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- ‘Forward’ piece on destruction of Palestinian neighborhood fronting Western Wall … 10
- Israel cracks down on American travel to West Bank by … 15
- Bradley Manning rally to feature, Ellsberg, Ann Wright, Dan Choi, … 3
- Another ‘NYT’ piece buys Israel’s al-Dura report– which PA spox … 6
- Jewish philanthropies stay away from org dedicated to Yiddish culture … 22
- Reporters Without Borders on the Israeli al-Dura investigation: ‘the nature … 6
- Obama’s secret wars in Muslim world make Americans vulnerable 22
- ‘Al Jazeera’ reposts Massad piece, after censoring it 4
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- Israeli airport sorts passengers with ‘Jewish stickers’ and ‘Arab stickers’ 2240
- Washington state bus-ad campaign dares to state: ‘Equal rights for … 1716
- Two friends meet for 5 minutes in Jerusalem 1698
- ‘Newseum’ folds under pressure, will not include Gaza cameramen in … 1368
- Palestinian-American Raed Zidan plants flag on top of Everest, dedicates … 1358
- Christians denounce Israel’s manhandling of worshipers at Holy Sepulcher on … 952
- Barbara Boxer’s visa bill for Israel comes under concerted attack 809
- In photos: Gaza marches and rallies mark 65 years of … 442
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- International Criminal Court opens preliminary investigation into attack on Mavi … 96
- Barbara Boxer’s visa bill for Israel comes under concerted attack 93
- Kennedy’s insistence on right of return prompted Ben-Gurion to rewrite … 87
- Abulhawa declines to ‘balance out’ several Israelis in ‘Al Jazeera’ … 87
- Washington Post’s racism map omits Israel 73
- Israeli airport sorts passengers with ‘Jewish stickers’ and ‘Arab stickers’ 69
- Uncompromising hope inspired by Ghassan Kanafani 63
- ‘Newseum’ folds under pressure, will not include Gaza cameramen in … 62
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- RT @drones: Attorney General Eric Holder: We've drone four Americans, three by accident. Oops. http://t.co/R5NrBGPJfQ, 11 hours ago
- RT @grassfed: MT“@BPFF_Festival: #Palestinian film "Omar" by Hany Abu-Assad, receives 5 min standing O at #Cannes: http://t.co/xvCDQDwuDP” …, 14 hours ago
- ‘Forward’piece on destruction of Palestinian neighborhood fronting Western Wall not embraced by all ‘Forward’ readers http://t.co/a8nvXYynM6, 16 hours ago
- Israel cracks down on American travel to West Bank by requiring tourists to obtain military permit http://t.co/vNUagVufkS, 16 hours ago
- Bradley Manning rally to feature, Ellsberg, Ann Wright, Dan Choi, Sarah Shourd http://t.co/C1C7G1DXJ6, 16 hours ago
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click link to see last 100 comments- Press Release: Isabel Kershner chosen to reveal future Israeli exonerations (12)
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The War of Ideas in the Middle East
Most likely arguing for his "client" Jonathan Pollard.
Agreed. It's forward movement. When the "stolid, middle of the road" Methodist Church thinks this is a significant issue, it's progress.
Israel has an easy out should it decide to--just declare victory and go home: say that sanctions have worked and that Iran has decided as a result to forego nuclear weapons.
I am you and you are me?
Who's the walrus?
Great article, thanks.
Obama, either a conniving con man or an arrogant doofus in over his head. Probably both, but the degree of either is unimportant.
The only flaw I would see is your statement that:
"So what are they doing there? They are there to deter Israel. By putting carriers groups in such easy reach of Iranian counter-strike, the US is making sure that Israel knows it will be blamed for their loss if Israel attacks."
While military strategists will blame Israel--and of course Israel won't care a bit if it's blamed--if Iran strikes, damages, or sinks a US naval vessel, the American public abetted by the media and the lobby will overwhelmingly call for blood, Iranian blood, not Israeli blood.
Obama is indeed a capitulator.
Obama's total capitulation to Israel early on is what has put him in this situation. Israel is like a blackmailer--once you give in, they keep coming back for more.
If Obama had told Bibi a big fat "no" early on in his presidency, Obama would have never been finagled into this corner.
Yes, I foresee Bibi being replaced by a more "moderate, sensitive, liberal" type zionist in the future. And, of course, a more PR savvy one too.
Since Bibi has become the lightning rod for all things bad with Israel, the new guy/gal will be received everywhere with relief, marking a new day and new tactics for Israel complete with "magnanimous" concessions and much appreciation by the west for his/her reasonableness and the promise of hope and change.
Nothing will change of course, but Israel will get another 5 years to snooker world diplomacy and continue its game under its new liberal sheen.
"Now imagine that this so called “Saudi” hacker ’0xOmar’ is an Iranian agent ,…"
Well, I would imagine then that he/she is collecting a bonus.
And of course, the US offered immediate US citizenship to the Mexican citizens of New Mexico and the "Texan" citizens of Texas.
Why give the southwest back to Mexico in any case?
We stole it from Mexico, who stole it from Spain, who stole it from the native-Americans. If anyone has a claim, they do.
(not really offering a proposal here, just sayin')
Agreed about his domestic policies and the unlikelihood of much if any of it passing congress.
But as commander in chief, I think there is much he could do immediately and unilaterally---and for the better--as well as in foreign policy in general and at the UN.
I changed my registration today from dem to repub in order to attend the republican caucus and vote for Paul (I live in Iowa, obviously). I am unsure if I would vote for him in the general if nominated--definitely not Obama, but I would love him to get the nomination and bring his foreign policy issues to the forefront of national debate.
In Louisiana we did. But in Louisiana, they also considered North Carolinians to be almost yankees.
Yes and no.
The south seceded over slavery. The north fought to prevent secession and the breakup of the union. At least initially, the north could have cared less about abolishing slavery, and the public would not have supported a war on that basis.
Later in the war, as we all know, the US did make abolition a driving force as a matter of strategy, but it was secondary to the main goal.
Just an OT point regarding slaves as 3/5ths.
You do understand that it was the slaveholders who wanted slaves counted as a full person for representational purposes, while the abolitionists wanted them counted as zero.
Maybe his son's, not that I give two hoots about Rand Paul, but it would be the sort of underhanded payback that wouldn't surprise me.
I live in Iowa and will be changing my registration from democratic to republican tomorrow in order to vote for Paul in the caucuses in two weeks.
Caucuses here are a bit strange--everyone gets in a big room, usually a school cafeteria or gym, maybe hears a speech or two, then divides up into corners where votes are taken. Votes are announced then a lot of horsetrading begins with the winners trying to corral up some loser candidate's voters.
My first caucus was four years ago when I voted for Edwards. After the vote, to their credit most of the Edwards folks refused to go over to Hillary or Obama.
If nothing else, it ought to be good fun to see the sheer nuttiness of a gopper caucus--bachmann, newt, and santorum supporters all in the same room should make for an interesting evening.
It didn't occur to me what ethnicity Larry Summers was until I read this thread. Jew or not, he's still a schmuck.
In fairness, I recall that in Seattle much of the jewish community thought the lawsuit against the airport was pigheaded as well. That woman was an indiot to sue McDonald's--it's a private outfit and can put up anything it wants--satanist symbols, santamaria relics, you name it.
Get it through your head, Witty--it would be the zionists leaving OWS and sabotaging the movement.
I suspect if you were honest, you would really describe "those that are fixated on the Israel/Palestine discussion" as only those who are opposed to your views on I/P.
Someone with your views is not "fixated", correct? And if those who support zionism walk away from OWS over the issue, they are not the ones who "don’t care an iota if the “re-occupy” movements fail or not?"
Yes, I think it is as well. Though if Obama ignored the bill Congress would make political hay out of it.
But really, how many times recently has anyone from this administration actually met with an Iranian official?
If Israel attacks Iran, the odds of being able to do much damage to Iranian nuclear facilities is slim, if Israel is even capable of pulling it off militarily.
I suspect Iran will not take the bait of a military attack and do very little in a direct military response, though I do think they will do much over the longterm regarding Israeli targets around the world.
What Iran will do imho is nothing immediately except withdraw from the NPT and allow Israel to reap worldwide economic and diplomatic scorn from its attack.
anonymouscomments---
Yet, I keep hoping that at some point there will be a breaking point. The irrationality of Israel's present course is coming to a stage where its rhetorical and political defense of that system has reached a dead end.
Whether that culminates in some massive military calamity initiated by Israel, or a sudden collapse of that system is anybody's guess. My guess is the military calamity unfortunately.
When I say I have hope though of a sudden collapse, I am now in my 60's and 30 years ago if anyone had told me that the Berlin wall would be taken down and the Soviet empire collapse peacefully, I would have said they were out of their minds.
So, history can take sudden and unexpected turns.
Here's to hope and change! Oops sorry, that line has been disgraced forever.
Phil, I think you do a wonderful job of presenting that discussion on this site already.
Has any cost/benefit analysis been done showing the economic advantages to a one state solution? You would think with the worldwide glut of PhDs it would have been at least studied in some form.
I'm not here to glorify neoliberalsim--I just got back from an occupy iowa protest in my small town--but you would think that Israeli's economic elite would recognize that the Israel's apartheid/bantustan policy acts as a restraint on trade both within Israel and the OT's, as well as with its middle eastern neighbors. I'm just thinking that should be a powerful impetus for one state, and since money--not basic human decency or morality unfortunately--makes the world go round, perhaps some focus on that aspect might be worthwhile.
A one state Israel of all its citizens would be far more powerful economically than the present state.
I also think that's why BDS is critical--it illustrates the point very clearly.
anonymouscomments--
I think any thoughtful person would share many of your concerns about zionist motives in a one state political settlement.
However, do you think it possible that the average Israeli, educated to hate and fear all things Palestinian, could actually receive some benefit from one state? I certainly think Israel's islamophobia benefits someone right now--but I think it's manufactured primarily for the benefit of Israel's ruling elite, much as it is in the US. Perhaps you could draw an analogy between jim crow and its use as a racial divide to serve the economic interests of southern elites at the expense of both poor whites and poor blacks--"hey, things could be worse, at least you're not black (or arab)."
Tax money flowst from the average Israeli to finance and secure the occupied territories, money that could be better spent I'm sure on Israeli social programs.
Beyond that, Israel's relationships with the rest of the middle east, and for that matter the world, would only improve both politically and economically.
And a genuine effort to integrate Palestinians and Israeli Arabs into Israel's national economy would I think be a plus for all.
Yes, it's probably a pipe dream, due in large part to the bad motives of zionists, but it would be nice to think that most Israelis could wake up one day and realize that they've been had, that they are much better off living in a one state without the elite-imposed burdens of apartheid.
Well, there's bipolar I and bipolar II.
Bipolar II folks generally function well enough and I doubt if anyone could diagnose that through blog posts.
Looks like I read it differently than others.
I took the lack of explanation for the "inviolable" spending as reflecting the fact that the reasons are so well-known for that inviolability that no explanation was necessary.
That the girl thinks Israel was a victim in the past doesn't bother me one bit.
She's only 18 and probably just now beginning to question her upbringing and the status quo in general. A year ago, she probably didn't give two hoots about I-P other than to be dimly aware of how Israel was "something good" on the other side of the planet and the Palestinians were "something bad".
She's a freshman, she'll grow and if she stays involved she'll learn the truth soon enough.
It seems to me that any UN member state could move for the enforcement of 194--Palestine, Bolivia, or Japan. I don't follow the argument that Palestine's membership in the UN would undercut that.
Also, and this is where I'm most likely incorrect, didn't Abbas as head of the PLO bring this membership application on behalf of the PLO? In other words, not on behalf of the PA?
Gee, my first reaction was that Israel was going to use these to bomb the UN, then I saw that the sale took place a few years ago. :)
I think Phil gives too much weight to the American jewish community in terms of effecting change. Change within that community is certainly important, but beyond that, a change in the general American public is more important.
Despite already being assured of a US veto, Obama's speech yesterday was abject groveling and the negative impact it will have on US interests around the world will be too obvious for the lobby to paper over.
I think Israel's backing of the US into that corner was gratuitous, one over-the-top push too many, and over-reaching on the lobby's part.
The obviousness of it will have play far beyond the jewish community and will become the object of public political discussion--which is absolutely what the lobby fears most.
Imho, what he doesn't realize though, is that he is wrong even at the level of basic domestic political calculation.
If he came out strongly for Palestinian UN membership and opted for a public debate on US support for Israel, I think he would gain far more support from the US public than he would be hurt by the loss in lobby funding.
And I was noting that person's lack of knowledge concerning the application for UN membership.
Palestine's unilateral declaration of independence as a state was in 1988.
It has been recognized as a state since then by the majority of nations.
This has nothing to do with its application--at least in the legal sense--to the UN for membership.
I can only wish that one day the Christian mayor of Bethlehem could address these fundies.
Telling how Maddow framed the Egyptian spring with her first question to Carter--Are you concerned about the anti-Israeli rhetoric and actions coming from Egypt?
I'm not sure it would play out so well for Obama if he abstained or voted in favor.
But I have also entertained your thoughts that in theory it could be a political win for him. The lobby would have nowhere else to go except to lambaste and demonize Obama. And that just may be a little too much over the top for most Americans and it might begin their recognition--or confirmation--that Israel controls our mideast policy.
None of that would inure to the benefit of the lobby. I suspect too that AIPAC might recognize that, at least its more pragmatic components.
And we have Bill Clinton today stating that Palestinian statehood will not change the "reality of the ME", and simultaneously arguing against it for that reason.
If Bill Clinton is correct, then why Israel's apoplectic fit about it?
It's just what Ashrawi says in the last paragraph.
Presently, Palestine is not recognized by the UN as a state member, though many nations around the world recognize it as a state. If its application is approved by the GA, it then will be recognized as a state member of the UN, though a nonvoting state, but to become a voting member that apparently also takes Security Council approval.
A non-voting member of the UN, such as Palestine will become, then has access to all UN organizations, including the International Court.
I am always amazed when some Christians complain about how oppressed they are in this country, and that government should somehow be more "christianized".
In the US, religion flourishes moreso than most any other place on the planet.
And if they want to make it a branch of the state, the risk is run that it will increasingly be viewed then as not much more than another branch of the state, e.g., the post office.
The Supreme Court has long held that the federal income tax was properly ratified.
The argument you raise is one that is raised over and over again by tax protestors who have learned that from some Saturday seminar at the local holiday inn "Pay no taxes, Learn how" at $100 a pop.
Another similar argument is that no individual has income because the US went off the gold standard and the dollar is worthless.
You make good points but you lessen them with the tax protestor argument.
If you disagree with the SCt's decision, the federal courts are open for business 8:30 to 5 pm, five days a week.
Bush is not in the remainder bin of history. His legacy is in the White House tonight.
Substitute Obama for Bush in the first paragraph and with a few exceptions it fits just as well.
I agree with simoned.
Kos won't let go of his claim to lead some sort of agglomeration of the left.
The left will let go of him and in large part already has.
Kos's only "intellectual" heft is spouting in more and more novel and empty forms the "lesser of two evils" meme.
He is even less of an intellect than establishment shills such as Ezra Klein.
Absolutely agree with you CTuttle.
Firedoglake has consistently run very well received critical diaries on I-P, and without the hasbara flak found on DK.
I have yet to see a pro Israel diary at that blog.
If Simoned's purpose is to reach the non-democratic party progressives, he could do far worse than post at firedoglake.com
Anyone could've seen that DK would break up over progressive issues after a dem was elected president.
Bush made such an easy target for anyone to the left of Gerald Ford, that having comity while Bush was president was child's play.
If Kos was smart he would've sold his site after Nov. 2008 when it had reached its peak value.
When I glanced at this headline, I wondered what's up with this?
After all, I believe Ellison had been elected with a majority of the Jewish vote in his district and as far as I knew there was no tension between the congressman and those Jewish voters.
Dumb me. I had briefly forgotten that outfits like the Minnesota JCRC have no interest whatsoever in the interests of the local voters, be they jewish or not. The sole interest is Israel.
I think that U-turn is a possibility that not enough people have given much thought to.
It would be political suicide for Abbas but who knows . . . . .
If he wimped out now I think that the backlash among Palestinians would dwarf anything seen to date.
Which would give Israel all the reason it wanted to move in and begin its final solution.
Anyone think Abbas will fold on this?
Not saying he will, but I think that possibility is greater than many believe.
Hey Memphis,
Are you from Memphis? Just asking. I was born and raised there.
Always thought it was interesting that Memphis has the largest Orthodox synagogue, by membership, in the US, Baron Hirsch. I grew up in East Memphis with an Orthodox family on one side of me and a Baptist preacher on the other side, and us, an Irish Catholic family in the middle. As a kid I would cut grass on Saturday when all the Orthodox were walking to synagogue and felt a little guilty being a 14 yr. old ecumenistist. Tried then to cut grass on Sunday, and the Baptist preacher would give me dirty looks. If there would've been Muslims around, I guess Friday would have given me pause, lol.
Shalom y'all.
Could Israeli security forces attack the Tel Aviv demonstrators?
With Lebanon II, Cast Lead, the flotilla murders, the killing of protestors in the Golan, Israel is increasingly tone deaf to any semblance of PR or public opinion. It's a viscious downward spiral. The more hasbara fails, the greater the arrogance and isolation of Israel, and the more extreme its reactions.
From what I've read, the fact that Palestine is not a state precludes its access to the ICC, and one of the benefits of UN statehood approval is gaining that access.
I believe the Mavi Marmara massacre may well be viewed historically as a turning point in defining Israel's occupation.
Those people were not murdered in vain.
Witty, can you cite me one instance where you as an American jew lack any sort of "liberation" or "self-determination" or how you are suppressed or made invisible.
I say this, notwithstanding my own thoughts that the US political and social system is basically a con game, but you know what I mean.
Thanks for the info. Minneapolis is only a couple hours away, so I might go myself.
China holds 8 percent of our debt. Japan holds 6 percent and the UK 4 percent. China is the largest foreign holder of US debt, but the share of US debt held by foreign states is very low, lower than France or Germany.
link to businessinsider.com
US residents and US institutions hold two-thirds of our debt.
It's a rightwing talking point that the US is a debt slave to China.
link to politifact.com
I suspect the myth is propagated to create debt hysteria of the yellow peril variety which serves neatly as an excuse to slash US social spending.
As far as I recall, the PA has stated that any Jews who wish to remain in Palestine outside the green line would be allowed to do so as Palestinian citizens. I'm not sure of the assumption that they would be expelled.
Haha, couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
No doubt we will soon see this road show passing the offering plate at tent camp revival meetings in the parking lots of America's abandoned strip malls.
If Hophni is all Israeli hasbara can do in the upper midwest, Israel is either broke or no longer able to recruit.
Thank you marc b.
I think I was clear. Imho, you set up a (im)moral equivalence between those who fight the wars with those who sent them.
Do you know anyone who has served in those wars?
Those folks are far from the dummies you portray them as. I have taught them and will vouch for their ethics and awareness.
I don't think your elitism is particularly helpful.
Yes, Mooser. If I recall correctly there was some semi-scandal a few years back about Petraeus and a few tens of thousands of missing M-16's.
Mooser, I teach at a small public college in Iowa in a rural area.
I have had as students many former military men and women who have served in the Mideastern wars .
You seem by your statement to be setting up some equivalency between those who have fought in those wars with those who sent them there. If that's what you are saying, and perhaps I read you wrong, I would just say that I would trust the judgment and morality of those young students far, far more than the elites who sent them there.
Fact is, Obama promised that he would double down in Afghanistan. He said that throughout his campaign. The only war he said he would wind up was Iraq. At best, a half-truth.
But to say Obama promised to end Bush's wars isn't supported by the record.
It isn't the rural southern wasps who are the most rightwing in the South. It's the wealthy southern suburbanites who inhabit the vast suburbs around cities such as Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas, etc. who are the backbone of southern wingnuttery. The south ceased to be a rural area decades ago.
Actually, come to think of it, somewhat similar to the suburban Minneapolis district of Michelle Bachmann.
Just did a quick google of Amb. Dean. Here's what wikipedia had:
"In August 1980, while serving as ambassador to Lebanon, where he had opened links to the PLO, Dean was the target of an assassination attempt, which he believes was directed by Israel.[1] According to him:
"Weapons financed and given by the United States to Israel were used in an attempt to kill an American diplomat!"
"Undoubtedly using a proxy, our ally Israel had tried to kill me."
Dean's suspicions that Israeli agents may have also been involved in the mysterious plane crash in 1988 that killed President of Pakistan, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, led finally to a decision in Washington to declare him mentally unfit, which forced his resignation from the foreign service after a thirty-year career.[2] Later he was rehabilitated by the State Department, given a distinguished service medal and the insanity charge was confirmed to be a phony by a former head of the department's medical service.[citation needed]"
Maybe it's just some of Witty's famous self-deprecating humor.
Most likely the DNC.
Your questions were posed to Phil, not to any commenters. Nor do I see how any commenter could answer on Phil's behalf.
Cliff posed a question directly to you.
I don't think there's any lack of self-awareness at all. I believe that Witty is fully cognizant of Israel's crimes and recognizes those crimes for what they are--morally reprehensible.
The most positive characterization of Witty is that deep down he struggles with the crimes of Zionism but can't bring himself to fully condemn them because of his Jewish identity.
The most negative characterization of Witty is that he could care less about Israeli crimes and expansionism and any moral reprehension, that the state of Israel trumps any and all other moral considerations. In other words, he's just a pedestrian Likudnik (or democrat or republican for that matter).
The good news is that, at least for anyone who occasionally has read DailyKos over the years, is that the blog seems to be on a well-deserved downward trajectory.
Its mission statement--"to elect more and better democrats"--has always given the lie to its self-proclaimed identity as progressive, but railing at the neocons during the Bush years allowed DK to maintain that fiction. Hey, beating up on Bush was easy--the proverbial stealing candy from a baby.
With a rightwing democratic president dismantling social security, and the rest of the tattered safety net, DK still has a policy of banning anyone who advocates voting for any party other than the democratic party.
Puts the site in a bit of a conundrum since the most rec'd diaries there in the past few months--and the most passionate comments--show outright hostility and disgust with Obama.
Don't see how DK can continue to exist in its present form with its entire rationale imploding.
If Markos had a lick of business sense, he should have seen this coming and sold the blog in November, 2008.
Good riddance. Though, like annie I recognize the number of talented writers on the site.
Sure, he could effect a change in Likud by withholding all diplomatic and strategic support for Israel.
He could effect a change in Hamas by including it in negotiations.
Will he? Of course not.
Why? The post above gives the answer.
I'm not sure how the next few years will play out.
But I'm thinking if Obama were to lose to a repub because of the failure of the grass roots left to support him, that might be a good thing if the dem establishment learned something from it.
Sure, a Perry or Bachman will continue the screwups as bad as Obama.
I think the country will be a disaster regardless of who gets elected next year. Perhaps Obama's defeat at the hands of the left will open up 2016 to a bona fide progressive dem.
I may be incorrect as to the source, but I believe it was General Schwarzkopf back in the 80's during the cold war who stated that the Israeli army wouldn't last 30 minutes in a war on the central plains of Europe.
I have also read that the Israeli army is notoriously undisciplined--as should be obvious by that video.
So, lightbringer, your point seems ultimately premised on your allusion to Israel nuking New York City if the US military was called into the occupied territories to protect Palestinians.
Is that correct?
I think the only thing the US needs to do is withhold its cover for Israel at the UN and other international forums. Then just get out of the way and observe the flow of events: international sanctions, criminal indictments of Israeli officials, calls for UN peacekeeping forces to protect Palestinians, etc.
Don't frontpage diaries on FDL get there by reader recommendations? FDL is primarly devoted to domestic political issues such as SS, medicare, medicaid, taxes, and rightfully bashing the narcissistic lowlife known as Obama. It just has a different focus than this blog.
I've never seen any particularly pro-Israeli slant to FDL, more just a focus on those domestic issues. But there are certainly diaries on I-P on occasion and those diaries are staunchly pro-Palestinian and both the diaries and the comments could easily be posted on Mondoweiss.
I have never seen a hasbara-type diary, and even fewer hasbara-type comments on FDL than I see on Mondoweiss.
That was Postville, Iowa, not Ohio, about 70 miles from my house.
Ten or so years ago I went there for a food festival--at the time the town, pop. c. 3000, was fairly evenly divided between lubavitchers, hispanics, russians, and the local norwiegian lutherans. An interesting mix for rural Iowa.
There is a great book on Postville and its cultural conflicts by a journalism prof at the Univ. of Iowa--
link to amazon.com
It has nothing to do with I-P, but interesting nonetheless.
I thought this language was pretty clear on the "hypocrite" concerns you express:
"While I prefer our disengagement from that conflict, I must wonder how the US expects to be seen as an “honest broker” when it dictates the terms of a solution in such a transparently one-sided manner.
In the resolution before us, all demands are made of only one side in the conflict. Do supporters of this resolution really believe the actors in the Middle East and the rest of the world do not notice?"
Israel's continued confrontational attitude with all forms of dissent is frightening--frightening in that it no longer even cares what the rest of the world thinks.
For example, with the recent flotilla all that Israel needed to do was express some bogus PR "concern" about Gazans and humanitarian relief, offered to escort the flotilla to Gaza, and join in a stirring chorus of Kumbaya.
With the Welcome to Palestine activisits, again Israel could have welcomed the demonstrators, offered to take them on tours of the Westbank, and issued press releases on its "open", "humanitarian" society.
Of course, this PR would have been BS and not changed the nature of Israeli oppression of Palestinians, but the fact alone that Israel no longer even tries for good PR is frightening. It indicates a hearty FU to the rest of the world which will only be expressed in continued and more severe repression of Palestinian rights.
Witty, how do Israel's political issues with Hamas justify illegal collective punishment of the Gaza population?
Do you agree that because Hamas does not recognize Israel, it is ok for Israel to engage in such punishment?
Since you portray yourself as a religious person, what principles of whatever religion you practice permit such action?
“Israel has the full right to operate against efforts to smuggle missiles, rockets and other weapons to Hamas’s terror enclave."
What a pathetic ass Netanyahu is. He's all about confrontation. If he had a lick of leadership skills he could have finessed this operation by providing an Israeli naval escort into the port of Gaza.
Good thing Israel is losing its PR skills. Best to judge any nation on its reality rather than its marketing ability.
In addition to San Francisco, there are Greek consulates in Atlanta, Houston, Tampa, Chicago, Los Angeles, and of course, New York.
A full list of contact info:
link to greekembassy.org
@Taxi
"All these beefy world honchos being forced to address the petite Gaza flotilla is a clear testament to the momentous and TANGIBLE power of it’s peace activism."
Very well said.
At least you don't buy into the official Israeli line that the flotilla is nothing but terrorists carrying weapons. If the peaceful delivery of letters to Gazans is perceived by Zionists such as yourself as a threat---so be it. And I would agree with you that it is a threat to Israel's extremist and inhuman policies.
And, as Shalit's parents say, it's Netanyahu who's playing political games with their son.
Witty would have pulled for the thugs who beat up the freedom riders in 1963.
Segregation was 100% legal in the South during that time--just as you say the blockade is legal. So, the freedom riders deserved what they got, right? After all, as on the flotilla, the freedom riders were mostly outside agitators.
I'm not so sure I would call it stupidity. Perhaps it's not even shortsighted since the long-term has yet to play out despite increased worldwide pressure against Israel. Call me a pessimist I guess.
Israel simply coveted the land on the West Bank, and made calculated decisions to take it. I would suspect that the Israeli powers that be are gleefully amazed that they have been able to keep their obfuscations and lies going as long as they have.
@Annie,
"how many young people are there? under 30? "
Strange you ask. My wife and I drove up to Minneapolis today to go to the farmers market and generally get our big city fix--we live in north Iowa less than two hours away--not to participate in netroots.
Anyway, we were walking down Nicollet and there were any number of folks out and about with leaflets and petitions for various leftwing causes approaching pedestrians for donations, signings, whatnot.
My wife and I thought it funny that one of them approached us, a couple in their sixties, though both of us are most likely farther to the left than any of the 20-somethings who were leafleting.
I grew up in the south as well during that era.
I think the major difference between Jim Crow and Israel is the fact that no one in the South thought that blacks were outsiders or didn't belong on "the land". In that sense, they were considered as American as anyone else.
My dad grew up in Chicago and among many of the white ethnic communities there, blacks were indeed considered foreign, but not so in the South.
Ms Abileah, my admiration and respect for your courage and your virtue cannot be fully expressed in words.
I wish you a full and speedy recovery from your injuries.
Unfortunately, just as in US domestic politics, what was once considered radically rightwing is now considered centrist--the example of eviscerating medicare or social security comes to mind.
I think Netanyahu's speech before Congress had the same effect--what was once considered a radical right position--a refusal to negotiate based on 67 borders plus land swaps--has become the new norm. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Netanyahu has made it public. There is now no public pretense otherwise (of course, Israel's private policy was always that).
Given the swooning reception in Congress, I suspect land theft to escalate dramatically. Bibi's on a roll.
Hard to say that this is all over the news in Iowa since I live in Iowa and this is the first I've heard of it.
I certainly agree with this though:
"A shopkeeper I was speaking with yesterday in Decorah, Iowa told me that the locals treat her like a suspect outsider because she's originally from Wisconsin."
I moved to small town Iowa from a thousand miles away years ago, and am still treated as "suspect".
I don't think it will be more interesting. I think it will be even more predictable.
Thank you rabbis.
While I think it was good that they maintained their focus strictly on Israel-Palestine, I also think that it is a grave injustice for the US to spend that money when domestic financial cuts are being made daily to the programs that assist the welfare of the tens of millions of US citizens who are un or underemployed and those who lack access to basic medical care.
@eGuard
You don't have a clue what I'm talking about.
I guess you'd have to be around 60 at least to get the cultural reference.
Mooser, if you really don't know--John Wesley Harding was the first album Dylan released in 1968 after his motorcycle accident. After JWH , in the opinions of many his music went straight downhill.
Some actually tried to connect the accident with possible brain injury resulting in creative loss. Most however pointed to John Wesley Harding--a great album where he first sang his tune, "All Along the Watchtower"--as proof that the accident didn't play a role.
I think he just dried up.
If it were not for John Wesley Harding which came out after the accident, I would agree with you.
Well, maybe because it would make it more difficult for Israel to totally dismantle the nascent Palestinian state and actually push the inhabitants across the Jordan river. And Israel wants all options on the table.
On the plus side for Israel--of course, even if recognized by the UN, the Palestinian state would be subject to whatever is Israel's military whim of the day. But as the diary states, the UN has never stopped Israel from beating up on its other neighbors before.
Dang, I was thinking, hoping that this was Carleton College in Minnesota.
Anyway, good for them.
And let's not forget, perhaps the key element-though unspoken--in proving the crime of "war crimes" is that the defendant lost the war.
Certainly Truman and Churchill were guilty of war crimes and should have been hanged--were it not for the fact that this major element of a war crimes prosecution--they lost--was absent.