Friday, May 29, 2015

Netanyahu’s target wasn’t Israeli Arabs, but foreign-funded NGOs | Evelyn Gordon

Netanyahu’s target wasn’t Israeli Arabs, but foreign-funded NGOs | Evelyn Gordon:

Great article by Ms. Gordon. The destructive and corrosive effect of foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) money on Israeli democracy and politics is well-documented. The injection into the US political system by foreigners of billions of dollars, generally tied to a partisan, left wing political agenda, would never be tolerated. And yet European and US government money floods into Israel every day for the same purpose.

As is usual with Western interference into Israel's affairs (or anyones's affairs, for that matter), it achieves the opposite effect than what is intended -- it drives Israel and the Palestinians further from peace.  Israelis are made to feel more embattled and more convinced that the Western world has a disproportionate share of anti-Semites and anti-Zionists hiding behind the Palestinian cause, intent on driving Israel into the Mediterranean, and it encourages and emboldens the Palestinians to be maximalist in their "negotiating" stance (if you can call it that at all), instead of compromising towards actually achieving a functioning Palestinian state.



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Friday, May 15, 2015

With 'best allies' like these, who needs enemies? | The Times of Israel

With 'best allies' like these, who needs enemies? | The Times of Israel:
As I have written in my piece, "Israel's Golden Opportunity, if the Palestinians Would Just Cooperate...", the path to a revolutionary transformation in Israel's relations with its Arab neighbors travels through the Palestinians.

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Saturday, May 09, 2015

Moscow V-Day Parade highlights - YouTube

Moscow V-Day Parade highlights - YouTube:

What do I find interesting about this video coverage? It is from the Xinhua news agency, the official news agency of Communist China, and highlights interaction of Xi Jinping, President of China, and Vladimir Putin at the parade. In fact, this parade was effectively boycotted by Western leaders and Jinping was the most prominent foreign leader in attendance (another interesting attendee? President al-Sisi of Egypt).

This parade honors probably the most important Russian secular holiday, Victory Day, commemorating defeat of the Nazis and the deaths of over 26 million Soviet citizens. This was the 70th anniversary of Victory Day, and so a particularly important anniversary.

The Western political clash with Putin over the Ukraine has led to Putin turning east to China for improved relations, politically and economically. I am not defending Putin over his handling of the Ukraine situation, but the level of grievance with the West is high, and personal.

A cornerstone of US foreign policy is to prevent any power  or alliance from dominating the Eurasian landmass and surrounding waters. The checkers-playing idiot in the White House should keep an eye on this Chinese-Russian relationship....



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Wednesday, May 06, 2015

When the Government Kills - Jewish Policy Center

When the Government Kills - Jewish Policy Center:

This is a well documented piece about the double standard of the Obama White House lambasting Israel for civilian casualties in Gaza, in contrast to US behavior when US, Saudi and Egyptian forces kill civilians.

People in glass houses should not throw stones. Perhaps they should consider changing the so-called rules of war instead, to take into account fighting with savages who hide behind civilians.



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