Daphne Anson: Will Israel Strike Iran? Asks TV Channel Russia Today

Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East. (From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Will Israel Strike Iran? Asks TV Channel Russia Today

Among those giving their opinions are leftwing Israeli columnist Larry Derfner (see more of his views on this issue here) and the well-known Middle East analyst Professor Barry Rubin (see his recent blog here) ...

See also this New York Times article

2 comments:

Jacob22 February 2012 at 11:20
What is it about journalists and pundits that makes them think that they know more about what Israel may or may not do, and the consequences thereafter, than the Israeli government, the IDF and its intelligence community (of which, the Mossad is only one organisation).

The answer is, arrogant stupidity (what else is new?)

My guess is that Israel response to the Iranian threat, if there is to be a response, will be innovative, effective, decisive and, most important, in a manner that will astonish, not only the Iranians, but the rest of the world, including those arrogant idiots.

Israel does not sing out of a “hymn book” when it comes to its military operations but they all have two characteristics in common. One; Israel never repeats previous operations. Two; Israel never discloses to anyone its military plans beforehand.

The rest of the noise about the subject is just fluff.
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David Guy23 February 2012 at 19:11
If I follow the Internet I would be convinced that Israel is gearing up for war. If I follow Israel television and water-cooler conversation I would be convinced of the opposite. Israel is constantly bombarded from Gaza. Should a high value target be hit my feeling is Cast Lead II is more likely than Iran I.

BTW I was in Russia during the Mamara incident and RT was my only English language news source. The lack of balance they showed (it was days before they even interviewed an Israeli analyst)was astounding. With that in mind I am very dubious about anything they broadcast about Israel.
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Islamophobia is a false allegation of prejudice which is deployed to silence rational criticism based on actual facts about attitudes and practices within the Islamic world.
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The "Apartheid" Slur

The division of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into three separate areas “A”, “B” and “C” was agreed on by Israel and the PLO pursuant to the Oslo Accords.
95% of the West Bank Arabs live in Areas A and B and their daily lives are under the total administration and control of the PLO since the Palestinian Authority was disbanded by Abbas in January 2013. The PLO has total security control in A and shares security control in B with Israel. Israel has total administrative and security control in C.
Israel is entitled to and will continue to take responsibility for the security of Jews living in the West Bank.
Jews were given the legal right to settle in the West Bank under article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter. They did so for decades until they were driven out in 1947 and not able to return there until 1967.
There are Arab roads only in the West Bank that Jews are not allowed to use. Jews are also forbidden from entering Area “A”. Selling land to Jews is forbidden by the PLO under pain of death. The PLO runs the daily lives of 95% of the West Bank Arabs and Hamas runs the daily lives of 100% of the Gazan Arabs. They have been under occupation – and subjugation – by these two evil groups for the last ten years and given no say in their future or any opportunity to elect others to lead them following the disastrous political decisions of their leaders over the past ten years. Hamas and the PLO do not accept the continued existence of a Jewish State and call for its disappearance.
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[I]t’s impossible to believe that an active antisemite wouldn’t – if only opportunistically – seek out somewhere to nestle in the manifold pleats of Israel-bashing, whether in generally diffuse anti-Zionism, or in more specific Boycott and Divestment Campaigns, Israeli Apartheid Weeks, End the Occupation movements and the like....[T]ell me that not a single Jew-hater finds the activity congenial, that criticising Israel can “never” be an expression of Jew-hating, not even when it takes the form of accusing Israeli soldiers of harvesting organs... Howard Jacobson (The Independent, 27 May 2013)

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