Israel Lobby Is Now Openly Discussed on C-Span

by Philip Weiss on November 14, 2008 · 7 comments

The neocons really are going. Charles Keating watches Washington Journal. This morning Canadian Eric Margolis, author of Amerian Raj: Liberation or Domination, was on. Charles reports that once again, Israel/Palestine and the lobby are in the center ring:

Margolis said Obama should "act fast to impose conciliation" and pressure I & P in a balanced manner, but the US government "doesn't have the political will to do this." USA should use its full leverage of carrots and sticks, including economic & moral pressure on I. USA has been "aligned with Likud faction here and in Israel for far too long." Even though most American Jews actually favor a more balanced view. 

Thinks unfortunately Likud will probably win the up-coming Israeli election. 

A big problem in USA is that every new American-elected regime "is pre-padded with foreign [policy and foreign aid] experts with an axe to grind." [Hillary!] Recommends Bill Richards  for Sec Of State (or Colin Powell but he's handicapped by his playing the parrot for the two guys who sat behind him when the official case for attacking Iraq was made.

Dreads possible appointment of Dennis Ross to the Iran chain in the State Dept. (Ross being squeezed now by Israel reps, who hope he will get such a key post).

To one of the callers (many concerned our Israel Policy) who asked how much of a negative role does our relationship with Israel play in Middle East problem?

He said while many factors contribute to the region's problems, "the 800 pound gorilla in the room" is the USA's one-sided Israel policy…the Arabs "burn with a deep sense of injustice" as they watch on TV the actual treatment of Palestinians; they blame the USA, their own rulers, and themselves–for their own endless impotency.

"Anti-Muslim feelings have been purposefully whipped up in the USA" akin to feelings [against the Germans ][pre our entry into WW1, which post War V-treaty set the stage for WW2.]

Related posts:

  1. Naqba Is Openly Discussed in Israel, Not Here
  2. Ross Is Boss (and an Astonishing ‘Jewish Lobby’ Had Colin Powell by the Short and Curlies Anecdote Available Only in Hebrew)
  3. C-Span Shows Us Walt/Mearsheimer’s Cheerleading Audience (At Last)
  4. Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours: Jane Harman and the Israel Lobby
  5. Dennis Ross’s lowly portfolio is sign that Obama is handling the lobby

{ 7 comments }

1 Richard Witty November 14, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Don't repeat Buchanon's speculations Phil.

Study and inquire first.

This is published.

2 Ed November 14, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Here's the crux of the problem: Every time an American president feels pressure to "solve" the arab-Israeli problem, the result is pressure on Israel to make more concessions. Why? Because the arabs simply don't make any. While Israel enacts confidence-building measures, like reducing checkpoints, arabs never respond in kind.

Why doesn't the Palestinian Authority enact a confidence-building measure, such as agreeing to put Israel on its maps to back up its claim that it recognizes Israel, or agreeing to no longer teach kids that "martyrdom" is to be glorified. Those are simple things that don't entail giving up any land or rights. But it never happens.

The reason it never happens is because the arab world, regardless of what is said for western consumption, has not given up its ultimate definition of peace: A middle east with no Israel in it.

3 John Dickerson, Atlanta November 14, 2008 at 7:06 pm

WITTY POSTED:
Don't repeat Buchanon's speculations Phil.

Study and inquire first.

This is published.

WORDS OF WISDOM, NOT!

4 Robert Hume November 14, 2008 at 8:59 pm

"the result is pressure on Israel to make more concessions"

How about Israel not "making a concession" but simply ceasing to violate the Geneva Convention by moving her settlers from the occupied territories. Including East Jerusalem.

Not ceasing the occupation … that's fully consistent with the Geneva Conventions.

And as a matter of fact, it's good that Israel moved the settlers out of Gaza; but it would have been better if she had left the Army in occupation. Then there would have been no rockets and the Palestinians would have realized that to get the occupation out they would have to reach a Peace agreement; and, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel instead of endless growing settlement, they would have strived to that end.

5 Vikash November 15, 2008 at 3:08 am

Great discussion of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty at the 13 minute mark of this video!!!

Admiral Mullins brought this up when he visited Israel this year.

6 Robert Hume November 15, 2008 at 10:50 am

Vikash: Thanks but …

URL goes to Amazon, not to a video …

7 Vikash November 15, 2008 at 11:43 pm

Here you go Robert:

Eric Margolis on C-SPAN

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