Here Gershom Gorenberg analyzes the ways that Israeli colonization schemes (settlements) continue in the West Bank in direct violation of the "road map" and other American declarations–for instance, in Har Homa, which Israel considers to be part of Jerusalem–and other ways in which these schemes appear to have slowed in response to Bush administration pressure.
Rice’s words [of displeasure back in December] have had just enough effect to show that American pressure could work—were it applied much more firmly….Like a giant bulldozer, the settlement enterprise has been rolling
forward for years. There is evidence that Olmert and Ramon are rather
gingerly trying to put their feet on the brake, that Rice and Bush are
rather gently encouraging them to. That’s not enough to stop the
machine. When and if they get serious, the pounding and grinding at Har
Homa will stop.
Gorenberg’s point raises a question he cannot answer from Israel: Why is the U.S. unable to put firm pressure on Israel, if it is clearly in the American interest to end these hateful practices?
We all know how the U.S. sounds when it means business, even with friends. Yesterday Sec’y Rice was in Kenya saying in no uncertain terms that Kenya must come up with a power-sharing plan to end the unrest. Some Kenyans are angry at the outside pressure, but they are paying attention. Why don’t we do this in Israel–order them to come up with a power-sharing plan to restore democracy…
The only logical answer for the American inaction is the Israel lobby’s
political pressure on American policymakers; and the Israel lobby is taking its
cue from the right wing in Israel. If there weren’t domestic pressure, we would be seeing wide outrage over a foreign country’s oppressive activities–as we see outrage over poppies in Afghanistan or tyranny in Pakistan or the suppression of women in the Arab world, or any other practice that from half a world away can be judged in black and white.
But there is no debate at all, no black and white, only an eternal gray area. Lectures on the topic are banned at public libraries here, and the Democratic candidates never say a word about settlements. Again we must go back to George H.W.
Bush’s failed effort to freeze the settlements in ’91, a battle that
played a part in his loss of the presidency the following year. This country could have an instantaneous effect on Israel’s colonization activities. But it has to raise its voice, and our politicians are simply too fearful to do so. Still the third rail…
A lot of people make money on the settlements both here and in the USA.
The following article and its Spanish translation describe how American Jews pick American pockets by buying settlemtn property.
http://eaazi.blogspot.com/2007/07/scamming-americans-robbing-palestinians.html
http://eaazi.blogspot.com/2008/01/ah-as-es-como-funcionan-las-cosas.html
Whenever I look into the issue. The Israeli government is not in control. A small wealthy elite Zionism class in the USA is in control because they have US national politicians in a state of dependency and intimidation.
That poontang of your nasty wife Maria stinks all the way over here in Boston. Joachim, please, please clean her up.
It's so nasty, please clean her out or get rid of her…Please Mr. Joachim Martillo, for the good of you fellow Americans.
Gershom has written similarly since the Annapolis meetings, and prior in response to the Arab League proposal.
His thesis is that there is only so much that Israel can do unilaterally, and mostly politically.
He does NOT incorporate the Walt/Mearsheimer view that the relationship between the US and Israel should be diminished or severed.
He advocates for US to assist in holding Israel and Palestine accountable, so as to compel adherence to agreements, rather than as the current US administration does to enable (in the addictive sense).
His view is that that is what FRIENDS do for each other.
Politically, Israel listens to and respects the US, for good reason. The US has consistently stood by Israel. It has earned its credibility.
On the street politically, his thesis is that if the US insists that no new construction occur within existing settlements even, that that will be uncomfortable but ultimately accepted among Israeli populace.
And, that by undertaking that reality check to a friend, peace may get constructed, whereas by the enabling, only opportunism gets constructed.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with "red brown" on this. I don't know if it's a yeast infection, or what exactly, but it's disgusting. Sue Blackwell banned Joachim from her site because of it, so its high time Martillo start taking his wife's feminine hygiene seriously.
"The only logical answer for the American inaction is the Israel lobby's political pressure on American policymakers; and the Israel lobby is taking its cue from the right wing in Israel. If there weren't domestic pressure, we would be seeing wide outrage over a foreign country's oppressive activities"
As I have said before, Israel is a spearhead for a larger program of Zionist fascism, all done under the guise of "protecting the Jews." The Zionists, both Christian and Jewish, and their money-worshipping allies, are all able to disarm their critics and ram their agenda through by shouting anti-Semitism at those who stand in their way.
Now when one realizes this group is being directed by the Israeli right wing and, with both a corrupt Congress and the Executive branch under their thumbs, is basically in control of American foreign policy, it is much easier to understand why America is going down the tubes so quickly and is now almost universally despised.
But they don't really care, because they see the government's corruption and the contempt from "the nations" as a validation of their world view. The world hates them because they’re so very special, or so the myth goes, and from their (fascist) perspective, everyone else be damned, so long as they prosper. Group narcissism is a powerfully corruptive force, and the American state of affairs will only get worse so long as self-worshipping fascists are pulling the strings.
Ed, what kind of loser are you? Why not join the side that's winning?
I am really tired of the complaints and ranting on the Jewish Lobby….UNLESS of course those complaining are ALSO doing something about it.
Like calling your politicans and threatening the sob's with the kind of punishment the lobby threatens them with.
I call them regularly, my own and and other politicos, whose pandering and actions I take exception to and find revolting regarding this right wing zionist fetish in congress. I have called Shumer on his "a vote against Bolton is a vote against Israel", Waxman on his "no one but jews or those for Isreal will sit on my committee"…I call a spaded a spade. I have called them traitors, foreign agents, un- american, you name it I 've said it. At the same time I have sent money to Jim Moran for speaking out about the lobby , to Betty Mccollum for kicking AIPAC out of her office, to Ron Paul, to Dennis..to anyone that has the balls to step up and tell the truth about the US-Isr ponzi scheme.
But I am only one person…so unless enough people are willing to "personally" and as an individual beat the shit all of these corrupt politicans on this issue shut your pieholes, you are wasting your precious time complaining to blogsphere and signing petitions.
If you are serious get on the phone regularly to the politicans, who are suppose to work for you, NOT VISA VERSA, and this country, and put the f****** fear of god in them…when they fear the lose of voters and their power potty seats in congress more than they fear the lose of AIPAC money…then you will see a change.
And don't give me that jews vote more…they are only 2% of the population, so even if ALL the jews supported this crap we the majority could still eat their lunch on the Israel deal if we really and truely got involved personally in this issue.
Do it. Pick up the gd phone and have your say. Or be just like the cowardly Germans who turned a blind eye to what their goverment was doing.
By the way,by calling the Germans cowards doesn't mean the jews should not have been killed. They should have and the fucking asked for and deserved it.
If we get brave enough to start killing 'em in this country you better believe I'll be the first to help out. That's one reason why getting rid of that shithole Israel is so important–I don't want anyone interfering with us!
I suggest the sword of gideon or whoever is using my posting name come up with his own…or is he too cowardly to make a statement under his own…no doubt this is some teenage little zionist wannabe beating his chest like a monkey in defense of Israel.
Re:
By the way,by calling the Germans cowards doesn't mean the jews should not have been killed. They should have and the fucking asked for and deserved it.
If we get brave enough to start killing 'em in this country you better believe I'll be the first to help out. That's one reason why getting rid of that shithole Israel is so important–I don't want anyone interfering with us!
Posted by: Observer | February 19, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Is there an effort by like-minded people using pseudonyms to turn these comment threads into cesspits, so that the perceived dangers posed by Philip's hard questions, and those of some of his visitors, can be marginalised under a cloud of opprobrium about how rowdy and racist and violent and tinhatted this site has become?
Couldn't be, could it?
Is there an effort by like-minded people using pseudonyms to turn these comment threads into cesspits, so that the perceived dangers posed by Philip's hard questions, and those of some of his visitors, can be marginalised under a cloud of opprobrium about how rowdy and racist and violent and tinhatted this site has become?
Couldn't be, could it?
Nah.
How about this scenario Glenn. Maybe when it comes to your happy mix of Jew baiting, anti semitic, neo-nazi, jihadi type guy. Phil Weiss is just a popular guy. Why isn't that possible.
It's one person, Glenn.
Pounding away in his basement in Borough Park. For the homeland.