This issue highlights the rights Israel grants to non-Jews living in Israel, the declining relations between Israel and Turkey, and some shocking statistics regarding the growth of Islam in Europe.

OUR ISRAELI CONNECTION

The Israel Project reports
Upon Israel's establishment in 1948, its founders declared that the country would be not only a Jewish state, but also a democratic one, where all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, race or gender, would live in peace with equal civil rights.

Israeli Arabs constitute roughly 20 percent (1.4 million) of Israel's population. They are, by definition, Palestinians whose ancestors remained in Israel and were granted citizenship after the state's establishment. Following the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel fought a defensive war against five armies amassed on its borders, Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan and opened up the holy places to all inhabitants including Muslims, Jews and Christians.
 
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem were given special identification cards and were offered citizenship, but most refused. Still, East Jerusalem Arabs maintain permanent resident status and can apply for citizenship. As permanent residents they receive Israeli social security and health benefits; subsidies for children; have the right to vote in local elections; and have the freedom to travel in Israel.

David Zauber reports:
The Israeli Air Force is looking for a new area to train for long range missions after being denied permission to continue such training in Turkish air space, marking yet another step in the deteriorating relations between the two countries. Long-range missions are seen by many in the Air Force as an essential part of its plans to defend the country from strategic threats, especially Iran, but there is not enough room in Israeli air space to conduct such missions. “Our ties with Turkey will never return to be the way they once were,” a senior defense official said on Thursday. “It is unlikely that under the current government in Ankara we will be allowed to fly there again.” Leading candidates to host Israeli air exercises are Romania, Poland and India, all of whom have expressed interest in expanding defense ties with Israel.
 
IT’S NEWS TO ME

 According to research, in order for a culture to maintain itself for more than 25 years, it must reproduce at the rate of 2.1 children per family. Historically, no culture has ever reversed a 1.9 fertility rate. A rate or 1.3 is impossible to reverse.
 
 As the population shrinks, so does the culture. In 2007, the fertility rate in France was 1.8; in England, 1.6, Greece, 1.3, in Italy, 1.2, in Spain, 1.1. Across the entire European Union of 31 countries, the fertility rate is a mere 1.38. Historical research says that these numbers are impossible to reverse. In a matter of years, Europe as we know it, will cease to exist.  
 
Yet, the population of Europe is not declining. How can this be? Immigration. Who is doing the immigrating? Muslims. Since 1990, 90 percent of Europe's population increase has been due to Islamic immigration. For Muslims throughout

Europe, the growth rate is 8.1. In southern France, traditionally one of the most populated church regions in the world, there are now more mosques than churches. By 2027, one in five Frenchmen will be Muslim. In just 39 years, France will be an Islamic republic.
 
In the last 30 years, the Muslim population of Great Britain rose from 82,000 to 2.5 million. In only 15 years, half of the Netherlands' population will be Muslim. In just a few short years, 40 percent of the Russian army will be Islamic. The government of Belgium has estimated that one-third of all European children will be Muslim by 2025. Seventeen European nations are now at what demographers call “lowest-low” fertility: 1.3 births per woman. In theory, those countries will find their populations halving every 35 years or so.
 
The German government has recently released a statement admitting that the decline of the German population can no longer be stopped. It will be a Muslim state by 2050. Momar Kadafi of Libya has stated that in time, Allah would grant victory to Islam in Europe without guns, without conflict. There are currently 52 million Muslims in Europe. That number is expected to double in the next 20 years.
              
WRITING TIPS
Using the Semicolon
 
When the parts of a compound sentence are not connected by a coordinating conjunction, they are best separated by a semicolon, especially if the parts express a contrast or an antithesis. 
 
The intention is excellent; the method is self-destructive.


 

What is the proper terminology for denoting 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone? One Rod Sterling

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