The mess is of considerable
proportions, as I see it. Redeemable, yes. With determination, inner
confidence, strength and faith. But are we seeing these factors in
play sufficiently? A friend told me today that she's feeling
demoralized, and she's not alone.
I actually had hopes a day
ago, that by the time I sat down to write today, late in my day, there
would have been an announcement about Bennett having signed on to the
coalition. Yesterday Likud was saying that it was coming any minute --
maybe last night, maybe during the day today. Now reports have it that it
will be in the "next few days." Obviously, while there has been progress,
everything is not going quite as smoothly as certain parties would have us
believe. I believe the catch is Livni's role in the government.
The parameters of the current
political situation are beginning to become less clouded. The deal between
Bennett and Lapid was, it seems, not that neither would join without
the other, but that neither would negotiate terms that were unacceptable to the
other. And so, apparently Bennett held out for hardi draft terms that are
acceptable to Lapid, and Lapid is making noise about the roles Livni is slated
to play, a matter of greater concern to Bennett.
~~~~~~~~~~
While perhaps we are close to
being able to assume that Bennett ultimately will sign on, it is still not clear
at all whether Lapid will. The latest news says negotiations with him
begin tomorrow, but he's hedging his bets and also maneuvering himself into
position to head the opposition, should he not join the coalition. (Were
he to head the opposition, Lapid would work day and night to bring the
government down. Surely Netanyahu realizes this.)
If they both do join, with Likud
having accomodated their terms, then it will be apparent that Netanyahu's ploy
in bringing on Livni was a huge failure.
~~~~~~~~~~
But we're not there yet.
Netanyahu is also hedging his bets. Maariv has it that he's
currently courting Shelly Yachimovich of Labor for all he's worth -- allegedly
promising Labor both the Finance Ministry and the Industry, Trade, and Labor
Ministry, the two top economic portfolios; with an additional promise to
back MK Binyamin Ben Eliezer to succeed Shimon Peres as
president.
If he brought in Yachimovich
he'd attempt to wash his hands of both Bennett and Lapid, and would take in the
hareidi parties, Shas and UTJ, along with Livni and
Mofaz.
This, my friends, makes my
hair stand on end, which is quite a trick since I have curly hair. It would
represent an absolute betrayal of those who voted for Likud and
of the members of the Likud faction itself, many of whom are right
wing.
Perhaps Yachimovich is too
smart to allow herself to be used by Netanyahu, and perhaps both Bennett and
Lapid ultimately will be on board. But I think it's time the prime
minister heard from us.
This is a communication that is
particularly important for Israelis to send.
Let him know that you are a voting
Israeli and consider his moving left a betrayal of those who elected him
and of the faction he is supposed to represent. Tell him that he's
being watched, and that how he behaves now will directly affect his political
future. If you've voted Likud in the past and do not think you will next
time around -- tell him!!
If you are Israeli, please share
with others. If you are not an Israeli, but have relatives or friends who are,
send this to them.
~~~~~~~~~~
Now we come to the issue of
Iran, an ugly situation that is rapidly deteriorating into
one more ugly still. It is because of this situation, beyond all others,
that Netanyahu's political games are so incomprehensible and so
deplorable.
He tells the world how
important facing down Iran is, and I have praised him mightily for doing
so. But he's not putting Israel in the proper place for facing down the
threat -- this requires a strong, cohesive, right wing government.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Telegraph (UK)
has published pictures, taken recently, of a heavy water production plant,
in Arak, Iran, 150 miles southwest of Teheran. Heavy water is used in
operating a reactor that produces plutonium, which can be used to produce
an atomic bomb. The pictures show activity, including a cloud of
steam, that indicates heavy water production.
What is more, pictures show
anti-aircraft missile and artillery sites protect the plant. IAEA
inspectors have been denied access to the plant since 2011. And Iran
is stonewalling on providing any information about what's going on
there.
~~~~~~~~~~
This is being referred to as
Iran's plan B for securing a nuclear weapon. But Iran's plan A is still in
operation, and being accelerated!
And so I must ask, how stupid
are the world's leaders? Do they not understand what they're going to be
facing down the road? Or do they understand
and -- for totally incomprehensible reasons -- just not care? Perhaps they
delude themselves that it won't be so bad, and that containment will work.
Perhaps they are simply cowards.
Today, the second round of
negotiations between P5 + 1 nations and Iran, at Almaty, Kazakhstan,
ended. Nothing was achieved, but Reuters reports that the Iranians were
"upbeat," seeing the talks as a "positive step" in which the six powers
tried to "get closer to our viewpoint."
The only thing that
was decided was that experts would meet in Istanbul in March, and that
political discussions would resume in Almaty on April 5.
~~~~~~~~~~
"I hope the Iranian side is
looking positively on the proposal we put forward," said EU foreign policy chief
Catherine Ashton.
The attitude expressed by her
exemplifies precisely what's wrong with these negotiations. I have noted
this on previous occasions. They are being conducted as if between two equal
parties: You give this, I'll give that. I make an offer and see if
it pleases you. Instead of a clear message (however it is couched
diplomatically): We don't like what you're doing. Continue as you have
been and we'll ensure that you are stopped. If we have to, we'll blow you
to kingdom-come. Now would you like to discuss how to dismantle your
program?
A spokesman for Ashton
said, "We are looking for flexibility from the Iranians." A splendid
example of "head in the clouds" thinking.
~~~~~~~~~~
Israeli officials seem the
only ones who are seeing matters straight, with regard to these meetings.
Said one
official:
"The Iranian strategy is
clear: to draw out diplomacy and continue to engage, but in parallel to continue
enriching uranium. They are engaged in a consistent strategy to draw out
the talks. Their ultimate goal is to keep taking, and one day surprise the world
with nuclear tests."
While the negotiating parties
are talking about making an offer to Iran regarding cutting back sanctions in
return for certain actions, the Israeli officials are speaking
about "dramatically upgrading" the sanctions, which must be
backed by a credible and convincing military option.
An official in Jerusalem
clarified, saying that the international community must clearly state what
the "or else" part of the "stop the bomb or else" equation is.
This is what they're afraid to
do.
~~~~~~~~~~
In addition to "unnamed
Israeli officials," the prime minister himself made a statement today about the
need for "military sanctions":
“We have the problem of Iran
that is continuing to defy the international community, [and] doesn’t seem to
seek an end to its military nuclear program,” said Netanyahu. "It
continues to defy all the international standards and I believe that this
requires the international community to ratchet up its sanctions and make clear
that if this continues there will be also a credible military sanction. I think
no other means will make Iran obey the wishes of the international
community.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Israel's Channel 10, cited by
Times of Israel, on Monday reported that:
"US President Barack Obama will tell Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu that a 'window of opportunity' for a military strike on Iran
will open in June,"Obama will come bearing the message that if diplomatic efforts and sanctions don’t bear fruit, Israel should 'sit tight' and let Washington take the stage, even if that means remaining on the sidelines during a US military operation...Netanyahu will be asked to refrain from any military action and keep a low profile, avoiding even the mention of a strike." The report cited unnamed officials.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-to-tell-netanyahu-us-gearing-up-for-strike/
~~~~~~~~~~
Well, in the context of the above discussion, I felt it responsible to report this, while indicating that I find it very hard to believe. Especially is this so with Hagel now to be secretary of defense.
What is most credible about this is the fact that Obama indicates he would not want Israel involved, clearly so that it would not appear to the Arab world that the US was allied with Israel or acting on Israel's behalf. President Bush senior pulled something similar when he went after Saddam Hussein.
Plus, there is the remote possibility that the exposure of Iran's plan B, which is now starting to be operational, might be stiffening Obama's back and forcing him to face realities.
But, as I've discussed before, it's a tough sell, getting Israel to sit back and trust Obama on this. Nor is it prudent Israeli policy to put Israel's security in the hands of another nation.
I ponder what is expected to happen in June that would allegedly open the "window of opportunity" that is referred to. And whether this would bring us past our own "window of opportunity" for striking. That is, if we waited, and the US failed to strike, if we would find we no longer could because we lack the equipment to hit those reinforced bunkers.
~~~~~~~~~~
That Iran is a menace to
Israel is evident even beyond the issue of its nuclear arms development.
In recent days, terrorist plots against Jews and Israelis have been exposed in
Nigeria and Cyprus.
~~~~~~~~~~
Mick Jagger and the Rolling
Stones are coming to perform here in Israel on Monday, April 15,to help
celebrate our 65th Independence Day. This is in spite of pressure brought to
bear by British, European and US Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)
groups.
"We’ve been slammed and
smacked and twittered a lot by the anti-Israeli side," said Mick Jagger, the
band’s leader... "All I can say is: anything worth doing is worth overdoing. So
we decided to add a concert on Tuesday.
"This is a huge mistake for the Stones,"
declared BDS proponent Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb. "They stand to lose a lot of money
as a result of showing solidarity with Zionism, because their most devoted fans
also support boycotting Israel."
"I don’t really count myself as a very
sophisticated businessperson," Jagger responded..."I’m a creative
artist."
Credit:
Spinner
Well bravo! So heartening to
know we have friends of courage.
And Gottlieb?
She should hang her head in shame for her statement. Her head
should hang so low that she can never lift it up again. Opposed to someone who
shows "solidarity with Zionism," and calls herself a "rabbi."
How bitterly ironic is this
situation.
You can see further information on Israel
Matzav:
I whole-heartedly endorse the suggestion
-- made by the person who sent me this information -- that everyone go out and
buy some of Jagger's music so that he comes out ahead on this.
(Thanks Paul R.)
~~~~~~~~~~
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Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner,
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