Why The Proximity Talks Have Already Proved Themselves To Be A Joke

To get an idea of just how un-serious these proximity talks are, here is the beginning of the statement that was given yesterday:

Special Envoy Mitchell left the Middle East on Sunday, after completing the first round of proximity talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The talks were serious and wide-ranging.

Both parties are taking some steps to help create an atmosphere that is conducive to successful talks, including President Abbas’ statement that he will work against incitement of any sort and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement that there will be no construction at the Ramat Shlomo project for two years. They are both trying to move forward in difficult circumstances and we commend them for that.

MYTH: "East Jerusalem should be part of a Palestinian state because all its residents are Palestinian Arabs and no Jews have ever lived there."

The following is from Myths and Facts by Prof. Mitchell Bard--posted with permission:

MYTH: 

"East Jerusalem should be part of a Palestinian state because all its residents are Palestinian Arabs and no Jews have ever lived there."

It Took 2 Years, But J Street Finally Figured It Out!

This from J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami:

Ben-Ami was speaking at the launch of J Street’s newest field office, in Washington, DC.

He also noted that one of the crucial lessons the self-described “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby has learned in the group’s two years of existence is the importance of demonstrating support for Israel in order to have traction among American Jews.

After Israel, US Now Making UP With Afghanistan As Well: What's The Difference?

Gee, this sounds familiar:

The Obama administration, after 16 months of treating President Hamid Karzai with what some U.S. officials called "tough love," will welcome the Afghan leader Monday with all the trappings of a head of state, in what officials said is the start of a new, more pragmatic approach.

The shift, backed by the Pentagon and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, follows concerns that repeated public criticism of Mr. Karzai, particularly of his commitment to anticorruption efforts, was backfiring, leading the mercurial leader to lash out and undermining U.S. public support for the war

...U.S. officials said the transition from last month's bitter tenor to next week's red carpet is intentional. "The main objective of the trip is to repair the damage" caused by the war of words, says a U.S. official familiar with planning for the visit..

"Uganda Just Won't Do"

Uganda Just Won't Do

By Max Saltzman


Imagine for a moment that Israel was established in Uganda in 1948. Far from those who seek its destruction, Israel would grow and prosper. Resources would be diverted toward the sciences rather than defensive measures, and Israeli innovations would benefit the entire human race without ever being questioned. Israelis would walk the streets freely without fear and would sleep soundly through the night. And Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) would be celebrated in its full glory, without the sad preface of Yom HaZikaron (the Day of Remembrance) – there would be no need to cry for the tens of thousands of lives that were sacrificed for our homeland because no such sacrifices would have been made. Israel would just be, and this homeland would serve as a true safe haven for the Jewish people.

Still, that Ugandan utopia just wouldn't do.

Video: Dershowitz Responds To Revelations About Goldstone

Technorati Tag: Richard Goldstone and Alan Dershowitz and Apartheid.

Judge Richard Goldstone Sent Dozens Of Black South Africans To Be Hanged

The following is my translation of the original article that appeared online in Hebrew on Ynetnews

There is more coverage of the story on

• YnetNews: Judge Goldstone's dark past
• Jerusalem Post: 'Goldstone sent 28 SA blacks to death'
• Jerusalem Central: Goldstone Sent Tens of Blacks to Their Deaths in South Africa
• Media Backspin: Who Is Goldstone To Judge Israel?
• Ruminations: Hanging Judge
• The Muqata: Goldstone was apartheid judge who executed 28 blacks, receives Tikkun Award

Here is my translation of the Hebrew article:

Goldstone Sent Dozens Of Blacks To Be Hanged

The dark past of Judge Richard Goldstone from the days of Apartheid in South Africa has been revealed. It turns out that the author of the report that accused Israel of war crimes and human rights violations in "Operation Cast Lead” enforced racist laws while serving as a judge in the 80's and 90's, imposed floggings and sentenced 28 Blacks to death. The judge responded: "I was part of the system"

If Abbas Really Wants Peace, Why Does He Incite Arabs Against Israel?

This is a text copy of the original PDF document:

The Incitement Report
VOL. I, ISSUE I
Incitement by the Palestinian Authority
November 2009 - January 2010
Published by: The Center For Near East Policy Research
Beit Agron International Press Center
37 Hillel Street
Jerusalem 94581 Israel
TEL. 02 6236368
CtrForNearEastPolicyResearch@gmail.com
www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

• Al-Ayyam (PA), November 12, 2009, reported:i

“Mahmoud Abbas…spoke in favor of armed resistance at a rally marking the fifth anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death: ‘We will continue [Arafat's] long and exhausting struggle [that was] fraught with blood, sweat, and tears. The road [we are traveling] today is anchored in a noble heritage of struggle that we built with brave hands, an enlightened mind, and a national thinking [rooted in] long experience. We combined
armed struggle with political activity. Our guns were not the guns of highway robbers. They were political guns [promoting] a noble goal.’

Why The Arab/Israeli Conflict Remains Intractable

Why The Arab/Israeli Conflict Remains Intractable

Alex Grobman

There are many attempts to understand why the Arab/Israel conflict remains unresolved. Among the reasons advanced for this impasse are: years of suspicion, fear, feelings of injustice and stereotyping have created a psychological barrier between Israelis and Arabs.¹ Negative perceptions have reduced incentives to accept peace proposals, prejudice the viability of these proposals and preclude feelings of empathy.²

Video: I Am Israel

Warning: some scenes may be considered graphic



Technorati Tag: Israel and Jewish History.