A Daily Analysis
By Marc Schulman

March 25, 2008 Nasrallah Makes Threats, Foreign Millionaires Get Breaks.

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah gave his long awaited speech yesterday.  He spoke by remote hookup to a large gathering ending the 40 day memorial period for Mughniyah’s assassination.  As expected, Nasrallah did not bring proof that Israel was involved in the assassination.  He of course threatened Israel, but this time left it open ended by saying, “Hezbollah will find the time and the place to revenge the killing”.

Israel is introducing a new series of robotic guns along the Gaza border.  This will decrease the number of troops needed to guard the border.  Human rights groups are protesting, claiming that it will result in more mistaken shootings of innocent civilians.  I beg to differ with the human rights groups.  Having spent a little time in isolated guard tower, a person is more likely to open fire too early when they are afraid for their lives. A remote operator who is safe, even if he waits a few extra seconds to be sure of what he doing, is much less likely to open fire by mistake.

Ministry of Finance is promoting a new plan to induce Jewish millionaires and former Israelis who have left to return to Israel.  It is offering a 10-year tax holiday where they would not be responsible for any taxes to Israel.  The 10 years will be expanded if the millionaire invests in any of the development areas of Israel.

Since the beginning of 2008, 3000 African refugees have crossed into Israel.  Israel does not have a policy; many are living in cellars in Tel Aviv, while some are in a prison in the South.  Some of these refugees are from Darfur while some are from other parts of Africa who are coming for economic opportunities.  How does a Jewish state deal with refugees from other parts of the world?  Right now they are doing so by ignoring the problem.

MK Amir Peretz is attempting to rehabilitate himself by claiming that the Winograd Commission report exonerated him.  What is quite sad is that in his speech yesterday, Nasrallah made fun of Peretz’s unforgettable picture of looking through binoculars with the cover on.  And Peretz thinks that he can rehabilitate himself?