Yesterday Lilly Rivlin of Meretz USA invoked Amos Oz and Ariel Sharon as peaceable figures (oh well), but also said the names Brzezinski and Scowcroft not with anger but with respect, in the Jewish house. She said we are facing a big opportunity. "It looks good. It really looks good." Brzezinski and Scowcroft have removed Israel's 'worst nightmare," the refugee issue, in their statements on a peace, she said; and Obama 'will have to influence Hillary." Then there's Rahm: "Rahm Emanuel whether you like him or not, he knows what's going on in Israel, he's a Rabin supporter. I think he can influence Hillary. Because She doesn't have good politics on Israel… She needs to be educated."
Oh so Hillary is president of foreign policy. Or, more accurately, president of the Lobby. But today's WSJ says that Scowcroft is Obama's go-to man on the Middle East.
Mr. Scowcroft spoke by phone with President-elect Barack Obama
last week, the latest in a months-long series of conversations between
the two men about defense and foreign-policy issues, according to
people familiar with the discussions.
last week, the latest in a months-long series of conversations between
the two men about defense and foreign-policy issues, according to
people familiar with the discussions.
The relationship between the president-elect
and the Republican heavyweight suggests that Mr. Scowcroft's views,
which place a premium on an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, might
hold sway in the Obama White House.
and the Republican heavyweight suggests that Mr. Scowcroft's views,
which place a premium on an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, might
hold sway in the Obama White House.
…
Mr.
Scowcroft said his biggest piece of advice for the new administration
was that it should make a renewed push to help broker an
Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. He also endorsed Mr. Obama's call for
diplomatic engagement with Iran.
Scowcroft said his biggest piece of advice for the new administration
was that it should make a renewed push to help broker an
Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. He also endorsed Mr. Obama's call for
diplomatic engagement with Iran.
"Compared to the other alternatives we face with
Iran, we ought to give it a really good, sincere try," Mr. Scowcroft
said. "I have a hunch that we'll be more successful than a lot of
detractors think."
Iran, we ought to give it a really good, sincere try," Mr. Scowcroft
said. "I have a hunch that we'll be more successful than a lot of
detractors think."
As to the right of return, let me say: I'm in the right of return gang, the non-Zionist pro-Palestinian left. Can it be extinguished? I care most about peace, about defusing this terrible problem for my country, the US. And maybe it can be extinguished. But you can't ask me; you must ask the Palestinians.
