If/When Bush invades Iran should Israel pick up part of the bill?
You forgot to mention that the president would need an Act of Congress in order to attack Iran, so the Democratic majority in the Senate would have to vote for it. And Israel would very much like to help us in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran (if/when it comes to that), but they are always told to step back. When we invaded Afghanistan, one of the conditions Pakistan insisted on was that Israel could not step foot on their soil. This prevented them from helping us.
How much money does it take to live in Israel comfortably?
Wow baby! What interesting estimates! It clearly depends on what you consider comfortable, whether you want to live by yourself or with roommates, mode of transportation, and whether you plan on eating out a lot or not. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are the most expensive cities, but they have Rent in a shared apartment or private studio in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv is between $200- $450. Though of course you can always find someone who will help you spend more. . . In addition to rent, utilities, arnona (municipal taxes), phone, internet, and a vonage phone can add up to $80-$100 Cars in Israel are very expensive, so are gas and insurance. Jerusalem has great public transportation, with a monthly bus past costing a bit more than 200 shekels, or about $50. Most cab fares are about 20-30 shekels per ride, so taking cabs occasionally doesn't add that much to transportation costs. Food, entertainment, and other personal costs can vary tremendously. Permanent residents and citizens enjoy the national health care system, which basically costs nothing. Cell phone bills seem to be at around 200 to 250 shekels. Botton line - I know people who live on $400 a month, but I wouldn't call that comfortable. (But I like to shop). Most people I know seem to spend between $500-$1000, and that includes a variety of personal indulgences, like lots of lattes, gym membership, shop-therapy, concerts and shows and eating out, but no unlimited spending. Some things are cheaper in Israel, some more expensive, and most people learn where to save and where to spulrge. Hope that helps!
How does a bill become a law?
In my homeland of Israel, When a bill is published, it is debated in Israel's one-house congress, called the Knéset, in three readings. Bills submitted by Knéset mebers which are not Ministers (Israel's Ministers = US Secretaries) have to pass through a zeroth reading and be approved by the Knéset. Bills that passed the zeroth reading are passed to one of the Knéset comittes and experts improve the bill. However All bills pass through a first reading, which applies to the whole bill. Bills that passed the first reading are passed to another committee, and may be merged with other bills or broken to new multiple bills. The second reading is about specific articles of the bill. the third reading is about the whole bill again, and usually happens exactly after the second reading. After the third reading, the President (Position with no power, like the UK's queen), Prime Minister (Head of government and real holder of executive power), Speaker of the Knéset and the appropriate Minister sign the bill (though the president has no veto) and the bill is published in the Rešumót and becomes law in midnight.
What did Ariel Sharon Israel ex Prime Minister mean when he stated "We control America...."?
It means someone has been getting their "information" from bad sources. The quote does not exist. it was originally reported in a Hamas press release. A US reporter than repeated it. She later apologized for failing to check her sources accuracy before printing. it NEVER happened dude. Syndicated Columnist Georgie Anne Geyer Uses Fabricated Sharon Quote http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_articl... The hoax originated with an October 3, 2001 press release from the pro-Hamas group, the Islamic Association for Palestine. It said: An acrimonious argument erupted during the Israeli cabinet weekly session last week between Ariel Sharon and his foreign Minister Shimon Peres during which Sharon reportedly yelled at Peres, saying “don’t worry about American pressure, we control America.” Notably, in the same press release, the direct quotation “we control America” changed to “we the Jewish people control America.” IAP wrote: According [to] the Israeli Hebrew radio, Col [sic] Yisrael Wednesday, Peres warned Sharon that refusing to heed incessant American requests for a cease-fire with the Palestinians would endanger Israeli interests and turn the US against us. At this point, a furious Sharon reportedly turned toward Peres, saying “...I want to tell you something clear, don’t worry about American pressure on Israel, we the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it.” According to the IAP press release, the statement was reported on Kol Yisrael. However, CAMERA’s calls to Kol Yisrael confirmed that no such broadcast occurred. Geyer’s second problematic claim was: Look at U.S. television: One minute, you see pro-Israeli ads saying the Arabs are all dogs... However, here too investigation turned up no evidence that any such ad ever appeared on U.S. television. Since the Sharon “quotation” and the “Arabs are dogs" ad are preposterous on their face, one would have expected Geyer (and editors who publish her column) to verify their accuracy before including such inflammatory statements in her column. Geyer’s piece, which is syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate, is known to have appeared in the Chicago Tribune and the San Diego Union Tribune.
One gold shekel = how many dollars?
Archaeological evidence suggests that a shekel weighed approximately 11.4 g (0.403 oz avdp; 0.367 oz t). Based on the average of some 45 inscribed shekel weights, the shekel may be reckoned at 11.4 g. Gold closed on the Stock Market today around $808.50 oz. Using 0.403 oz avdp; "avoirdupois" A system of weights based on the 16-ounce pound (or 7,000 grains). Based upon this price a Gold Shekel might be worth $325.62 today. weight, the common standard both of weight and value among the Hebrews. It is estimated at 220 English grains, or a little more than half an ounce avoirdupois. The "shekel of the sanctuary" (Ex. 30:13; Num. 3:47) was equal to twenty gerahs (Ezek. 45:12). There were shekels of gold (1 Chr. 21:25), of silver (1 Sam. 9:8), of brass (17:5), and of iron (7). Six gold shekels, according to the later Jewish system, were equal in value to fifty silver ones. The temple contribution, with which the public sacrifices were bought (Ex. 30:13; 2 Chr. 24:6), consisted of one common shekel, or a sanctuary half-shekel, equal to two Attic drachmas. The coin, a stater (q.v.), which Peter found in the fish's mouth paid this contribution for both him and Christ (Matt. 17:24, 27). A zuza, or quarter of a shekel, was given by Saul to Samuel