DAVID FRIEDMAN IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR US AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL

I wanted to comment on this, but haven't had time till now. Donald Trump's choice for USA ambassador to Israel is lawyer David Friedman, a strong supporter of Israel:

President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel — and pledged that the diplomat would work in the “eternal capital” of Jerusalem instead of Tel Aviv.

The president elects praised Friedman and said the lawyer would help the two countries cooperate on military and intelligence issues.

“As the United States’ Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman will maintain the special relationship between our two countries,” Trump said in a statement.

“His strong relationships in Israel will form the foundation of his diplomatic mission and be a tremendous asset to our country as we strengthen the ties with our allies and strive for peace in the Middle East.”

I fully agree on this. The plan to move the embassy to Jerusalem is another plus, if implemented, and if Friedman does his best to ensure it'll be done, he'll be a real hero.

Fireworks Blast Rips Through Market Outside Mexico City (VIDEO)

A spectacular explosion with horrific results.

Cross-posted from American Power, "At Least 32 Dead in Mexico Fireworks Market Explosion (VIDEO)."

At CNN, "Mexico explosion: 32 dead at fireworks market as search teams comb rubble."

That's a spectacular explosion, almost like a military bombing zone. Man.

CNN's @sarasidnerCNN is at the scene of the massive fireworks market blast Tuesday in Mexico https://t.co/erMO1c1H9n https://t.co/R7hZlFktNQ pic.twitter.com/uBnx0qHON2

— CNN (@CNN) December 21, 2016

#BREAKING: Fireworks explosion rips through market outside Mexico City, dozens injured. https://t.co/s4FBLe7XVl pic.twitter.com/3rhxSk4a4Z

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) December 20, 2016

A HUGE MENORAH DISPLAY AT THE ISRAEL MUSEUM

Israel National News has a list of pictures from the Israel Museum of very old menorahs on special display for Hanuka.

9 PEOPLE MURDERED IN TRUCK ATTACK AT CHRISTMAS MARKET IN BERLIN

Another terrorist attack similar to the one last summer in Nice, France, has taken place this time in Germany:

At least nine people were killed and up to 50 injured when a truck ploughed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday evening.

German police have arrested a suspect near the scene of the incident and are investigating whether he was the driver, German police said on Twitter.

A German police spokesman said the co-driver of the truck died in the incident.

[...] Television pictures from Berlin showed a large Scania truck standing amid debris near small wooden stalls that make up the “Christkindlmarkt”, of which there are several in Berlin at this time of year.

Once again, Angela Merkel's dhimmitude has wound up costing a terrible price that's only going to make the public in Germany very angry for all the damage and desecration her stingy politics have brought upon the country.

ARABIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN JUDEA/SAMARA BECOMING GHOST TOWNS

At a time when Amona is facing a terrible situation of eviction, it's interesting to note that there's a different scene taking place in Arabic villages around the same area:

Media reports about the Arab struggle to retrieve the lands of Amona has been presented by politicians and the media as part of an Arab tradition of loyalty to their land.

Indeed, one of the Arab claimants against the Amona community has been quoted as saying, "If your child dies, you can make another one in his place, but land that you sold cannot be replaced."

And yet, a report in Friday's Makor Rishon suggests reality on the ground in Judea and Samaria reflects a somewhat different set of values. Local Arabs may not be willing to sell their land, but many of them don't live on said land either, preferring instead to emigrate to the US.

According to reporter Assaf Gibor, Route 60, which runs from Afula, on Israel's side of the "green line" through Jenin, near Shechem, through Ofra and outside Ramallah to Jerusalem and then through Gush Etzion, past Hebron all the way to Be'er Sheva, features ghost villages on either side of the highway. The Jewish settlers of Ofra and Amona have been wondering what has happened to neighboring Arab villages such as Silwad, three miles from the main road and about 8 miles north-east of Ramallah. A visitor happening inside the village can see numerous, luxurious villas, that are deserted.

Gibor, who describes those empty homes as "white elephants," met in Silwad a man in his 79s named Salah, who sat with him over a cup of coffee and revealed that he's been living in Puerto Rico for 52 years. Having left in 1964, before the Israeli liberation of 1967, Salah got his BA in Puerto Rico and MA in Tennessee, and now he is retired and living off his rental property on the island. His children were born in the US, one is a lawyer, the other a pharmacist, both Harvard graduates. Sadly, they've only visited the old country once – but both speak Arabic.

Hamza Awada, 21, who lives with his parents in Arizona, met Gibor in Dir Dibwan, not far from Silwad. He is visiting to conclude a two-year wife search. It's an arranged marriage, and after the wedding the happy couple will move to America. Hamza has lived in New York City and in Arizona, as well as in Jordan. "Life here in the village is quaint, but it's not for me."

Wow. Even some very fancy houses are left behind as many Arabs/Muslims clearly don't find life there appealing. And if that be the case, what's the point of trying to "help" them reconquer Jewish land when they don't even care about it?