Tag: israel

Bibi’s Dilemma — and Barack’s

“Bibi” Netanyahu was disgusted. "My initial reaction is that Iran has gotten a freebie. It has got five weeks to continue enrichment without any limitation." The Israeli prime minister was referring to Saturday’s meeting in Istanbul of the P5-plus-1 — the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany — with representatives from … Continue reading “Bibi’s Dilemma — and Barack’s”

European Airlines Silence Palestine Protest

JERUSALEM — As 60 percent of the international activists set to land at Ben Gurion airport Sunday had their plane tickets cancelled, organizers of the "Welcome to Palestine" fly-in campaign condemned what they say is European complicity in Israel’s illegal restrictions on their right to travel freely. "It’s a sign of capitulation and obedience to … Continue reading “European Airlines Silence Palestine Protest”

US-Israel Deal to Demand Qom Closure Threatens Nuclear Talks

The Barack Obama administration has adopted a demand in the negotiations with Iran beginning Saturday that its Fordow enrichment facility must be shut down and eventually dismantled based on an understanding with Israel that risks the collapse of the negotiations. It is unclear, however, whether the administration intends to press that demand regardless of Iran’s … Continue reading “US-Israel Deal to Demand Qom Closure Threatens Nuclear Talks”

The Babylonian Captivity of Washington

The most troubling prerogative of modern government is the ability of the sovereign or head of state to go to war.  War means death, debt, and, if the decision is a bad one, the very end of civil society and the prevailing political order.  Because war is potentially so terrible, a number of nations have curtailed … Continue reading “The Babylonian Captivity of Washington”

US to Iran: Surrender Dorothy!

On a recent trip to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid down the law: America must threaten the Iranians with war if Tehran insists on pursuing its nuclear energy program. We are supposed to take seriously Netanyahu’s threats to strike Iran himself, in spite of the fact that Israel has neither the means nor … Continue reading “US to Iran: Surrender Dorothy!”

Spying on the Spies

Stewart Nozette, a brilliant scientist whose work was instrumental in advancing the US space program, was convicted last year of attempting to spy on behalf of Israel, and this month was sentenced to 13 years in prison and a substantial fine. Under investigation for over-charging the government for various services performed by his nonprofit, Nozette … Continue reading “Spying on the Spies”

The Islamophobia Excuse

It seems that the Republican presidential aspirants’ fervor to confront Islam has receded a bit with the decline and fall of Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich, but one can likely still count on Rick Santorum to come up with some bon mots on the threat posed by Shariah law. Those who fear that hands will … Continue reading “The Islamophobia Excuse”

Israeli Experts Mum on Iran Attack to Support Bibi’s Bluff

TEL AVIV — A striking feature of the Israeli political landscape in recent months has been the absence of a serious debate among national security figures on the issue of the threat of war with Iran. It is well-known that many prominent former military and intelligence officials believe an attack on Iran would be disastrous … Continue reading “Israeli Experts Mum on Iran Attack to Support Bibi’s Bluff”

A Palestinian Mandela

Marwan Barghouti has spoken up. After a long silence, he has sent a message from prison. In Israeli ears, this message does not sound pleasant. But for Palestinians, and for Arabs in general, it makes sense. His message may well become the new program of the Palestinian liberation movement. I first met Marwan in the … Continue reading “A Palestinian Mandela”

J Street Stresses Return to Stalled Talks

At the third annual conference of J Street, the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby group that is widely seen as a counterweight to the more right-wing American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Israel-Palestine conflict took the focus back from the ongoing tension with Iran. There was much talk of Iran at the Washington conference, but J … Continue reading “J Street Stresses Return to Stalled Talks”