Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu surprised the world recently by announcing his government's willingness to allow a Palestinian state to exist alongside Israel. But not surprisingly he attached several conditions to his offer. And not surprisingly, the Palestinians quickly and totally rejected them all.

The conditions include recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, Jerusalem's remaining the undivided capital of Israel, the disarming and dismantling of the Palestinian terrorist groups, the demilitarization of a new Palestinian state, the retaining of the Jewish so-called "settlements," and the dis-allowing of Arab so-called "refugees" to return and reside in the Jewish state.

Three special feasts, all ordained by God Himself, are celebrated at this time of year by the Jewish people of Israel. It is a very special time of the year.

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the three. It comes on New Year's Day on the modern Jewish calendar, and in Hebrew it is called, Rosh HaShanah. God instructed Moses: "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month ye shall have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation." (Leviticus 23:24)

Israel welcomed the Jewish year 5770 last Saturday with somewhat somber but meaningful celebration. Jerusalem Post writer Liat Collins wrote that 5769 was not a "shana toba," or a good year. But thankfully, neither was it the worst. The following is a condensed version of her JP article.

As we mark 70 years since the outbreak of World War II, we know we have much to be grateful for. Primarily, we are still alive. And we now have our own sovereign state. It has too often been ordered around, but nevertheless, it is lively independent and flourishing in nature and deed.