The Sunday Times of London has this to say:
Administration officials say privately that Obama has given himself two years for a diplomatic breakthough on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, despite the opposition of Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to America’s minimum demand for a freeze on all settlement building in disputed territory…
“Some of the things that you will hear in the speech are returning to proven and effective policies and initiatives that have . . . served the national interest well in the past,” said Denis McDonough, Obama’s foreign policy adviser.
Tags: Israeli Politics, US Politics
There are many who believe (or are worried) that Obama will follow the path of some of his predecessors and talk in public about stopping the settlements (and by implication the settlers) but do nothing about it in private. Aluf Benn argues that Obama is serious and has Congressional support on this issue:
United States President Barack Obama lays out long-term visionary goals, such as Middle East peace, but he moves with political pragmatism in advancing them. This is as true of his domestic and economic objectives as it is of his complex approach to Israel.
His statements are carefully tailored to the measure of Congress’ support for Israel. Congressional representatives are committed to preserving Israel’s security and dealing with Iran, but do not support strengthening the settlements. So Obama stresses his support for Israel’s security, but is willing to confront Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the settlements.
Tags: Israeli Politics, US Politics
Gideon Levy writes about a phenomenon I have discussed in the past:
Anti-Semitism is raising its head. Not in Warsaw, Munich or Paris, and there’s no need for the Anti-Defamation League to wave the evidence around. It’s right here, in our own home, in verdant Ramat Aviv, the most enlightened suburb of Tel Aviv, our most enlightened city. The entry of a handful of ultra-Orthodox Jews to this lovely, modest and tranquil neighborhood has provoked an unlovely wave of racism, tearing the thin veil of openness and liberality from this seemingly left-wing community. If anyone were to behave this way toward Israeli Arabs, the residents might raise a hue and cry, but when it comes to Haredim the gloves are off because attacking the “blacks” is the fashion.
Tags: Anti-Semitism, Xenophobia
Uri Avnery agrees with my assessment of the Obama-Netanyahu meeting:
BARACK OBAMA is often compared to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but it is from the book of another Roosevelt that he has taken a leaf: President Theodore Roosevelt, who, 108 years ago, advised his successors: “Speak softly and carry a big stick!”
This week, the whole world saw how this is done. Obama sat in the Oval Office side by side with Binyamin Netanyahu and spoke to the journalists. He was earnest, but relaxed. The body language spoke clearly: while Netanyahu leaned forward assiduously, like a traveling salesman peddling his merchandise, Obama leaned back, tranquil and self-assured.
He spoke softly, very softly. But leaning against the wall behind him, hidden by the flag, was a very big stick indeed.
Now that a few days have passed, I’m prepared to make a few comments about the Obama-Netanyahu meeting that took place earlier in the week.
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 story. They are not served by having no communication with Iran, the rising Mideast power; nor by the uncritical support of Israel that has allowed West Bank settlements to grow and peace to fade; nor by relationships with Arab states that comfort stasis.
Frankly, is Iran the real threat in any case?
Three years ago on Purim I accompanied my late father to the reading of the Megillah at a small Hasidic shtebel across the street from his home. The speech of the guest Rabbi got me so angry I began to write a very long piece on the Purim holiday. I managed to write two long parts,. Not long after my father’s physical condition deteriorated and he passed away, almost exactly three years ago. I was busy with more important things, so I never did get around to finishing it off. Every Purim I consider finishing it, but I always end up deciding not to.
But yesterday I saw in the New York Times a piece by Jeffrey Goldberg putting forth Bibi’s thesis that Iran is the new Amalek. I was so floored I decided I must finish up the piece. I will over the next few days. In the interim, if you like, you can busy yourself reading the first two parts, which are actually more literary analysis than political commentary. Here is Part I and here is Part II.
In my previous post I talked a bit about the disinformation propagated by the mainstream media, specifically in regards to the Roxana Saberi story . Disinformation is the deliberate propagation of false information (as opposed to misinformation which is unintentionally false). The disinformation in this case is not the reported fact that Saberi was treated unjustly by the Iranians. From the evidence at hand this appears to be true. Rather the disinformation lies in the facts that are left out – namely that our own government has done the same and worse and the indignation directed towards Iran is pure hypocrisy. While there is no hard evidence that the media is deliberately trying to mislead here (and elsewhere), the double standard in reporting is so egregious, it defies logic to believe otherwise.
Unfortunately, there are many otherwise intelligent people who take a great leap of faith from legitimate critiques of media, government and corporations (and their intimate relationships) into the far more murky world of conspiracy theories. More after the break. But first watch this film:
Tags: Feature, Media, Propaganda
While I am glad for Roxana Saberi and her parents that she was released from Iranian prison, Glen Greenwald hits the nail on the wall:
Right now — as the American press corps celebrates itself for demanding Saberi’s release in Iran — the U.S. continues to imprison Ibrahim Jassam, a freelance photographer for Reuters, even though an Iraqi court last December — more than five months ago — found that there was no evidence to justify his detention and ordered him released. The U.S. — over the objections of the CPJ, Reporters Without Borders and Reuters — refused to recognize the validity of that Iraqi court order and announced it would continue to keep him imprisoned.
One finds only a tiny fraction of news coverage in the U.S. regarding the treatment of al-Haj, Hussein, Jassam and these other imprisoned journalists as has been devoted to Saberi. It ought to be exactly the reverse: the American media should be far more interested in, and opposed to, infringements of press freedoms by the U.S. Government than by governments of other countries. Yet the former merits hardly a peep, while the latter provokes all sorts of smug and self-righteous protests from American journalists who suddenly discover their brave commitment to press freedoms when all that requires is pointing to a demonized, hated foreign government and complaining.
Tags: Hypocrisy, Propaganda
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 their statements in advance.
This has caused several coordination “malfunctions” between the two states in the past two months, they said. The last incident was the statement of Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller, calling on Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The statement had not been coordinated with Israeli officials in charge of the nuclear issue and they heard it first from the media.
This followed other equally problematic incidents. The American policy shift toward Syria and opening direct talks with Damascus followed minimal coordination with Israel. For example, Israel was not briefed about senior American diplomats’ trip to Damascus, which the U.S. had initiated.
Tags: Israeli Politics, Propaganda, US Politics
Relevant Quotes
Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz: Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace -- Benito Juárez
It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it. -- Eleanor Roosevelt
Let them call me a rebel and welcome. I feel no concern from it. But should I suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul -- Thomas Paine