Comments on: The Israel Crisis

By: rose ramadhan

rose ramadhan — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:56:37 +0000

77. But seek, with the wealth which Allah has bestowed on you, the reward and happiness of the Hereafter. Do not forget your share (of the needs and provision) from this world, and be good (to others) as Allah has been good to you (by giving you more than what you needed), and do not seek mischief in the land. Allah does not like the mischiefmakers

By: Irotama

Irotama — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:39:23 +0000

El conflicto en Oriente Próximo sigue activo y es una fuente constante de violaciones de los derechos humanos.

Las preocupaciones de Amnistía Internacional en lo que se refiere a la población palestina de los Territorios Ocupados son muchas y afectan a aspectos muy amplios de su vida. Las restricciones a la libertad de circulación impuestas por el ejército israelí tienen efectos devastadores entre los palestinos. Generan pobreza y desempleo y dificultan el acceso a los centros de educación y de salud. Especialmente grave en este momento es la situación en la Franja de Gaza, donde los cierres prolongados y reiterados del paso fronterizo de Karni amenazan con acrecentar la crisis humanitaria.

By: Global Security Monitor - Center for Advanced Defense Studies

Global Security Monitor - Center for Advanced Defense Studies — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:39:37 +0000

[...] Walter Russell Mead argues that the nature of the parliamentary political system has not necessarily been Netanyahu’s friend, as his ruling coalition is fragmented and shaky: “unsavory and incompetent individuals come to hold great power in Israeli politics, and prime ministers have to indulge them, appoint them to senior posts, and hope and pray that they don’t cause too many train wrecks in Israel’s foreign policy by outrageous decisions and clownish diplomacy.” It is often the appeasement of these more extreme factions which gives Israeli foreign policy a bad name. [...]

By: Media coverage and irrational “facts” prevent real debate on Israel, Palestine, & settlements « Coreys Views

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:59:56 +0000

[...] strategy behind Israel embarrassing the United States with their recent announcement on building new settlements in East Jerusalem doesn’t require much [...]

By: A Middle East Without American Influence? | Planet-Iran.com

A Middle East Without American Influence? | Planet-Iran.com — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:35:16 +0000

[...] U.S. commentators have praised the Obama administration’s recent condemnation of Israel for announcing, during Vice [...]

By: By shaming the Israelis, Obama has hurt American interests in the Middle East. «

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:22:43 +0000

[...] U.S. commentators have praised the Obama administration’s recent condemnation of Israel for announcing, during Vice [...]

By: The Israel Crisis - the American Interest | Geopolitica OnLine

The Israel Crisis - the American Interest | Geopolitica OnLine — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:17:35 +0000

[...] leggi [...]

By: telaviv

telaviv — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:05:34 +0000

Mead, usually i find your analysis accurate, but on this one i think you miss some points. biden should not have got up and left, you overplay the insult, and it was not even meant to happen. in any case you are fighting over small fry, over timing.
http://www.tnr.com/article/world/the-crisis

By: Norwegian Shooter

Norwegian Shooter — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:39:33 +0000

Wow, you touched a nerve there WRM! Congrats on your traffic.

“The administration’s goal should be to get the peace process on track, not to score points.”

“Scoring points” – applying WH pressure – against the Israeli government is the only way the peace process will get on track.

“Proportional representation ensures that even small groups with extremist views can elect enough members to the Knesset that Israeli governments have to do business with them.”

Yisrael Beitenu, the Israeli nationalist party founded by Avigdor Lieberman, has 15 seats, the third-biggest total. Shas is fifth with 11. These are not small groups, making up 20% of the population together, although some think they have extremist views. With Labor and Likud, the Israeli government doesn’t need any small parties to govern, although 2 have signed on.

“Israelis need to understand that putting the president of the United States in a humiliating position undercuts the strong support it enjoys in American public opinion.”

You haven’t proven this case. Was there “strong support” for Operation Cast Lead? Is there “strong support” for the Gaza blockade? Is there “strong support” for the 40+ year occupation?

By: dmitry

dmitry — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:39:00 +0000

To follow up, I would think that this “crisis” can be used by Netanyahu to highlight to the Israeli polity and the voting public the degree to which Israel has been depending on the good graces of, and the financial assistance from the US. In his previous cadence, when faced with a high degree of pressure from the US, the current Prime Minister unilaterally initiated a termination of the US economic aid to Israel. This brought approbation from Congress and lessened the “banana republic” effect. I would hope he is able to do the same thing and unilaterally propose a 10 year plan to gradually wean Israel off the $$ Israel gets from the US to buy US weapons with. That would be met with gratitude by the Congress, Israeli nationalists and many US taxpayers.
It would also put Ehud Barak in a trick position, him being a Defense Minister. Finally, it would enable the Israeli weapons purchases and sales other than from/to US