T. Belman. For all we know, Netanyahu is meeting with Putin as Trump’s emissary.

While I am at it, many in the US think of Putin as the devil who must be opposed yet at the same time they get in bed with far worse like Saudi Arabia, Turkey,etc. I’ll take Russia any day.

DEBKA

Constantly bombarded by allegations that his campaign associated with Russian intelligence, US President Donald Trump has held back from going through with his original plan for teaming up with Moscow in Syria for the important campaigns of wiping out the Islamic State and relieving Syria of Iran’s iron grip.

His entire Middle East policy is up in the air, while he grapples with domestic foes. The much talked-of US coalition with its regional allies, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel, is also in abeyance.
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Do Jews have to make common cause with people who want to kill them?

By Bari Weiss, TABLET

In the week leading up to the presidential election, like hockey players who refuse to shave during the playoffs, the women of the Weiss family lived in their “Pussy Grabs Back” T-shirts. For months, our family texts had buzzed day and night with emoji-laden reactions to the latest Trump outrage, while my mother waged a very personal campaign against the Republican candidate. When the first Tuesday in November was upon us, my dad, who has a giant poster of William F. Buckley in his office, bowed to shalom bayit and wrote in Steph Curry.
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by ANDREW C. MCCARTHY, NATIONAL REVIEW,  March 5, 2017 8:12 AM

President Trump’s early Saturday morning tweeting has exploded to the forefront an uncovered scandal I’ve been talking about since early January (including in this weekend’s column): The fact that the Obama Justice Department and the FBI investigated associates of Donald Trump, and likely Trump himself, in the heat of the presidential campaign.

To summarize, reporting indicates that, prior to June 2016, the Obama Justice Department and FBI considered a criminal investigation of Trump associates, and perhaps Trump himself, based on concerns about connections to Russian financial institutions. Preliminary poking around indicated that there was nothing criminal involved. Rather than shut the case down, though, the Obama Justice Department converted it into a national-security investigation under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). FISA allows the government, if it gets court permission, to conduct electronic surveillance (which could include wiretapping, monitoring of e-mail, and the like) against those it alleges are “agents of a foreign power.”
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T. Belman. Wise says that well meaning friends of Israel reject the one state solution because “immediately or shortly thereafter create an Arab-majority state, ridding the country of its Jewish identity. Furthermore, it has been said, failure to grant full citizenship to all residents of the West Bank would turn Israel into an “apartheid state.”

Some well meaning friends do believe this but there are other well meaning friends who don’t want Israel to be home to an Arab population that amounts to 35% of Israel’s population, citizens or not. They prefer to fight for a solution that supports compensated emigration for Arabs. What they will settle for in the end remains to be seen. Perhaps a staged process. Perhaps, a combination of Wise’s One State Solution which is supported by Glick with a compensated emigration plan proposed by Moshe Feiglin. His plan allows for some citizenship. Martin Sherman’s plan allows for no citizenship.

By Michael L Wise, ALGEMEINER

There is now almost unanimous rejection of the “two-state solution” — the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state on any part of the former west bank of the Hashemite Kingom of Transjordan (Judea and Samaria). Regional violence and terror has made it clear to almost all objective observers that a Palestinian state would ultimately fall into the hands of terrorist entities such as Hamas, Fatah, ISIS, Hezbollah or al-Qaida, and would result in a catastrophic conflict.

The “one-state” alternative, according to which Israel declares sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, would — say both well-meaning friends of Israel and its enemies — immediately or shortly thereafter create an Arab-majority state, ridding the country of its Jewish identity. Furthermore, it has been said, failure to grant full citizenship to all residents of the West Bank would turn Israel into an “apartheid state.”
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By Barak Ravid, HAARETZ,  Mar 05, 2017

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent opposition leader Isaac Herzog a document six months ago containing a joint declaration for spurring a regional peace initiative and anchoring an Israeli unity government ? before backtracking weeks later.

Netanyahu sent the document to Herzog seven months after a secret peace summit in Aqaba, Jordan, reported by Haaretz two weeks ago.

The document reflected a willingness by Netanyahu for territorial compromise in a two-state solution with the Palestinians and a reining in of construction in the settlements.
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By Heshmat Alavi, AMERICAN THINKER

The recent dust storms that wreaked havoc in southwest Iran signaled only one of the many crises the mullahs are facing less than three months before critical elections. Tehran has been hit with severe blows during the Munich Security Conference, contrasting interests with Russia, the recent escalating row with Turkey, and most importantly, a new U.S. administration in Washington.

These crises have crippling effects on the mullahs’ apparatus, especially at a time when Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sees his regime facing a changing balance of power in the international community, and is faced with a major decision of selecting the regime’s so-called president.
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By Hassan Mahmoudi, AMERICAN THINKER

Iran’s rulers are attempting to end their country’s international isolation. But there are innumerable obstacles for them, beginning with the goon-like activity of  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) along with its expeditionary arm, the al-Quds Force. There are also problems with Iran’s proxiees, the Iran-allied Shia militias in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, all of which are meddling in neighboring countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. And “state-sponsored terrorism” remains as policy, as strong as ever. But the most important obstacle is the political unrest inside Iran.
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YA’ALON ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO RUN FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORM NEW PARTY

Former Kulanu minister to run for head of Labor
Avi Gabai, who joined Labor just two months ago, announces he will run for the position of its chairman.

Ex-Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter now says he will seek leadership of governing party if premier steps down

Feiglin’s Zehut Party is now official and raring to go.

Previewing political comeback, Sa’ar says he’ll return to Likud

T. Belman. Francisco Gil-White published PLO/Fatah and Iran: The Special Relationship. Iran supported the PLO both before and after the revolution. Israel ignores this at her peril. Be sure to read this article and watch the video.

“With Everything From Stabbing And Vehicular Attacks To Launching Rocket”

MEMRI: March 2, 2017 Special Dispatch No.6809

A March 1, 2017 article in the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar about PLO Ambassador to Iran Salah Al-Zawawi included excerpts of an interview with him focusing on the PLO-Iran relationship. Al-Zawawi also stressed in the interview that armed struggle using all means was a legitimate path to liberating Palestine “from the river to the sea.”
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Hamas newspaper 4 March 2017

Gaza,(Alresalah.ps)– Member of Hamas’s political bureau Khalil al-Hayya has reiterated his Movement’s rejection of any idea about resettling the Palestinians in other countries or providing them with an alternative homeland.

The Hamas official made his remarks during a ceremony held in Gaza to celebrate the 20th founding anniversary of al-Resalah newspaper.

“We refuse any substitute for Palestine in the Sinai or Jordan, even if the whole world was given in exchange for it,” Hayya said in a speech during the event.
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New English Review

The Trump Administration spearhead of the ideological war against Radical Islamic Jihadism is Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to President Trump and member of the White House Strategic Initiatives Group. He has recently surfaced as spokesperson for the Administration on this and related issues and been the subject of a number of media reports. We had prior knowledge of his views on Radical Islamic jihadism from our New English Review book review and interviews prior to his involvement in the Trump transition team.  Subsequently, following the President’s election he was selected to serve in the Executive Office of the President.  We were afforded an opportunity to interview him on a wide range of current issues on Northwest Florida’s Talk Radio 1330amWEBY.  The program aired February 28, 2017.

Mike Bates:                            Good afternoon welcome back to Your Turn. This is Mike Bates. With me in the studio Jerry Gordon is the Senior Editor of the New English Review and its blog The Iconoclast and joining us by telephone Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President in the strategic initiatives group. Dr. Gorka, welcome.
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By Yuri Barman, AL SHARQ FORUM

Against the backdrop of instability in the global energy industry, Moscow is seeking to consolidate its share of the oil and gas markets as well as ensure that its revenue stream from the oil trade does not thin out. With that in mind, Russia pursues a policy of engaging its natural rivals in the industry from the Middle East with the aim of dividing up the markets fairly and on mutually beneficial principles. Moscow negotiated an almost-impossible deal with Saudi Arabia to cut oil output and made peace with Turkey against all odds in order to protect its interests in the European gas market. These steps show that despite remaining ‘frenemies’ Russia and its regional counterparts find ways to maintain a balance in the global energy market.
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T. Belman. The first problem was that McMaster right out of the gate said “Islam is a religion of peace.” Trump quickly and loudly countered with using the term “radical Islamic terrorism”. Now it appears that Mattis wants to appoint as his deputy, Anne Patterson, an appointee of Obama, who loves the Muslim Brotherhood. So far Trump has resisted. Trump’s In A Fight With Defense Secretary Mattis–And Trump Is Right.Here’s another one, Top TPP Negotiator, and Obama nominee, Now Part of Trump Administration and another problem, Sessions’ Recusal in Russia Probe Leaves Obama Lackey in Charge of DOJ Witch Hunt

By Ed Rogers, WaPo

Like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and national security adviser H.R. McMaster are expected to be early alarms in the event that life in the Trump administration becomes untenable. If the White House fails to build an atmosphere in which they can work, Mattis and McMaster — both of whom are keenly aware that the world is watching their every move — could take their leave. The shock waves caused by their departure would be felt throughout the White House, Congress, and foreign capitals around the globe. The stakes couldn’t be higher — everyone knows that if they aren’t able to make it work, something must be seriously broken.
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T. Belman. Trump still insists he will accept any deal that brings peace. So both he and Netanyahu are angling for peace rather than trying to enable Israel to get more land. Trump knows that the art of the deal requires that he shake people up so that they are unsure of their position and are more likely to compromise.

They are negotiating a deal between them as to what settlement construction will be permitted. But why does he not come out and affirm Israel’s right to build within the settlement boundaries just as Bush did. As Netanyahu keeps repeating “everyone knows we are going to keep them”. So I am disappointed. Trump has not changed one iota of Obama’s position on settlements. He has just used a softer tone.

In fact he has also been very cautious about changing Obama’s Foreign Policies, other than rhetoric about reigning in Iran. I believe that he means to reign in the anti-Israel UN.

By David Israel, JEWISH PRESS

Israeli Ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer revealed this week at a closed forum that President Trump’s request at his joint press conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu, that Israel restrict settlement construction, caught the latter by surprise, Makor Rishon reported Friday.

Dermer spoke at the annual conference of Israeli diplomats from all over the world at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, and stressed that despite the unexpected request, relations with the new Administration over the disputed territories would be much better than they have been before January 20.
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By Tyler Durden, ZEROHEDGE

Obama’s goal is to oust Trump from the presidency either by forcing his resignation or through his impeachment, The Daily Mail reports according to a family friend. To help him “lead the fight and strategy to topple Trump” his longtime consigliere, Valerie Jarrett, has moved into The Obama’s house with them in Washington.

After Eric Holder’s comments yesterday:

Barack Obama is getting closer to making his public reappearance in politics, his friend and former Attorney General Eric Holder said on Tuesday.

Holder said he’s been talking to the former president about ways — including fundraising and interacting with state legislators — that could help the new National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which Obama asked Holder to chair last year.

“It’s coming. He’s coming,” Holder said, speaking to reporters at a briefing for the new group. “And he’s ready to roll.”

Throughout, Holder said, Obama “will be a more visible part of the effort.”

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By Tabitha Korol

Gross Schechter Day School is a Jewish day school whose mission is to encourage “creativity, exploration and self-discovery” by stressing “critical thinking, personal responsibility and global awareness.” Their children are to be “active students of the global world,” making them the ideal subjects for a multicultural outreach program, such as the “No Place for Hate Workshop,” sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The Workshop hype claims to prepare students to support and assist in resolving peer conflicts and to uncritically accept all manner of belief systems, cultures, ethics, values, behaviors, and religions. They are being taught to abandon their own standards of morality while accepting the evils perpetrated by others, such as the oppressive woman-hating regime of Islam, where they chop off hands and feet for petty crimes and decapitate for other offenses.
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By Ralph Peters, New York Post, Mar. 1, 2017

In his politically adept address to Congress Tuesday night, President Trump largely ignored foreign policy and spoke only generally — though warmly — about our armed forces. That was a good thing. It might have been disastrous had the president attempted to lay down a “Trump Doctrine” on national security and international relations prematurely. He and his team long have been engaged on domestic issues, but, true to the pattern of recent administrations, they regarded global affairs as an annoyance and national security primarily as a stick for poking opponents.

Now, in office, Trump is learning how complex the world is and how confounding the collision of security, diplomatic and economic interests can be. Mr. President, take your time. Listen to premier advisers, such as Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Hear out the senators who’ve studied national security for decades. Recognize that politics truly ought to end at water’s edge.
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The Obama administration’s support for Hamas was not passive.

BY CAROLINE B. GLICK, JPOST MARCH 2, 2017 22:41

The State Comptroller’s Report on Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s war with Hamas in the summer of 2014, is exceedingly detailed. The problem is that it addresses the wrong details.

Israel’s problem with Hamas wasn’t its tactics for destroying Hamas’s attack tunnels. Israel faced two challenges in its war with Hamas that summer. The first had to do with the regional and global context of the war. The second had to do with its understanding of its enemy on the ground.
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By MARK LANDLER and ERIC LICHTBLAU, NYT, MARCH 2, 2017

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions, facing a storm of criticism over newly disclosed contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States, recused himself on Thursday from any investigation into charges that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election.

His announcement, delivered at a terse news conference, came after a day of rapid-fire developments in a murky affair that has shadowed President Trump, jeopardized his closest aides and intensified pressure for a full inquiry into Moscow’s attempts to influence the election as well as the policies of the new administration.
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