Hey, let’s have another peace conference that’s a failure before it begins! France thinks that Israel should hold talks with the Hamas-affiliated PA. Netanyahu says Israel won’t hold talks with the Hamas-affiliated PA. The Hamas-affiliated PA thinks that Israel should use the 1967 lines as a starting point for talks. So do the Obama and French administrations. You know, I really, really, really can’t figure out why Israel isn’t going to take part in this French farce. Can someone help me figure it out?
It’s official: 1967 or bust is the new Palestinian motto. Way to go, Obama! Once again, you have manage to totally eff up the situation. Woo! Four more years! C’mon, let’s get a chant out here. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Yeah, this is why I almost never write Gilad Shalit updates: Every time the media claim that we’re near a breakthrough with Gilad Shalit, Hamas comes out and says it’s not true. I will post that we’re near a breakthrough when I see a picture of Gilad on the Israeli side of the border, surrounded by soldiers. I read something recently that had a perfectly reasonable idea to me: If Hamas has moderated so much, let them release Gilad to prove it. Of course they won’t. Hamas and moderation are two words that never have, and never will, go together.
Hama rules: Syrian forces are headed for the northern town where army deserters attacked army regulars, killing dozens. The civilians are fleeing to Turkey. The massive military convoy is headed by Assad’s brother. There will be a bloodbath. And maybe even a Security Council resolution condemning it. But don’t worry. Tomorrow, Israel will be the big news of the day, no matter what. And Tom Friedman will be sure to write another column condemning Israel. Just Journalism is far too optimistic that the world is going to start concentrating on, let’s see, the other news in the Middle East. If it’s Jews, it’s news. Right?
Say, you know those guys who say that Hitler really wasn’t all that bad a guy in the beginning? Yeah, eff them. And him.
What is easier that being to the Right of center and dumping on Obama as though previous GOP presidents would have solved the M.E. mess?
But more to the point: either you want, believe in a two-state solution to try for peace in the area or you prefer that Israel go on year after year constantly on edge with more and more Hezbollah and Hamas rockets being made available and used because there has been no two-state solution?
That said: what is your solution? It is tiresome to hear critics badmouth this or that proposal and yet offer nothing specific of their own.
Seriously? You’re going to pull the old “Stop bitching and give us your solution” routine?
Here’s my solution: The Palestinians and the Arabs suck up the fact that they lost the war. Israel keeps Jerusalem, all of the big settlement blocs, no “right of return,” and NO COMPENSATION UNLESS ALL THE JEWS THROWN OR DRIVEN OUT OF ARAB LANDS GET SOME, TOO. No bridge or tunnel connecting the West Bank with Gaza unless Israel gets to keep the IDF in the Jordan Valley. And Israel keeps the Golan Heights, because Syria is not trustworthy.
There’s my solution. And if you think I think previous presidents would have solved the issue, you’ve never read my blog before. I’ve been doing this for nine years, Sparky.
By the way, “nzuckerman”: I don’t know why you’re using the email of someone I’ve known for quite some time, but I don’t think you’re him. I’m betting you’re not going to last long here.
.. not sure whether you’re going to cover this in a future post, but i find the .. coordinated attack on Rep. Anthony Weiner by, well, *everybody* to be more than a little curious. did he do something in bad taste? you bet. my personal beef is *this*: Rep. Weiner has been one of the most persistent voices in all of Congress in regard to opposing any-and-all arms deals with our Saudi “ally.” and are there any foreign nationals who have invested more heavily in American media than the Saudis? (Alwaleed bin Talal comes to mind ..) / fact is, if the House of Saud really, really wants to take an American lawmaker to task, they possess the instruments to do so.
so, sure, shame on Rep. Weiner for his tasteless indiscretions, but if we’re going to start tossing out legislators, let’s first look at those whose bad decision-making directly affects their constituents.
pablo, nope, you’re really off-base there. Weiner was done in by his own little sex games, nothing more, nothing less. He did a lot more than something in bad taste. He’s a Congressman. He lied to his friends, to the media, to the public–he’s a worse liar than Bill Clinton insisting he did not have sex with “that woman.” He DARED the media to come up with proof. Whattya know, they did.
Regarding Gilad Shalit, Hamas will never free him alive. Never. Never ever. Israel needs to stop talking to anyone about Gilad Shalit and declare him, sadly, KIA. Not even the Red Cross is interested in their own so called rules. No even France, a nation that Gilad Shalit was a citizen off, is interested. They have cast the Jews to the wind and they could not be clearer they simply don’t care and won’t act. They never have and never will. The upside to this is Israel no longer need be held hostage by ‘negotiations’ and terrorists are put on notice that kidnapping serves no purpose, least of all for them.
well, i hope you’re right / but if a convenient scandal turns up that threatens Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s political career, it might be time to re-evaluate.
.. in any case, massive Saudi investment in American media continues to be underreported. any guesses why?
Hm, massive Saudi investment in American media goes unreported… hm… let’s think… Nope, can’t think of a single reason why neither that, nor the fact that the Carter Foundation lives on Saudi oil money and other Arab oil money is never mentioned during his criticisms of Israel.