Sunday, March 14, 2010

1. East Jerusalem - So there is no question that the big story is the latest sour spot in the relations between the US and Israel. As I understand the story, a relatively low-level committee of the Israeli Ministry of the Interior announced the approval of 1,600 apartment units in East Jerusalem while Vice-President Joe Biden was in Israel.


The announcement was interpreted as a sign that Israel does not want peace. The Minister of the Interior apologized, saying that there was no intent to embarrass the Vice-President. The Minister did point out that the plans had been in the works for 3 years. More importantly, he indicated that whatever settlement freeze the Israeli Government might have agreed with (been coerced into?) the US, the freeze never applied to any part of Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, though Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to the Vice-President, and the apology was apparently accepted, Secretary of State Clinton took great umbrage at the situation. She has been quoted as saying that the situation was an "insult" to the United States.


So the rhetoric has been flying all over the place. Everyone has jumped on the Israelis, who, it would appear, were guilty of poor timing and bad management. The Palestinians have, of course, ratcheted up their outrage.

Before I link to all the various articles flying around the Internet, I will observe (and I'm not saying it's original) that while Israel plans to build some apartment units in its national capital and Iran is actively seeking to build nuclear weapons - it is, naturally, Israel that comes in for special condemnation. I think I hear Natan Sharansky's 3D test going off in the background......

I will also quote Professor Barry Rubin from one of the links below:
"What this announcement really shows is that Israel doesn’t want or intend to give up all of east Jerusalem as part of a peace agreement, which is not exactly news.

Would it be better for Israel’s international position if the announcement had not been made? Yes. Because it allows the United States—which needs excuses for the failure to succeed at peacemaking—and the PA and Arab states—which need some rationale for their own policies to blame Israel

But does it really do any material harm to a peace process which is going nowhere due to Palestinian positions? Or does it make the PA and Arab states, which are supposedly salivating for a peace deal, change their mind? In both cases, no.

So, stupid yes. But deliberate sabotage or proof of warmongering? No."
In any event - here are the links - decide for yourself:
2. Speaking Of The Vice-President - Here is the text of his speech at Tel Aviv University. RealClearWorld - The Enduring Partnership Between Israel and America. The words are good, but I have my doubts about President Obama's fondness for Israel, and how that will translate into action.

3. The Blameless, Peace-Loving Palestinians - Somehow this story seems to have flown under the radar - Palestinians Honor a Figure Reviled in Israel as a Terrorist - NYTimes.com and Commentary » Blog Archive » Remembering Dalal Mughrabi.
"And so, while Vice President Biden was busy “condemning” Israel for building housing units in its capital, the Palestinians were bogged down on when to best lionize their martyrs. But make no mistake: the Palestinians are proud of their achievements, just as the Israelis are of theirs."

And, Madame Secretary - what have you got to say about this? Pajamas Media » Promises of Reform in Palestinian Schools Unmet


4. And The Genocidal Iranian Leadership - this is an insult to the entire civilized world - what does the Secretary of State say about this? 'Hated Israel will be annihilated'


5. Iran - so, while on the topic, what's new with Iran?
6. Another Racist Gone - Disgraced aboriginal leader Ahenakew dies - Canada - Canoe.ca. You will not be missed - the words below are the words of a unredeemed, resolute antisemite:

"At his second trial on hate charges he testified that he doesn't hate Jews but still believes they caused the Second World War.

"Everybody says I'm a Jew-hater," he told court. "I don't hate the Jews, but I hate what they do to people."




8. Adolf Eichmann - Germany fights to keep Holocaust organiser's files sealed - Telegraph - why you ask? The Germans say that the information will compromise arrangements between its security services and those of other countries. Right. A more likely explanation - it will expose all the countries and institutions that helped Eichmann escape to South America and avoid immediate justice.


9. The Shoah Never Goes Away - Mass graves of Nazi victims found



12. Gay Rights In The Middle East - maybe someone should tell all the human rights-loving lefties about this - but it likely still would not change their perception of Israel - CIC Scene » “Israel Is The Only Place In The Mideast I Can Live Openly Gay”.

This is Israel


This is Iran


14. Gilad Shalit - EJP | News | France | EU parliament urges Hamas immediate release of Gilad Shalit. Imagine if he was an Arab held captive by Israel under the same conditions......



16. Professor Barry Rubin - I often link to Professor Rubin's articles. Here is a link to a lecture of his at the University of Toronto - RubinReports: Explaining the Middle East: A Lecture - the lecture itself is rather long and I have only started to watch it, but I anticipate that it will certainly put things in the proper perspective.

17. This Pretty Much Closes The Book On The Canada-US Gold Medal Game - Canada owns the podium at the White House


18. Hey, Baseball Season Is Almost Here!

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