallah. I've been asked to ask you personally by two people you spoke to there. Essentially, they're saying, what new policy is coming out of the Quartet? We've seen what'