Archive for the ‘Israel’ tag
The visit
I guess I’m not the only one that was not impress with Obama’s visit in Israel; after all it was as useful as any campaign visit usually is, none at all.
On the other hand Obama deserve some credit: unlike his rival he didn’t confuse between the different factions in the Islam and their long rivalry….
Relaxing clarifications
One of the reasons the Iranian nuclear program is causing so much distress and worry is that it is accompanied with calls to the destruction of Israel. This is probably one of the reason behind the radical change of tone coming from official Iranian. Instead of the worry cause term “Distraction” Iranian speakers using a much more politically correct term:
At a conference on the Mideast in Berlin on Wednesday, Muhammad Javad Ardashir Larijani said the “Zionist project,” which has “created only violence and atrocities,” should be “canceled.” Mr. Larijani, a former deputy foreign minister, is the brother of Iran’s former nuclear negotiator and current parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani.
I’m sure that Israelis, and the rest of the world, are much more relax now…
Phone call is much chipper
I do not question the need of a country to prepare military options for different scenarios. However, I question the wisdom behind publishing the latest Israeli air-force maneuver. Knowing the effect on the global oil market of every statement suggesting attack on Iran, mostly after the Israeli transportation minister cause a price increase because of his political aspirations, such preparations should be considered very carefully. The price for this method of communication is very high, and I don’t think that Israel will enjoy the support of the Americans who start loosing their jobs if it continue with it much longer.
The summer of 1982
June 1982. I’m walking in school with radio, listening the news - reports about forces movements in places I didn’t know that existed before (and that I later learn about in first hand). I remember the English teacher, that didn’t like me, kissing me when I announced about the cease fire and the relief in her eyes. Her husband, my electronic teacher, was there in reserved duty.
That summer I went to summer camp, organized by the army, preparing us for future rolls of combatant soldiers and officer. We were talking with a paratrooper that “was there”. We admired him and were jealous. We were worried that no fighting will be left for us when it will be our turn. I guess nothing can compete with the stupidity of the youth.
At least two guys that were with me at that summer camp died in Lebanon. We spent our youth in the mountains of Lebanon and the streets of Gaza and Hebron, killing and dying. We kept fighting the war of June 1982 telling ourself that this is the only way to protect our families back home.
Watching the the trailer of the new animation movie - Waltz with Bashir reminded me this summer. If the movie is as good as the trailer, and from what I’m here it is, it should be a great movie.
Questionable motives
I have to wonder about the timing of the investigation against the Israeli Prime-Minister, and the fact that the exclusive details were published at no other than the tabloid that is well known as a neo-con friendly. It is possible, of course, that for no apparent reason a person will decide to collaborate with the Israeli police about a bribe he gave about 15-20 years ago to the Mayor of Jerusalem. It is also possible that the newspaper that Israeli sources, that wanted to bypass the court decision, leaked the information was the NY tabloid and not more respectful newspaper. It is possible but how likely?
It is also possible that some neo-conservative groups, that are well known for their ties with the Likud party, take advantage on the opportunity to help their darling Netanyahu to get another chance as the Israeli Prime-Minister. It is also possible, and not unlikely, that those interest groups might want to complete the move before the summer so they can promote a move against Iran with much more susceptible leader in Jerusalem?
As for the Israelis, they need to choose which devil is the least worse - not a pleasant task at all.
Why did they deny?
I don’t know what to make of this: One of Obama’s campaign spokesman denied official connection between the campaign and a hebrew blog named “The Barack Obama Blog”. One of the comments for the report, and the denial, is from no other than the editor in chief of the blog platform that host this blog and it insist that:
Sorry, that’s not true.
The blog is connected to the campaign.
While I can understand the extra outreach efforts I wonder why to do that in Israel, and more confusing is why to deny doing it. Any ideas?
The obvious appointment
A new chapter in uncovering the true nature of the UN Human Right Mockery Council. This time its new appointee to special rapporteur on the “situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.”:
Falk’s conception of human rights—remember, this is what he is tasked to monitor for the UN—is also colored by his warm feelings toward Tehran. Ann Elizabeth Mayer, an associate professor of legal studies at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Islam and Human Rights: Tradition and Politics, noted in 2000 that “The international law scholar Richard Falk, who sympathizes with the Islamic Republic and who opines that ‘Islam’ is entitled to have its own ‘civilizational approach’ to human rights, embodies the tendency to imagine that Iranians need more Islamic culture, not the human rights protections valued by people in the West.”
But this is small beer compared to Falk’s latest intellectual pursuit. In 2004, Falk wrote the introduction to The New Pearl Harbor by David Ray Griffin, a book arguing that the American government was behind the attacks of September 11, 2001. Of the vast trove of 9/11 “truth” material available in print and online, it was Griffin, Falk wrote in his foreword, who “has had the patience, the fortitude, the courage, and the intelligence to put the pieces together in a single coherent account.” For Griffin’s latest book, Debunking the 9/11 Debunkers, Falk provided a dust jacket endorsement: “David Ray Griffin has established himself—alongside Seymour Hersh—as America’s number one bearer of unpleasant, yet necessary, public truths.”
This appointment is a good step in the right direction - recognizing the UN for what it is - an haven for dictatorships and a cover up for their actions. While I don’t agree with McCain on many things, the idea that the US - and any other self respecting democracies - should abandon this shameful farce of organization is not a bad idea.
Paradoxes and Fantasies
Sharp, accurate and sadly funny:
The Winograd report seems to be getting more coverage in the Lebanese media than the Israeli media. I find that perplexing. In Lebanon, officially, we don’t even recognize that Israel exists. So a commission from a fictitious country that supposedly borders us in the south demonstrates our fondness for fiction. We already knew that though. We seem to get off on fiction. We follow leaders that spew great stories. Some are divinely inspired fairytales. Others are great motivational self-help lessons by fake doctors. Of course, one of our favourites are from the children’s genre. Easy to understand, very colourful yet makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Of course, being a land of highly talented people, sometimes you get all genres in one speech, sentence and even gesture.
Read the rest here, it is worth it.
Back at work
Going back to work the day after arriving back from Israel is not the most fun thing I ever done. Trying to fight the hundreds of e-mails and many issues, which I completely ignored when vacationed, while fighting the jet-lag is making the usual Monday “back to work” mood even worse. The truth is that it all would be much easier if I wouldn’t comeback with mixed feeling from Israel - Some sad thoughts about the levantinization of Israel, but I need to recover from the jet-lag before righting this post…
