A minor melodrama is playing out in Lebanon, in which Israeli spy networks have been falling like dominoes to the local security forces. The latest developments are in the Jerusalem Post. Are they true? Who knows — much of this could be Lebanese pre-election maneuvering and intrigue. But the details of the stories sure make it sound like something real is happening.
[Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad] Saniora said on Tuesday that he considers these recent events to be “very important discoveries” and lauded “the effort and the role played by the security services and the military, despite skepticism about them,” according to a report in Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday.
I’m sure many Lebanese — probably the overwhelming majority — feel a great sense of satisfaction that so many informants are being rolled up. I wonder if they also realize that the damage being done to Israel’s intelligence-gathering is only going to make the next round of war that much more destructive to Lebanon. The more Israel knows about Hezbollah, the less collateral damage is done to everything in Lebanon that is not Hezbollah.
Why should anyone be embarrassed for blocking the emergence of a(nother) Palestinian state?
I think some people need to start giving serious thought to the suspicion that Livni may be tacking her domestic political positions in accordance with the winds blowing from the creepy Obama administration.
Labour availed themselves of Clintonistas to overthrow Netanyahu.
The creepy O administration KNOWS THAT WELL, and people there played a personal part in overthrowing Netanyahu.
The creepy and incompetent O administration wants Netanyahu out, Livni in.
Everything she’s done is consistent with the line from the Obots.
Dan this is more than a suspicion. There is no question that she knows that in opposition she will have the backing of the Obots. She will, like Peres before her (during Shamir’s last hurrah) be in all intents and purposes running a shadow foreign ministry. Why she could not do that from the actual ministry is another mystery.
She fully understands that she will not only have the messiah behind her, but Europe as well, who has already told Bibi to take his place at the heels of their jackboots.
If Bibi thinks he had it rough under Clinton – he aint seen nothing yet.l
Seth Halpern — “Why should anyone be embarrassed for blocking the emergence of a(nother) Palestinian state?”
Because the only alternative to two states west of the Jordan is one state west of the Jordan. One state west of the Jordan means Israel becomes Rhodesia. Then Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. Then just Zimbabwe.
‘Seth Halpern — “Why should anyone be embarrassed for blocking the emergence of a(nother) Palestinian state?”
Markus – Because the only alternative to two states west of the Jordan is one state west of the Jordan. One state west of the Jordan means Israel becomes Rhodesia. Then Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. Then just Zimbabwe.’
Every time that the Palestinians had an opportunity to show that it could use resources under its own control for the betterment of its people and the advancement of peace and security in the region, they have used those territories as bases to attack the state of Israel, usually targeting civilian populations. There is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, to indicate that the Palestinians have any desire whatsoever for a peaceful and negotiated solution leading to two states living side by side in peace and security. In fact, an independent Palestinian state in the territories would be free to arm itself as it pleased, and would be a clear and present danger to the physical survival of the state of Israel. Those who say that if the Palestinians had an army and a state then we would just fight and destroy their army, are still living in a world where wars are fought by armies. In this case, we would see missiles being fired into Israel from everywhere, not by armies, but just like we see from Gaza. Israel does not have an answer to this. Even complete control of the strip, as we had before 2005, did not prevent completely these attacks (although they are much worse now, and with longer range missiles). Imagine what the situation would be if the PA had a state and could purchase whatever arms they wanted from Syria, Iran, Lybia?
Still, you might argue that a two state solution is the only way for Israel to maintain its political morality. So even if a two state solution does not lead to peace, it would at least lead to a better Israeli society.
But would a two state solution, which would not be negotiated nor result in peace, bring a better Israeli society? I think the answer to that is no. Living under terror with little opportunity for self-defense would undermine the very fabric of our society (see what it has done to Sderot), and incursions into a sovereign state to prevent it could easily lead to a larger regional conflict (states enter into treaties, mutual defense pacts, etc). A hostile Palestinian state on our borders would likely destroy tourism, lead to Israelis fleeing the country, and not make for a better society.
You imply that there are no other solutions than a Palestinian state. Surely there are, not that they are acceptable to the Palestinians. But many do not envision a Palestinian state on the West Bank. See, for instance the Benny Elon peace plan (google it). There are other possibilities as well, such as regional autonomy. But as you know and I know, the conflict exists and is perpetuated because the Palestinians have no intent to live in peace and security with the Jews, just as they have said time and again, and just as they have indicated with their actions time and again. Israel has offered to give up the vast majority of its ancestral homelands, it has put its population at risk (by allowing the PA and giving it guns, by withdrawing from Gaza), and it has uprooted communities, all of which show a serious commitment to peace. Israel educates its children for peace. Major political parties have peace as a large part of their message. All this means nothing, and it is in fact counterproductive, for it gives the message that we are in a panic, that we would do anything, even the irrational, for just the promise of peace.
Those who say, c’mon, you know what a final settlement is going to look like, everybody knows what it’s going to look like, just reconcile yourself to it – are either ignoring what has come before, what the Arabs are saying, or are simply ignorant. (Hah! ignorant! Someone who ignores!). I’m not calling you ignorant, but I do ask you to look outside the box. At this juncture, a two state solution is off the radar.
The Alon Plan. DOA. LOL. And what if the Arabs refuse to move from their homes?
“At this juncture, a two state solution is off the radar.”
Then, like I said, Israel becomes Rhodesia, another settler state whose enemies refused to negotiate in good faith with it.
Don’t get me wrong, Israel still COULD still survive. Jews have a lot more solidarity and cojones than British gentiles.
But there is a consequence: Israel becomes a pariah state, like Rhodesia was. Even in the United States. There are simply to many people who believe that Israel could safely pull back to the 1967 borders, regardless of the irredentism of Hamas.
No, no, the Elon plan (not the Allon plan of yore). Google it, I say. I’m not contending it’s workable. What I am saying is that there is no plan agreeable to the Palestinians which does not include the destruction of the state of Israel, not that they state it in those terms. So Israel has the option either of maintaining the status quo or imposing an arrangement. The two state arrangement is the worst we could do for ourselves, for reasons already explained.
Survival and pariah status. Sounds like the Middle Ages, doesn’t it? But you are correct, that could be the result. The world looks more medieval every day.