OH THOSE JEWS,THOSE JEWS II

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The Jewish people were slaves in Egypt, and could not defend themselves from Pharaoh’s armies. Only when they were freed from Egypt, only when they could escape the exploitation, only when they saved themselves, could they reach the Land of Israel and be a sovereign and free nation in their land. Only then was Jewish existence ensured.” Passover begins at sundown Monday, April 18. (jpost.com) Egypt: Hundreds protest outside Israeli consulate in Alexandria Hundreds of Egyptians protested in front of the Israeli consulate in Alexandria on Thursday (14th) and called for the launch of a “third intifada.” Egyptian security forces were deployed to the area. (ynetnews.com) Syria shows protestors as collaborators with Israel The opposition website in Syria published a document on Thursday (14th) which, it claimed, was instructions from the management of Syrian intelligence on how to deal with protests, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MRMRI). One of the instructions was to portray protesters as collaborators with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Further instructions were to accuse them of extremism with the use of weapons and to promote factional fear by attacking their houses of worship. The document also recommended that the army hold its fire and let snipers fire at demonstrators. Some of the instructions, according to MEMRI, coordinated the activities of state-run Syrian media. (israelnationalnews.com) U.S. will invite Netanyahu to address Congress U.S. House Speaker John Boehner will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress during a visit to Washington in May, Boehner’s office announced on Thursday (14th). Boehner will extend the formal invitation once Congress approves a resolution providing for the joint session, Boehner’s office said in a statement. (ynetnews.com) Hamas: Israeli MK Zoabi: Hamas entitled to fire rockets On Al-Qassam website, Arab member of the Israeli parliament, Hamin Zoabi said that Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions are entitled to fire rockets for the sake of attaining their people’s freedom. The Israeli parliament had withdrawn Zoabi’s diplomatic passport and other privileges after charging her with “betraying Israel” by participating in the Freedom Flotilla last year that was trying to break the blockade on Gaza. (imra.org) Jews demonized, martyrdom praised in PA textbooks – Joshua Hamerman The Palestinian Authority still has a long way to go before textbooks in its schools begin to teach true co-existence with Israel’s Jews, according to a study released Tuesday (12th) by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE). The organization reviewed 118 textbooks currently used in Palestinian schools and 22 teacher guides distributed by the PA Ministry of Education. “There is generally a total denial of the existence of Israel – and if there is an Israeli presence it is usually extremely negative,” said Eldad Pardo, head of IMPACT-SE’s Palestinian textbook research group and a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In geography textbooks, Israel usually does not appear in maps of the Middle East; instead “Palestine” is shown to encompass Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Jewish cities such as Tel Aviv are not shown. One textbook included a map of the Old City of Jerusalem – which did not contain the Jewish Quarter. No Israeli is depicted as a friend or partner, the Oslo accords are rarely mentioned, and political agreements in general are presented as resulting from Arab and Muslim weakness. The bulk of funding for PA textbooks comes from the EU. (jpost.com) Pushed by Goldstone, Israeli army embraces new “smart” warfare – Leslie Susser Despite Israel’s rejection of the Goldstone report on the Gaza war, the international criticism it engendered has led the Israel Defense Forces to make a number of significant changes in policy and doctrine. Among the changes were modifying the way soldiers fight in urban areas, teaching relatively low-level combat officers nuances in the laws of war, attaching humanitarian liaison officers to active forces, and making media relations a priority. Part of the solution lies in technology: using super-accurate munitions that can pinpoint terrorist targets, and pilotless-planes that can identify and attack would-be rocket launchers. The new Iron Dome anti-missile system simultaneously locates rocket launch points, enabling immediate attacks on them. (jta.org) Israel to arm combat soldiers with cameras The Israeli military is studying the wide distribution of cameras to soldiers as a tool to make its case to the world. There has long been a strong feeling in Israel that the world did not understand the difficulty Israel sustains in fighting militants who locate themselves among civilians. (ap.org) The Palestinians’ own goal – Khaled Abu Toameh The recent assassination of Juliano Mer-Khamis, a well-known Israeli Arab actor who moved to the West Bank to help Palestinians establish a theater, has seriously embarrassed the Palestinian Authority. The Western-backed PA chooses to endorse anti-normalization campaigns with Israel, paving the way for threats and violence against well-meaning people like Mer-Khamis, who are trying to promote understanding and tolerance between Arabs and Jews. Mer-Khamis, who was born to a Jewish mother and was a Christian Arab citizen of Israel, was trying to promote cultural activities as an alternative to suicide bombings and terror. In the past, Mer-Khamis received death threats from Palestinians who did not like his activities and mere presence. The theater he managed was firebombed twice and leaflets distributed by Palestinian activists made it clear that he would be liquidated one day. (Hudson institute – New York) (Hudson.org) McCormick stopping spice sales to Iran BALTIMORE – Spice giant McCormick has agreed to stop selling its spices to Iran, following the efforts of a Baltimore Jewish activist. Jay Berstein, an attorney and community activist, read in the New York Times last December that despite sanctions against Iran, the U.S. Treasury was allocating licenses to American companies to conduct business with the Islamic republic. One of those companies, he learned, was the Baltimore-based McCormick & Co., founded by a Jewish immigrant in 1889. In January, Berstein wrote to Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, and a McCormick board member, asking him to “exert” his influence on the company to “do the right thing and end all business with and in Iran.” Shortly after, he received word that McCormick would “cease such sales as long as Iran is subject to the comprehensive sanctions programs imposed by the U.S. government.” (jpost.com) Taxpayers in Australian town won’t foot $3M Israel boycott bill – Stephanie Gardiner The mayor of Marrickville insists taxpayers will not foot a $3M bill to help it comply with a proposed boycott on products from Israel. The Greens-dominated local council voted for the boycott on Dec. 14, 2010, but the boycott could cost taxpayers $3 million to replace all of the authority’s Hewlett Packard computer systems. The Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement claims that Hewlett Packard technology is used at Israeli military checkpoints. (Sydney Morning Herald-Australia) (smh.com.au) Posted by http://foi.org/profile.aspx?username=webmaster@foi.org at 6:49 AM Thursday, April 14, 2011 Peres visits south – says ‘proud of Iron-Dome’ President Shimon Peres visited Kibbutz Erez, a Gaza vicinity community on Wednesday (13th), and met with the driver of the school bus who was wounded when his bus was hit by a rocket last Thursday (7th). Peres hailed the success of the Iron Dome defense system, saying he was proud of the fact that Israel was the first nation to come up with such a defensive answer to rockets. (ynetnews.com) New Hamas weapon alters strategic balance along Gaza-Israel border – Leland Vittert Hamas’ recent use of a Russian-made, laser-guided anti-tank missile against a school bus marks a clear change in the strategic balance along the Gaza-Israeli border, putting in danger tens of thousands of Israelis who drive on roads with a line-of-sight view from Gaza. Hamas has now shown a willingness to use a next-generation weapon against a civilian target. “Everybody should bear in mind that if this missile would have been fired five minutes before (when the bus was filled with children), we would have been witnessing a full-scale war between Israel and the Gaza Strip today,” said Israeli security expert Ronen Bergman. (foxnews.com) 4 killed in Gaza Strip tunnel collapse Four people were killed Tuesday (12th) and at least five injured in the collapse of a tunnel in southern Gaza, a Palestinian source reported. The accident occurred in Rafah near the Egyptian border in a tunnel that had been bombed by the Israeli army Friday (8th). (Agence French Presse) (afp.com) Fayyad advisor dismisses Palestinian missile attack on school bus – Itamar Marcus and Nan Jaques Zilberdik Political advisor to PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Omar Al-Ghoul, told PA TV on April 8: “The school bus wasn’t that badly damaged but Israel wants to use the attack on the bus as an excuse for its latest war crimes against our people.” (palwatch.org) Red Cross reportedly asked Hamas to show sign of life from Shalit Red Cross officials have reportedly met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Damascus and asked him to provide proof that captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is alive. Hamas is said to be considering the idea of showing a ‘sign of life’ from Shalit to put pressure on Israel to resume negotiations for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Up to this point the Red Cross has been denied access to Shalit. (iba.org.il) Palestinians seek $5B for 3-year development Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will brief Western representatives in Brussels this week on his bid for nearly $5B in investment to launch a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority’s three-year development plan, obtained by Reuters requires $1.467 billion this year, $1.754 billion in 2012, and $1.596 billion for 2013. (reuters.com) Israel speeds production of Iron-Dome anti-missile defense system – Anshel Pfeffer Israel plans to have a third Iron Dome missile defense system ready for use within six months and three more ready by the end of 2012. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced this week he planned to allocate funding immediately for four more Iron-Dome batteries, rather than waiting for the more than $200 million recently approved by the U.S. Congress for missile defense. The air force estimates that up to 13 anti-missile batteries are needed to provide maximum protection in the north and the south. (haaretz.com) Islamists in Egypt moving toward center stage – Arnaud de Borchgrave In Cairo, the latest conventional wisdom sees a groundswell of Islamist fundamentalism cloaked in moderate colors moving adroitly center stage. Following elections in the fall, the Muslim Brotherhood is expected to deliver about 40% of the vote, possibly even a majority. Behind Cairo’s political stage, says one ranking Egyptian on a private visit to Washington, Iran’s mullahs and Egypt’s Brothers are unobtrusively sidling up. The Obama administration now backs a role for the Brotherhood in a reformed Egyptian government on the condition that it “rejects violence and recognizes democratic goals.” But it would be terminally naïve to expect a friendly bunch of Muslim Brothers on good terms with U.S. diplomats. In one of his weekly sermons last year, Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie displayed his colors: “Arab and Muslin regimes are betraying their people by failing to confront the Muslims’ real enemies, not only Israel, but also the United States. Waging ‘jihad’ against both of these infidels is a commandment of Allah that cannot be disregarded.” He titled his sermon: “The U.S. is Now Experiencing the Beginning of the End.” (washingtontimes.com) Christians begin to flee Egypt A growing number of Egypt’s 8-10 million Coptic Christians are looking for a way to get out of the country as Islamists increasingly take advantage of the nationalist revolution that toppled long-standing dictator Hosni Mubarak in February. Egypt Daily News reported on Tuesday (12th) that “lawyers who specialize in working with Coptic Egyptians say that in the past few weeks they have received hundreds of calls from Copts wanting to leave Egypt.” “They are insisting on leaving because the risks of staying here are too great,” Naguib Gabriel, a Coptic human rights lawyer told the Daily News. “Many Christians are afraid of the future because of the fanatics in the mosques.” At least 20 Christians have been killed in sectarian violence with Muslims since Mubarak’s ouster. (israeltoday.co.il) IDF medical team sent to Belarus The IDF will send a team of three military doctors to Belarus to aid in the aftermath of the deadly metro bombing in Minsk that claimed the lives of at least 12 people, the IDF spokesperson said on Tuesday (12th). The medical team is being sent in response to a request by the Belarus government and will deal primarily with victims suffering from post-traumatic stress. (jpost.com) Posted by http://foi.org/profile.aspx?username=webmaster@foi.org at 6:46 AM Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Condition of teen injured in bus rocket attack worsens Sixteen year old Daniel Wipliech, who was seriously injured in last week’s rocket attack on an Israeli school bus in southern Israel, has taken a turn for the worse. The Soroka Medical center said he is now in critical condition. Wipliech suffered severe head trauma and is presently in a coma with no signs of responsiveness or brain activity. (jta.org) Israel asks UN to condemn rocket attacks – Jordana Horn Israeli Ambassador to the UN Meron Reuben has written to the Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, expressing “grave concern” over the recent escalation in rocket and mortar attacks by Palestinians and stating that Israel holds Hamas “fully responsible.” Since April 7, terrorists in Gaza have fired 12 Grad missiles, 70 Kassam rockets, and 49 mortars at communities in Israel. “Attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip constitute a clear violation of international law,” he wrote, referencing six previous letters on the topic. (jpost.com) Hamas strategists paying heavy price for miscalculations – Yigal Wait Hamas’ first miscalculation was the failure to estimate Israel’s response to the missile attack on an Israeli school bus Thursday (7th). Gaza terrorists were counting on the “Goldstone effect” to tamper any punishing Israeli strikes on Gaza. What was worse for Hamas was the current round of fighting which coincided with the West’s campaign against Gaddafi. NATO forces have been bombing a foreign country, Libya, in order to prevent murderous attacks on civilians – the same logic behind Israel’s strikes against Gaza terrorists. If the West wishes to adopt the Libya logic in Gaza as well, it will be bombing Hamas. Israel’s incessant strikes on Gaza targets were met with a rather deafening global silence. If all that wasn’t enough, Israel deployed the Iron Dome anti-rocket system earlier than expected, shooting down virtually every Gaza missile threatening Israeli population centers. Hamas’ missiles have largely hit nothing, landing in empty fields or being blown to pieces in midair. During the same time, some 20 terrorists were killed in Gaza, dozens of others were wounded, and assorted targets across the Strip were destroyed. (ynetnews.com) PM’s Office: Shalit deal must not risk Israeli citizens The Israel Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement Tuesday (12th) in response to the press conference held by former security officials who called for immediate release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. “The lessons of the past show us that dozens of Israelis were murdered in terror attacks perpetrated by terrorists who were released from prison in similar deals, such as the Jibril agreement. The prime minister insists that any deal reached between the sides poses no risk to the citizens of Israel.” (ynetnews.com) Israeli car hit by gunfire near village of Azun – no injuries An Israeli vehicle was hit by gunfire while traveling outside the village of Azun near Kalkilya. The driver told security forces he thought his vehicle was being hit by rocks, but an investigation revealed that the vehicle was hit by gunshots. No injuries were reported. (israelnationalnews.com) Israel continues supplying Gaza despite missiles Debunking accusations that it is keeping the Gaza Strip under siege, the Israeli army on Monday (11th) published figures regarding the enormous amount of material it permitted to enter Gaza during March, despite escalating terrorist missile fire. During the month of March, 3,656 trucks carrying food, medical supplies and other goods entered Gaza via southern Israel. It should be remember that the people of Gaza are receiving this enormous amount of goods completely free of charge. Unfortunately, much of it is subsequently stolen by Hamas and sold to the local people at extremely high rates to perpetuate the notion that Gazans are living under siege and are in lack of basic needs. (israeltoday.co.il) Iran blames Zionists/West for Syrian protests Anti-government demonstrations in Syria are part of a plot by the West to undermine a government that supports “resistance” in the Middle East, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday (12th). At his weekly news conference on Tuesday (12th), Iran’s spokesman said the protests in Syria over the last three weeks, in which 200 people died according to a rights group, was not a spontaneous event but the result of foreign interference. Syria is Iran’s closest Arab ally. “What is happening in Syria is a mischievous act of Westerners, particularly Americans and Zionists,” Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters. (reuters.com) Lebanese minister: Israel is the enemy of all Arabs Lebanese Economy and trade Minister Mohammad Safadi said that all of Lebanon considers Israel its enemy, Lebanon’s Daily Star reported on Tuesday (12th). “Lebanese of different political factions unanimously view Israel as the enemy of Lebanon, Palestinians, and Arabs,” Safadi reportedly said to the Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon, Abdullah Abdullah. Safadi also said that Arab awareness against Israel should be raised. (jpost.com) Report: IHH to delay flotilla until after Turkish elections The Turkish IHH organization has said it will delay its participation in the upcoming flotilla to Gaza scheduled for June, until after elections in Turkey, Israel Radio reported Tuesday (12th). According to the report, the group will wait to see what the outcome of the June elections are before deciding to send the Mavi Marmara ship to Gaza. (jpost.com) Israeli delegation returns from Japan The Israeli army medical team dispatched to Japan in the wake of last month’s mammoth earthquake and tsunami returned home on Tuesday (12th) following two weeks of aiding the local population in the devastated northern region of Japan. During their stay, the Israeli team treated 220 people at a special emergency clinic built especially for the Israelis. The Israeli team left behind the bulk of their medical equipment for local Japanese doctors to use. Japanese authorities honored the Israelis in a farewell ceremony on Sunday evening (10th). The team was highly praised by Japan for its professionalism and ability to rapidly adapt to the local situation. (israeltoday.co.il) Posted by http://foi.org/profile.aspx?username=webmaster@foi.org at 6:00 AM Tuesday, April 12, 2011 World impressed with Iron Dome anti-missile system The head of the Israeli army’s research and development division told Army Radio on Sunday (10th) that there is growing interest worldwide in Israel’s new “Iron Dome” anti-missile system. The first two Iron Dome batteries were deployed in southern Israel late last month amid escalating terrorist missile fire from the Gaza Strip. During a weekend barrage from Gaza, the Iron Dome batteries succeeded in downing all but one of the missiles fired at the coastal city of Ashkelon. The Israeli army and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the performance a resounding success. “The system’s success has spread throughout the world, including in the European countries that I visited,” Netanyahu told his cabinet Sunday (10th). But Israel is not ready to start selling the system just yet, as it must first be perfected to defend Israeli citizens. Netanyahu cautioned on Sunday (10th) that even with additional batteries, the threat of Gaza missiles cannot be completely eliminated. (israeltoday.co.il) Israel claims that Russian missile hit school bus A diplomatic crisis is threatening Israel-Russian relations after the Kornet, a Russian-made anti-tank missile, hit an Israeli school bus driving near Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council last Thursday (7th). Israel protested the fact that a Russian missile found its way to Hamas and was used for a terror attack against the Jewish State, Yediot Ahronot reported. Unlike many other means of warfare the manufacturing of the Kornet is only permitted inside Russia, so any Kornet missile sold outside the country originates from the country’s KBP factory. Israel claims that the anti-tank missile which hit the school bus was sold by the Russians to Syria. At the time, Syria passed its weapons on to Hizbullah, who smuggled them into the Gaza Strip, finally ending up in Hamas hands. (ynetnews.com) Gaza rocket-threat forces fans from two games in Israel – Ori Lewis Israeli police barred spectators from attending two Premier League matches in southern Israel on Saturday (9th) because of a fear of possible rocket strikes by Palestinians in Gaza. The cities of Beersheba (over 18 miles from Gaza), and Ashdod (over 9 miles north of the Strip), have been hit in the past few days by rockets. The games were played in empty stadiums. Residents of southern Israel, close to Gaza, have been instructed to be ready to seek cover in air-raid shelters within seconds of sirens sounding. Two years of periodic, low-level skirmishing on the border escalated suddenly last month when Islamist Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza showered rockets on Israel. (reuters.com) Terrorists firing from cemetery On Friday, (8th) Gaza militants were spotted by Israel Air Force drones in a Gaza cemetery immediately after they fired rockets at Israel. Four mortar shells fired from the cemetery, located in Sajaiya, hit the Israeli community of Nahal Oz. The drones were equipped with cameras and shot footage of the rocket-squad in action. (Israel Defense Forces) (idfspokesperson.com) Egypt stops building anti-smuggling wall on Gaza border – Yaakov Katz Following the revolution in February, Egypt suspended construction of an underground steel wall along the Egypt-Gaza border to stop weapons-smuggling through tunnels into Gaza defense officials said. While smugglers succeeded in breeching the wall in some parts, Israeli officials said the wall had made it more difficult for smugglers to dig tunnels across the border. Israel has urged Cairo to continue taking action to prevent the flow of arms to Gaza. “There is a new relationship between Hamas and Cairo today,” one senior official said. “This is likely connected to the upcoming elections and the understanding in Egypt that the Muslim Brotherhood is a strong player and as a result it is important to maintain contacts with Hamas.” Israel is worried that Cairo’s new relationship with Hamas will come at the expense of its relationship with Israel. It is also concerned that Egypt will turn a blind eye to the movement of weaponry, cash and people across the border. (jpost.com) U.S. Black students demand Arabs stop calling Israel ‘apartheid’ The African-American student organization Vanguard Leadership Group is standing with Israel when it comes to the use of the term ‘apartheid.’ The term is “false and deeply offensive” when applied to Israel, the group said in advertisements published on Thursday (7th). The Vanguard Leadership Group spoke out in response to “apartheid” claims from the group Students for Justice in Palestine. Under an ad titled, “Words Matter,” the group said, “We request that you immediately stop referring to Israel as an apartheid society and to acknowledge that the Arab minority in Israel enjoys full citizenship with voting rights and representation in the government.” “It is highly objectionable to those who know the truth about the Israelis’ record on human rights and how it so clearly contrasts with South Africa’s,” the group said. “Students for Justice in Palestine “has chosen to manipulate rather than inform with this illegitimate analogy,” Vanguard Leadership said. “Decency, justice, and the hope of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East compel us to demand an immediate cessation to the deliberate mischaracterizations of Israel.” Ceasing use of the term “apartheid” when discussing Israel would be a “first step toward raising the level of discourse,” the letter concluded. (israelnationalnews.com) The Fogel murders: A call to combat incitement – David Pollock Incitement to violence has returned to the front burner. On March 11, the Fogel family was massacred in the Jewish settlement of Itamar, prompting large numbers of U.S. senators and congressmen to press senior U.S. officials to take steps to end incitement. Palestinian officials published their own list of Israeli acts of “incitement,” featuring calls by a rabbi and several journalists for a response to, or revenge for the Itamar murders. However, the list lacks examples of any Israeli leader, government official, or government-sponsored publication, advocating or condoning violence against Palestinians. It was the Palestinian Ministry of Information that disseminated an article by a deputy minister claiming that the Jews have no historical connection to the Western Wall. PA television alleges that the Israel Prison Service tortures prisoners with hot irons, amputates limbs, and harvests organs. PA television also perpetuated the libel that the deranged Australian Christian who attempted to set fire to the al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969 was Jewish and supported by the Israeli government. The issue of incitement presents the U.S. with an opportunity. With process on the peace process virtually nonexistent, and the risk for violence increasing, a resumption of the trilateral anti-incitement committee would give Israelis and Palestinians the chance to meet face-to-face and commit to a common cause. Such talks should concentrate narrowly on official incitement by government officials and institutions under government authority or funding. (Washington Institute for Near East Policy) (washingtoninstitute.org) Netanyahu: Iran’s nuclear program has accelerated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday (11th) that Iran’s nuclear program has accelerated recently as it appears Iran feels less international pressure, Israel Radio reported. Netanyahu, speaking to EU ambassadors to Israel, also commented on the recent conflict that has broken out along Israel’s border with Gaza, saying that Hamas deliberately fired a rocket at the school bus that was hit last Thursday (7th), and that it was a criminal act. No country can accept such action and Israel will protect its citizens, the prime minister continued. He also requested the European delegates to do what is possible to prevent nationals from taking part in the flotilla to Gaza scheduled for mid-June. (jpost.com) French Jew attacked outside of synagogue Paris – A 21-year-old student was violently beaten near his synagogue after admitting to his attacker that he was Jewish. After leaving a synagogue in the southern town of Villeurbanne, near Lyon, on April 7, the victim was confronted by two men in their early 20s who insulted him and asked him if he was Jewish. When the victim, whose name has not been released, did not deny his religious affiliation, the two men attacked him in the head and upper body with a pellet gun and a club, according to police reports. The victim was hospitalized and treated for head, stomach, and arm wounds. Police are still searching for the attackers. (jta.org) Ukrainian synagogue vandalized again Vandals struck the synagogue in a northeastern Ukraine city for the fifth time in as many years, recently. Late in the evening on April 4, two cans of red paint were splashed on the walls of the synagogue in Sumy. The synagogue was also attacked three months ago. Alexsander Goron, Chairman of Sumy’s Jewish Community said that “At best the incidents are typical anti-Semitism and dislike of Jews - at worst it’s an ideology – a policy.” (jta.org) Posted by http://foi.org/profile.aspx?username=webmaster@foi.org at 7:11 AM