March 4^th

No right-wing columnists are in the paper today but there is still ample material for comment. I’ll begin with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech. This was a very well received effort if we judge by the number of standing applause interruptions. But then which legislator wants to be on cameras sitting silently while the head of the Jewish state is receiving thunderous approval from almost everyone else. Anyone doing that would immediately labeled an anti-Semite, so everyone applauded.

After the speech the comments were mixed; Bibi absolutely rejected the current efforts to negotiate a reduced level of Iranian nuclear development. He claimed that Iran would violate any treaty they signed. But of course any treaty would demand inspections so any violation would be known quickly. Netanyahu did not provide any alternative to negotiation. The impression was clearly given that Israel would attack Iran if they thought an attack was necessary.

(Make no mistake; nuclear weapons in Iran’s hands would be a catastrophe for us as well as for Israel. Iran is a well-known exporter of terror and they see us as a mortal enemy; they call us the great Satan. If they do develop atomic weapons it takes little imagination to picture a dozen or more terrorists with suitcase sized bombs exploding them in the heart of our major cities.)

 Suppose Israel did attack the nuclear facilities. Keep in mind that Iran has dispersed their nuclear efforts and that many are located very deep underground. How would the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) know if its air attacks had been completely successful? Israel does maintain a very sophisticated spy service. Some of that spying has been turned against us. Johnathan Pollard gave Israel secret documents about nuclear bomb development; was caught, convicted and is serving a life sentence for his crime. Israel promised not to do that again, a promise they haven’t kept.

While Israel scoffs at any treaties Iran might sign, Israeli promises regarding settlements in the territories conquered in the 1967 war are routinely ignored. Attempts by various international bodies to censure the Israelis for these settlements, which contravene international law, have routinely led to a US veto. We play big brother to the skinny adolescent who then finds that he can get away with anything he wants. Israel wonders why most Middle-Eastern countries want them pushed into the sea.