By Ted Belman, AMERICAN THINKER
The Western countries have dealt themselves a weak hand, yet they are going all in. Israel need only call their bluff.
The pot they hope to win is an agreement, misnamed as a peace agreement, which will establish a Palestinian state on the ’67 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. But there are no takers on either side of the ’67 lines.
To win this pot, the EU is threatening Israel with sanctions and with an amendment to the existing Free Trade Agreement. They are also threatening to reduce economic cooperation. They want Israel to stop building settlements in places that will make the two state solution untenable. So far they have accomplished nothing with the threats and I venture to say if they implement their plans, Israel will initiate moves of its own.
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The strategic relationship between the United States and Israel has weathered rough spells before, and it will survive the current discord between its two leaders.
What is the state of relations between Israel and the United States? Terrible, if you ask those who are attempting to overthrow Likud in the present election campaign. Some will even go as far as to say they have never been worse, that this is all Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s doing, and for this alone he deserves not to be reelected. After all, that relationship is one of Israel’s greatest strategic assets – maybe even the most important of them all. Where would we be without the backing of the United States, they ask rhetorically.
Well, not so fast. There have been some rough patches in Israel’s relations with the United States over the years, years when Israel was considered a burden rather than an asset in Washington, D.C. There was an embargo on the shipment of arms from America to Israel during the War of Independence, while Israel was fighting for its life against great odds.
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The Washington Post has been, for many years, one of your leading media supporters. Fred Hiatt, the WP editorial page editor, represents the consensus at the Washington Post. Currently, the WP has become increasingly critical of Pres. Obama’s capabilities, track record, and credibility. They are very well-informed as to the inside activities of the negotiations. They are especially alarmed at the concessions that Pres. Obama is making to Iran..
By Fred Hiatt Editorial page editor Washington Post
Can President Obama sell an Iran deal at home?
If his negotiators strike an agreement next month, we already know that it will be far from ideal: Rather than eradicating Iran’s nuclear-weapons potential, as once was hoped, a pact would seek to control Iran’s activities for some limited number of years.
Such a deal might be defensible on the grounds that it is better than any alternative, given that most experts believe a military “solution” would be at best temporary and possibly counterproductive.
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By Alexander Maistrovoy, WORLD TRIBUNE
During a recent visit to Cairo, Vladimir Putin was received with imperial honors. The streets of Cairo were decorated by giant portraits of the Russian ruler.
Egyptian jets accompanied the Putin’s aircraft in the skies of Cairo, and an honorary cavalry escorted a limousine with Putin and Egyptian President Abdul Fatah Sisi.
The visit resulted in an agreement to build a nuclear power plant and a decision to cooperate in all scopes, including the military. As a first sign of cooperation, Putin gifted an AK-74 to al-Sisi. It was a meaningful gesture, especially given the fact that Moscow and Cairo signed an arms deal worth of 3 billion dollars.
In the 90s it was very unlikely to believe that Russia would’ve been able to return to the Middle East.
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T. Belman. The IEC should cut even more until the PA agrees to direct that all taxes collected by Israel on its behalf be applied to reduce the debt owed to the IEC.
The United States on Monday expressed its dissatisfaction after the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) briefly cut off power to Palestinian Authority areas, in protest over the PA’s refusal to pay the nearly half a billion dollars it owes.
“We’re concerned about the impact on the ground of any cuts to basic services, including electricity,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
“We remain very concerned about the continued viability of the Palestinian Authority if they do not receive funds soon, either in terms of the resumption ofmonthly Israeli transfers of Palestinian tax revenues or additional donor assistance,” she added, repeating statements she made last week.
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Donors to New Israel Fund must stop funding the New Israel Fund, and here is why.
This week a New York court ruled that the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were responsible for encouraging and inciting terror attacks during the Second Intifada. After weeks of trial, a jury found that this organization supported international terrorism and 10 American families who had their loved ones murdered and maimed were awarded $655 Million dollars.
As Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Israel Law Center case noted after trial, “We started out more than a decade ago with the intent of making the defendants pay for their terrorist crimes against innocent civilians and letting them know that there will eventually be a price to be paid for sending suicide bombers onto our buses and into our cafes.” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rightfully called on the international community to follow the court’s example and punish those who support terrorism.
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[In France, a row broke out after the head of the CRIF Jewish umbrella group said that young Muslims were the cause of all violent crime.]
Australian Muslims were oputraged on Tuesday after Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged their leaders to “get with the program” and do more to combat Islamic extremism.
Abbott gave an address to the nation about security during which he offered pointed criticism of Islamic leaders and their attitudes toward extremism.
“I’ve often heard western leaders describe Islam as a ‘religion of peace’,” the conservative leader said. “I wish more Muslim leaders would say that more often, and mean it.”
Local Muslims condemned the premier’s remarks as divisive.
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Sooner or later more Jews will be murdered in Europe
By Ted Belman
Let’s face it, neither France nor Denmark or any other European country can protect the Jews. Sooner or later many more Jews will be murdered.
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Ring of Peace Rally, Oslo Synagogue, Feb. 21, 2015
The weekend’s feel-good story about a Muslim “ring of peace” formed to “protect” Jews at an Oslo synagogue turned out to be a complete fabrication by the mainstream media, according to an eyewitness report, local officials, and attendees’ photos.
President Barack Obama’s critics believe he is keen on Iran deal as part of greater plan to strengthen ties with Iran and re-establish geostrategic balance in region • Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog calls Iran “a big threat” but not an existential one.
By Shlomo Cesana, Mati Tuchfeld and Boaz Bismuth, ISRAEL HAYOM
As the end of March deadline for nuclear negotiations approaches with no extension in sight, French newspaper Le Figaro reported Sunday that an American official said a nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran is “closer than ever.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif met in Geneva on Sunday in another round of talks.
Le Figaro also referred to assertions made by U.S. President Barack Obama’s critics, including some who have worked for his administration, that he is keen on an Iran deal as part of a greater plan to strengthen ties with Iran and to re-establish the geostrategic balance in the region.
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By Omri Ceren, TIP
Things are starting to move fast on Iran now. Driving the discussion today will be:
(1) The distribution of this quarter’s already-leaked IAEA report
(2) This story that the Associated Press just put out, about the “phased deal” that the US and Iran seem on the brink of signing
I’ll ping you with the IAEA stuff later this morning, but the debate over the phased deal is blowing up on social media so I wanted to make sure you had this in your hands quickly. What’s technically going on is a debate over the “sunset clause” but it’s already being described as building the Iranians an on-ramp to a nuclear weapon. Here are the key bits from the AP:
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By Shoshana Bryen, AMERICAN THINKER
Portrayed mainly as a tiff between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the U.S.-Israel divide over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program is much more serious and dates to the 1980s. It reflects the difference in each country’s margin of error. President Obama has only widened an existing divide by suggesting Iran might be returned to the family of nations short of dismantling its nuclear program. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned appearance before Congress will articulate Israel’s existential concerns and try, perhaps, narrow the differences over ends, if not means.
The Washington Post, unstintingly liberal in both foreign and domestic policy, has become increasingly skeptical of President Obama’s approach. David Ignatius, Associate Editor of the Post and a columnist exceedingly well connected to the State Department, this week ran excerpts of his interview with Israel’s Minister of Security, Yuval Steinitz. Steinitz, unstintingly hard line in both foreign and domestic policy, made three primary points: Read more…
New poll by i24news contradicts recent TV polls, says Likud poised to win, while leftwing Meretz, rightwing religious Shas might not even cross election threshold.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party is currently polling four seats ahead of its top rival, the center-left Zionist Union, the latest i24news poll revealed Sunday.
Infographic: i24news
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A girl displaced as a result of Boko Haram attack in the northeast region of Nigeria, rests her head on a desk at Maikohi secondary school camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Yola. (photo credit:REUTERS)
A Nigerian government spokesman told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that Israel has been a crucial and loyal ally in the fight against the radical Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram.
“Israel has been a crucial and loyal ally in our fight against Boko Haram. It is a sad reality that Israel has a great deal of experience confronting terrorism,” Mike Omeri, the chief coordinating spokesman of the National Information Center, based in Abuja said. “Our Israeli partners have used that experience, and the unique expertise gained over years of fighting terror within its own borders, to assist us.” Read more…
[T. Belman. If only Israel’s high court would uphold the same maxim.]
By Michael Devolin, JIHAD WATCH
“The people’s safety is the highest law.” – Legal and political maxim
The article also notes that “Ishaq, a Pakistani national and devout Sunni Muslim, says her religious beliefs obligate her to wear a niqab.” Apparently Canadians shouldn’t really be offended by a Pakistani national, a resident alien, dictating to born and bred Canadians how we should rejigger our traditional swearing-in ceremony simply because, as a “devout Sunni Muslim,” she feels conscience-driven to cover her face while swearing allegiance to our sovereign nation. The incongruity of such an outrageous and ungrateful demand sounds so coarse in my ears.
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US and Iranian officials have plunged into a last-ditch effort to rescue their nuclear negotiations from falling into deep crisis. Some Western observers have told DEBKAfile’s Washington and Tehran sources that the talks are beyond saving.
The top-level negotiators rushed post-haste to Geneva over the weekend are: US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to join US Secretary of State John Kerry; and on the Iranian side, Nuclear Energy Commission Chief Ali Akbar Salehi and the president’s brother Hossein Fereydoon. They will flank Foreign Minister Mohamed Javaz Zarif.
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Organizer of Muslim Synagogue “Peace Ring” Gave “Why I Hate Jews” Speech
A lot of media outlets have fallen for the story of Muslims organizing to protect a synagogue. It’s a great media op scene, but it ignores the fact that synagogues need protection because of Muslim anti-Semitism.
There are a number of myths already circulating about it. Here’show a local described the event.
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Pm Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the international community for negotiating with Iran while taking no steps to curb its sponsorship global terrorism, as top American and Iranian diplomats attempted to hammer out a deal in Geneva.
Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, the prime minister said that it’s “astonishing that even after the recent IAEA report determined that Iran is continuing to hide the military components of its nuclear program, the nuclear talks are proceeding.”
“Not only are they continuing, there is an increased effort to reach a nuclear agreement in the coming days and weeks,” Netanyahu said. The deadline for the six world powers and Iran to reach a political agreement about Tehran’s unsanctioned nuclear program is March 31.
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Blair also said “Israel doesn’t understand how much the regional reality has changed.” If Israel doesn’t understand, nobody does.
On Sunday, Tony Blair was in the Gaza Strip, his first visit there since 2009. It was a surprise visit – his guards deliberated up until the last moment whether to allow him to join the convoy.
He started his visit at a checkpoint in the Hamas-run territory. He avoided meeting the Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, but met three members of the Government of National Consensus established last year in an attempt to end years of infighting between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority – the ministers for Labor, Justice and Welfare.
The convoy took the western road, through Beit Lahia and the Shata refugee camp. They took him to Saja’iyya to see the destruction from Operation Protective Edge last summer; they took him to an UNRWA school to see how Gazans who lost their homes are now living.
The highlight of the visit was a meeting with 90 businesspeople – old and young. They received him extremely warmly, and he flashed them his million-dollar smile. And at the end, they all stood in line for a selfie with him.
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