Here’s further evidence that Obama will be hawkish on Iran (and pushy about Israeli intransigence on the two-state solution). A piece in the Nation by Robert Dreyfuss on Dennis Ross’s power over Iran policy at the State Department. (This really…
How many American publications are printing blunt statements about Avigdor Lieberman’s extremism? From Haaretz: The Netherlands must impose economic sanctions against Israel if the new government in Jerusalem thwarts the peace process with the Palestinians, the Dutch Labor party said…
Jim Harb writes: Phil, the United Nations did not create Israel. I’ve noticed that you mention this from time to time, but it’s simply, historically, and factually inaccurate. This is not only a misstatement of historical fact, it is an…
Here’s something about on-line writing. It’s always the afterthought, the thrown-off idea that sends ripples thru the pond. Turns out my best post last night was the Beckett post on love of the Irish people. My friend Mark, a Catholic,…
I read David Hare’s “monologue” on the Wall on the train just now, and I can’t say enough good things about it. First of all, it’s great that the New York Review of Books is publishing a forceful piece from…
1. Samuel Beckett on “the Irish people” (in a J.M. Coetzee review of Beckett’s letters) It is only when the subject of Ireland comes up that Beckett now and again allows himself to vent a political opinion. Though [critic Thomas]…
Nice piece in the Times (or the IHT, I can’t tell the difference) by Sigridur Vidis Jonsdottir on an Baghdad refugees in tents in the Iraqi desert near the Syrian border. They’re unwelcome in Baghdad because they’re Palestinian: Lina was…
Clark University just disinvited Norm Finkelstein from a speaking engagement later this month. Michigan State University was under pressure from the ADL to rescind its invitation to Israel-critic Desmond Tutu to give its commencement address. MSU is sticking to its…
Here’s a pettish attack on Times columnist Roger Cohen by Atlantic blogger Jeffrey Goldberg, following Cohen’s swipe at Goldberg. Goldberg titles it, “A Memo to Roger Cohen.” Everyone knows that the first rule of writing a New York Times column…