A DEVASTATING TWO WEEKS
Gaza to Katrina – A Devastating Two Weeks - Bill Koenig - www.watch.org
Note from Bill:
I will continue to connect the disengagement activities in Israel to the other very serious events and headlines up to the devastating Hurricane Katrina and then beyond. (You can review the news headlines below and see them for yourself.)
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2 (KJV)
To say the least, much has happened since the disengagement eviction began in Israel on August 17 (with preliminary work actually taken place during the 9th of Av — sundown on Saturday, August 13, to sundown on Sunday, August 14. The government of Israel didn't want the disengagement eviction to begin until August 17 due to the curse of the 9th of Av for the Jewish people.)
On Monday, August 22, the last Jewish settlement in Gaza was evacuated — wrapping up Israel's historic pullout from the coastal strip after settlers held a farewell march behind Torah scrolls and a massive menorah, then boarded armored buses and left.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone and expressed their commitment to peace -- the first conversation between the two since the pullout started, a senior Palestinian negotiator said.
The leaders spoke for about five minutes, with Mr. Abbas telling Mr. Sharon, "We are your partners for peace," according to negotiator Saeb Erekat.
The next day, August 23, the day after the completion of the Gaza evacuation, the government of the Bahamas issued a tropical warning storm warning for central and northwestern Bahamas.
Putting this storm into perspective, many of the major tropical storms start off the coast of Africa and typically take ten days to two weeks before affecting the Bahamas, the Caribbean and/or the U.S. coastline.
But by Wednesday August 24, the tropical depression became Tropical Storm Katrina; and by Thursday afternoon, August 25, Katrina developed into a hurricane. And in a period of only 72 hours, tropical depression 12 developed and hit southeast Florida (the only area untouched by the past six hurricanes) as a hurricane.
Hurricane Katrina is projected to be the first or second costliest hurricane in U.S. history. It was devastating in intensity and size. If it hadn't been for a last minute break in the eye-wall it would have very likely destroyed the city of New Orleans and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Government agencies and private relief organizations flew into action yesterday in what some are describing as the largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster.
Following is the main news from the past two weeks:
*Israel begins preparation for Gaza evacuation — August 13-16 *US warns of new attacks on London and U.S. Cities — August 14 *The United States issue tender for up to 80 million doses of a smallpox vaccine, worth more than $1 billion, to guard against terrorist attack – August 18 *Israel Begins the Evacuation of Gaza and Northern Samaria Settlements — August 17 *IDF Storms Gaza Synagogue - August 17 *"Everyone empathizes with what the Israelis are facing. [But] it cannot be Gaza only," says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — August 17 *Russia reminds United States that attacking Iran militarily will cause major problems for the world — August 17 *The first-ever joint Chinese and Russian military exercise begins, meant to send political signal to the United States — August 18 *The United States plan to send assessment teams to Israel to decide on U.S. economic aid for the Galilee and Negev regions — August 18 *Bad Iraq war news worries dome in G.O.P. on '06 vote — August 18 *Katyusha rocket attacks on U.S. ships in Eilat and Aqaba — August 19 *Israel completes Gaza evacuation — August 22 *Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas speak by telephone and express commitment to peace — August 22 *Gaza home demolitions continue *A tropical depression forms near the Bahamas — August 23 *Tropical Storm Katrina forms — August 24 *Katrina becomes a hurricane — August 25 *Hurricane Katrina hits southeast Florida — August 26 *Hurricane Katrina increases in intensity in the Gulf of Mexico *Russia and China complete their first eight-day military maneuvers — August 26 *Suicide bomber targets Israeli bus station: Two guards critically wounded in first suicide attack since Gaza withdrawal - August 28 *U.S. War on Terror: More costly than 'the war to end all wars' — August 29 *Sharon: More West Bank settlements would go for peace *Katrina kills 55 in Miss.; governor calls storm a 'grievous blow' — August 29 *Katrina floods downtown Mobile, beaches, bayous — August 29 *Hurricane Katrina could slow U.S. economic expansion — August 29 *New Orleans facing environmental disaster — August 29 *Gov. Bush warns residents of gas shortages — August 29 *Tens of thousands to be homeless for months due to Katrina — August 29 *American Red Cross launching its largest relief operation — August 29 *Risk modeling firm says Hurricane Katrina may top Andrew with insured damage of up to $16 billion *Massive relief mobilized: Largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster - August 30 *Bush Returning to White House to Monitor Hurricane Effort *Oil hits new record near $71 after Katrina
_________________________________________________________________
Note from Bill:
I will continue to connect the disengagement activities in Israel to the other very serious events and headlines up to the devastating Hurricane Katrina and then beyond. (You can review the news headlines below and see them for yourself.)
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2 (KJV)
To say the least, much has happened since the disengagement eviction began in Israel on August 17 (with preliminary work actually taken place during the 9th of Av — sundown on Saturday, August 13, to sundown on Sunday, August 14. The government of Israel didn't want the disengagement eviction to begin until August 17 due to the curse of the 9th of Av for the Jewish people.)
On Monday, August 22, the last Jewish settlement in Gaza was evacuated — wrapping up Israel's historic pullout from the coastal strip after settlers held a farewell march behind Torah scrolls and a massive menorah, then boarded armored buses and left.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone and expressed their commitment to peace -- the first conversation between the two since the pullout started, a senior Palestinian negotiator said.
The leaders spoke for about five minutes, with Mr. Abbas telling Mr. Sharon, "We are your partners for peace," according to negotiator Saeb Erekat.
The next day, August 23, the day after the completion of the Gaza evacuation, the government of the Bahamas issued a tropical warning storm warning for central and northwestern Bahamas.
Putting this storm into perspective, many of the major tropical storms start off the coast of Africa and typically take ten days to two weeks before affecting the Bahamas, the Caribbean and/or the U.S. coastline.
But by Wednesday August 24, the tropical depression became Tropical Storm Katrina; and by Thursday afternoon, August 25, Katrina developed into a hurricane. And in a period of only 72 hours, tropical depression 12 developed and hit southeast Florida (the only area untouched by the past six hurricanes) as a hurricane.
Hurricane Katrina is projected to be the first or second costliest hurricane in U.S. history. It was devastating in intensity and size. If it hadn't been for a last minute break in the eye-wall it would have very likely destroyed the city of New Orleans and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Government agencies and private relief organizations flew into action yesterday in what some are describing as the largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster.
Following is the main news from the past two weeks:
*Israel begins preparation for Gaza evacuation — August 13-16 *US warns of new attacks on London and U.S. Cities — August 14 *The United States issue tender for up to 80 million doses of a smallpox vaccine, worth more than $1 billion, to guard against terrorist attack – August 18 *Israel Begins the Evacuation of Gaza and Northern Samaria Settlements — August 17 *IDF Storms Gaza Synagogue - August 17 *"Everyone empathizes with what the Israelis are facing. [But] it cannot be Gaza only," says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — August 17 *Russia reminds United States that attacking Iran militarily will cause major problems for the world — August 17 *The first-ever joint Chinese and Russian military exercise begins, meant to send political signal to the United States — August 18 *The United States plan to send assessment teams to Israel to decide on U.S. economic aid for the Galilee and Negev regions — August 18 *Bad Iraq war news worries dome in G.O.P. on '06 vote — August 18 *Katyusha rocket attacks on U.S. ships in Eilat and Aqaba — August 19 *Israel completes Gaza evacuation — August 22 *Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas speak by telephone and express commitment to peace — August 22 *Gaza home demolitions continue *A tropical depression forms near the Bahamas — August 23 *Tropical Storm Katrina forms — August 24 *Katrina becomes a hurricane — August 25 *Hurricane Katrina hits southeast Florida — August 26 *Hurricane Katrina increases in intensity in the Gulf of Mexico *Russia and China complete their first eight-day military maneuvers — August 26 *Suicide bomber targets Israeli bus station: Two guards critically wounded in first suicide attack since Gaza withdrawal - August 28 *U.S. War on Terror: More costly than 'the war to end all wars' — August 29 *Sharon: More West Bank settlements would go for peace *Katrina kills 55 in Miss.; governor calls storm a 'grievous blow' — August 29 *Katrina floods downtown Mobile, beaches, bayous — August 29 *Hurricane Katrina could slow U.S. economic expansion — August 29 *New Orleans facing environmental disaster — August 29 *Gov. Bush warns residents of gas shortages — August 29 *Tens of thousands to be homeless for months due to Katrina — August 29 *American Red Cross launching its largest relief operation — August 29 *Risk modeling firm says Hurricane Katrina may top Andrew with insured damage of up to $16 billion *Massive relief mobilized: Largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster - August 30 *Bush Returning to White House to Monitor Hurricane Effort *Oil hits new record near $71 after Katrina
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