The situation is so fluid on the ground, that I hesitate to comment, This post is a collection of news articles and commentary I personally found educational and enlightening. I start with a quote which expresses my own feelings about what is going on. It seems exceedingly strange to me that I quote a sitting [...]
Two videos by Max Blumenthal. First the haters:
Then the lovers:
Continue reading about Two Faces of Israeli / Jewish Politics
A review of the current political situation in Israel. It’s quite amusing and predictable. It amazes me that Bibi got re-elected in the first place. What were they thinking? Did anyone really believe he had “improved” somehow?
It is hard not to be amazed by the speed with which Netanyahu’s second term has become a kind [...]
Roger Cohen makes some good points:
What’s really at issue here is that neither Israel nor the Arabs want a change in a status quo that locks in Israeli regional military dominance and the cozy relationships — arms deals, aid and all — that U.S. allies from the Gulf to Cairo enjoy.
American interests are, however, another [...]
In Ha’aretz the other day they had this article which had me laughing out loud:
“Obama’s people brief their Israeli counterparts in advance much less about security and Middle East policy activities than the Bush administration used to,” the officials said. In addition, when they do brief Israeli officials, they don’t consult with them or coordinate [...]
Continue reading about Jerusalem is Worried – Obama isn’t a Frier!
With the NY Times. Meshal is the head of the Hamas’ political bureau:
On the two-state solution sought by the Americans, he said: “We are with a state on the 1967 borders, based on a long-term truce. This includes East Jerusalem, the dismantling of settlements and the right of return of the Palestinian refugees.” Asked what [...]
Israel’s has always been relatively tolerant of internal dissent. Relatively meaning exactly what it says. I often cite the fact that at one time meeting with anyone from the PLO was a crime, and Abie Nathan sat in jail for that crime. It is somewhat disturbing that activists from New Profile were recently arrested. Is [...]
I missed this piece from last week. As always, Avnery’s characterizations of politicians is spot on, and he rips to shreds any false hope that the conference may actually help the Palestinians in Gaza. Given the economic crisis, the conference received little coverage here. I doubt the Obama administration wanted much press about their promise [...]
There has been a good deal of chatter regarding Mr. Freeman withdrawing his candidacy for the post of chairman of the National Intelligence Council, including the man’s own comments blasting the “Israel Lobby.” He was attacked by both the “right” and the “left” to the point where he could not serve effectively. The best commentary [...]
Yesterday’s post focused on the change in the White House. This article in Ha’aretz by Gershom Gorenberg, discusses change on Capital Hill:
Congress’ attitude toward the Arab-Israeli conflict has begun to shift. The conservative line of AIPAC, the veteran pro-Israel lobby, is no longer the only understanding of how to support Israel. The principle of two [...]