THE ISRAEL PROJECT

WATCH: If your neighbor was a mass-murdering terrorist, would you be okay with giving him a nuclear bomb in 13 years?

By Max Boot, COMMENTARY

President Obama would like to pretend that anyone who opposes the nuclear deal with Iran that he is in the process of striking must be a warmonger—because war is the (supposed) consequence of not doing a deal. But that charge is hard to level against some of the high-profile critics who had spoken out in recent days.

–In the Wall Street Journal, former secretaries of State George Shultz (architect of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty with the Soviet Union) and Henry Kissinger (architect of the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement with the USSR and the “opening” to China) blast Obama’s deal-making. They warn that not only will the agreement be extremely difficult to enforce, it is unlikely sanctions will be reimposed even if Iran is caught cheating: “Iran is in a position to violate the agreement by executive decision. Restoring the most effective sanctions will require coordinated international action.”
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By Jonah Goldberg,  THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL

The first thing one needs to know about the nuclear deal with Iran is that it is not, in fact, a deal. The various parties to the talks did come away with an agreement, but it was an agreement to haggle more about what a deal might look like. We don’t have a good word for such things, so people use “deal” as a placeholder.

But in any other realm of life, if you left a negotiation where things stand in Lausanne, Switzerland, you wouldn’t think you had a deal. The known disagreements are profound, and the room for further disagreements is vast.

When you have a deal with a car salesman, money changes hands and papers are signed. But if you left a car dealership with this kind of understanding, you might never get a car, or you might expect that the salesman will ultimately sell you a new Porsche while the dealer is equally confident you’ll come down to the lot next weekend to pick up your used Zamboni.
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DEBKA April 8/15

Obama’s rapprochement with Iran and its Middle East allies has produced an incredibly sinister new twist in the Syrian war as it enters its fifth year. The atrocity-ridden conflict finds 16,000 Palestinians trapped in horrible conditions in the Yarmouk refugee camp of Damascus and beset by two enemies: the Islamic State and the President Bashar Assad’s army.

The world has been shown three players in the vicious Yarmouk contest: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, whose jihadis are slashing through the refugee camp and massacring its Palestinian inmates, the second player, and the Syrian army, the third, which appears to be fighting to keep the Islamists from reaching central Damascus. The camp lies 8.5 km from Assad’s presidential palace.
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SEE ALSO: The unfolding farce of Obama’s deal with Iran
The president didn’t sign a bad framework deal with the ayatollahs. He left it unsigned, open to ever more worrying interpretation

By Lee Smith, TABLET

Almost as soon as the White House reached the nuclear framework agreement with Iran, it began sending out senior administration officials to brief domestic allies and rivals in order to sell the deal. The president himself called Speaker of the House John Boehner, while National Security Adviser Susan Rice and U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power got other legislators on the phone. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz made the administration’s case for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Agreement over the weekend on the Sunday talk shows. Guess who didn’t get briefed.

Well, not exactly. Key Jewish community leaders did get a briefing—not from the president or the secretary of state or the national security adviser, but from Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser Colin Kahl. One participant told CNN that the call went smoothly. “There were definitely pointed questions,” said the source, “but it was very respectful.”
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JNS Org

JNS.org – British Jews overwhelmingly support the Conservative Party and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron in the upcoming national elections next month.

According to a poll conducted by the Jewish Chronicle, 69 percent of Jewish voters said they would support the Conservative Party, while only 22 percent said they would vote for the Labour Party. Only two percent of Jewish voters said they would vote for the Liberal Democrats or the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP).

In addition, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron enjoys substantial support from the British Jewish community, which favors him at 64 percent, compared to only 13 percent for his counterpart Labour Party leader Ed Miliband.
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By Michael Ordman

The current news is full of smart Israeli solutions that benefit the world.  It also contains many examples of smart countries, companies and individuals that have recognized this important role of the Jewish State.

Israeli biotech SynVaccine is developing smart, safe synthetic vaccines from the tissue of the recipient’s own cells that the body’s immune system can recognize.  SynVaccine also generates the vaccine using computer technology rather than from a potentially dangerous live virus.  Meanwhile, Tel Aviv University and Schneider Medical Center researchers have made the smart discovery of a genetic mutation responsible for Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) that affects one percent of all women worldwide.  The cause came to light after they DNA tested two Israeli-Arab cousins with the condition.  And the smart staff at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center realized that although they delivered 22,413 babies in 2014 (probably the largest number in the world for one hospital) they could prevent many subsequent deaths and injuries if they provided free infant car seats to get the babies home safely.  Please watch this video to see more of Shaare Zedek’s smart innovations.
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By Wayne Allyn Root

Obama is going rogue. By every metric the Obama economy is melting down. We are seeing the beginning stages of another recession at best, or a total economic meltdown at worst.

At the moment there are no decent paying jobs in America. Obama has opened the border and given amnesty to at least 5 million illegal aliens already in the country, thereby putting them in competition with working class and middle class Americans. Think I’m wrong? Did you know the government is giving businesses a $3000 incentive to hire illegal’s over native-born Americans?

Did you know cities are hiring non-citizens (and even illegal aliens given amnesty by Obama) as policemen? All you need is a work permit. Someone here illegally can wear a badge and enforce the law against you.
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SEE ALSO: Kissinger and Shultz: What a Final Iran Deal Must Do WSJ
A credible agreement must dismantle or mothball the key parts of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure.

We are dealing with a case of Mutually Assured Obfuscation.

By BRET STEPHENS, WSJ

‘So when you hear the inevitable critics of the deal sound off, ask them a simple question: Do you really think that this verifiable deal, if fully implemented, backed by the world’s major powers, is a worse option than the risk of another war in the Middle East?”

That was Barack Obama on Thursday, defending his Iran diplomacy while treating its opponents to the kind of glib contempt that is the mark of the progressive mind. Since I’m one of those inevitable critics, let me answer his question.

Yes, it’s worse. Much worse.
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By Ben Shapiro,  BREITBART

[Shortly after the elections in Israel] the press announced that the Obama administration would fully consider abandoning Israel in international bodies like the United Nations.

According to reports, President Obama finally called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him – but the “congratulations” was actually a lecture directed at forcing Netanyahu to surrender to the terrorist Palestinian regime.

For some odd reason, many in the media and Congress reacted with surprise to Obama’s supposedly sudden turn on Israel. The media, in an attempt to defend Obama’s radicalism, pretend that Netanyahu’s comments in the late stages of his campaign prompted Obama’s anti-Israel action.
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By Ron Torossian, ALGEMEINER

The State of Israel is under assault by a campaign that is partially financed by Jewish-American donors. There are a number of organizations supported by the New Israel Fund (NIF) that play an active role in promoting the delegitimization of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces.

While the NIF may also be active in legitimate civil-related issues, any good they do is marred by their constant support for anti-Israel activities – and all donors must distance themselves from this heinous organization.
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T. Belman. The NYT tries to suggest that Jewish money is inducing the GOP to be more pro-Israel. It titled this article “G.O.P.’s Israel Support Deepens as Political Contributions Shift”. This is the chicken and the egg controversy. They way I see it, after the Republicans demonstrated their support for Israel Jewish money supported them.

Notice that the article also tries to make the point that these financial contributors are an anomaly in the broader Jewish community. Notice that it also describes J Street as a “liberal pro-Israel group”.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, said this relatively small group of very wealthy Jewish-Americans distorted the views among Jews nationwide who remain supportive of the Democratic Party and a more nuanced relationship with Israel.

“The very, very limited set of people who do their politics simply through the lens of Israel — that small group is tilting more heavily Republican now,” he said, adding, “But it is dangerous for American politics as too many people do not understand that of the six million American Jews, this is only a handful.”

I ask, why is this “dangerous for American politics”? To me it is simple. As the Democratic Party lead by Obama shifts its support away from Israel and calls for more daylight, Jews are increasingly shifting their alliance and money to the GOP. Notice that most Jewish institutions, the Democrats and Obama keep stressing that Israel is and should remain a non-partisan issue. How can that be when both sides treat Israel differently.  They are saying that their anti-Israel positions shouldn’t cost them. But they should. Israel should only be non-partisan when the Democrats embrace Israel as much as the Republicans do.

See also: US Jewry and the Spirit of Capitalism: Synagogue of the rich and famous marks 25th anniversary.

Rabbi Marc Schneier’s synagogue in the Hamptons caters to the US’ richest and most powerful Jews, mixing a distinctly American brand of religious pluralism, local community life and deep-pocketed philanthropy to consolidate a pro-Israel force to be reckoned with.

By Eric Lipton, NYT

WASHINGTON — As the proposed agreement over Iran’s nuclear program is debated in coming weeks, President Obama will make his case to a Congress controlled by Republicans who are more fervently pro-Israel than ever, partly a result of ideology, but also a product of a surge in donations and campaign spending on their behalf by a small group of wealthy donors.

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Revolutionary Guards commander says Obama didn’t change Iran’s policy – but did reverse US policy on Tehran’s nuclear program.

By Dalit Halevy, Ari Yashar, INN

Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander General

Iranian officials continue to bask in the afterglow of the framework deal reached with world powers last week over the Islamic regime’s nuclear program, and joining the victory parade this week was Iranian Revolutionary Guards Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari.
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By Elliott Abrams, ISRAEL HAYOM

In his lengthy interview with Thomas Friedman of The New York Times, President Obama makes many statements about Israel’s security and how the proposed deal with Iran enhances it. These words from the interview are key:

“I have to respect the fears that the Israeli people have,” he added, “and I understand that Prime Minister Netanyahu is expressing the deep-rooted concerns that a lot of the Israeli population feel about this, but what I can say to them is: Number one, this is our best bet by far to make sure Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon, and number two, what we will be doing even as we enter into this deal is sending a very clear message to the Iranians and to the entire region that if anybody messes with Israel, America will be there.”

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By Avi Lewis, TOI

Senior Democratic senator Chuck Schumer indicated Monday he would back legislation allowing Congress to vet and approve a deal with Iran over its nuclear program — a bill strongly opposed by the White House.

Schumer endorsed a bill sponsored by Sen. Bob Corker (Rep.) and Bob Menendez (NJ) which would give Capitol Hill the authority to reject a White House-brokered accord with Tehran, signalling a potential standoff between President Barack Obama and senior lawmakers in his own Democratic Party over the deal.

“This is a very serious issue that deserves careful consideration, and I expect to have a classified briefing in the near future. I strongly believe Congress should have the right to disapprove any agreement and I support the Corker bill which would allow that to occur,” Schumer told Politico Monday.

The move will enable other Democrat senators to support the bill and still save face despite vehement opposition from the White House, analysts say, meaning the legislation will garner Congress’s support from both sides of the partisan divide.
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BY VICTOR SHARPE

Millions, perhaps billions, of the world’s population still do not know the meaning of the towering festival of freedom and liberty known as Passover; a festival recognizing an event that has blessed the world for some 3,300 years.

The festival begins always on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Jews and Christians know from the Bible the story of the Exodus and of the salvation of the Jewish people from centuries of slavery under the Egyptian pharaohs: This creation and deliverance of an entire nation.

Such a seminal event in humanity’s history became the foundation for freedom and liberty – created many centuries before democracy was first enunciated by Greek philosophers who nevertheless lived within a polytheistic society.
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By Ruth King

There was an old joke about Jews and perceived self interest- In a zoology class students are asked to write an essay on the elephant. The Jewish student submits “The Elephant and the Jews”….

The elephant I speak of here is the symbol of the Republican party. Jews in America prefer the asses (the very apposite symbol of the Democratic Party) demonstrating how susceptible they are to group think and real lack of self interest.

The liberals in America do not accept diversity- one must adhere to climate warming baloney, defense of quotas, aversion to war even in self defense, abortion on demand, suspicion of orthodoxy in Judaism and Christianity, appeasement of adversaries, a denial of American exceptionalism, unfettered immigration without any profiling, and worst of all an acceptance of a weakened and libeled Israel. One tarnishes membership in the Democratic/liberal elite by opposing any of the above, to say nothing about ostracism in the dinner parties of the artsy set. And see what has happened to Senator Menendez (D-New Jersey) for breaking from the pack.
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Paper distributed by senior Likud minister queries immediate sanctions relief, failure to secure ‘anytime, anywhere’ inspections, and other alleged central flaws in Lausanne framework agreement

BY TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF April 6, 2015,

Israel on Monday posed 10 questions to the US-led negotiators with Iran that it said underlined “the extent of the irresponsible concessions given to Iran” in the framework agreement reached last Thursday, and made clear “how dangerous the framework is for Israel, the region and the world.”

The questions were listed in a document distributed by Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz, a Likud party member and confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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PM says alternative to the new, ‘bad deal’ with Iran is not war, but ‘standing firm for better deal’; Feinstein: This can backfire on him

TOI

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that the political framework for a nuclear deal with Iran reached Thursday in Switzerland would keep Tehran’s vast nuclear program in place, and that its inter-continental ballistic missile system (ICBM) — an issue not addressed in the deal — was more of a threat to the US than to Israel.

Speaking to CNN as part of a US media blitz, the Israeli prime minister said the deal will not roll back Iran’s nuclear program. The deal “keeps Iran’s vast nuclear infrastructure in place, not a single centrifuge destroyed, not a single nuclear facility shut down, including the underground facilities that they built illicitly. Thousands of centrifuges will keep spinning, enriching uranium, that’s a very bad deal.”

“They’re getting a free path to the bomb,” he said.
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Must see Friedman interview of Obama on April 4/15. He focusses on this deal and the Israeli perspective. Obama presents himself as Israel’s best friend.

Jewish Press summarizes:Obama Espouses his Iran Strategy: If, If, If and Blind Hope
VERIFYING IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL NOT POSSIBLE, EXPERTS SAY

By J.P. Golbert, AMERICAN THINKER

An interim deal has been made with Iran, ignoring the admonitions of Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and capitulating to Iran on all important points.  There has been much written about how Arab countries will respond but not much about the possible Israeli response.

The Obama administration had essentially two reactions to Netanyahu’s address to Congress: Netanyahu said nothing new and offered no alternative to the agreement being negotiated with Iran.  The former is irrelevant; the issue is not whether Netanyahu said anything new.  The relevant question is whether what he said is true.  If so, then it bears repeating, because the Obama administration has lost sight of the goal, which was, ostensibly at least, to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capability.

As to the latter, the Obama administration has a point, in a way.  What Netanyahu said is the truth and nothing but the truth, but he did not tell the whole truth.
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