AIPAC

Which Israelis should we believe on the Iranian bomb?

There are probably 25 people in the world who have enough information and experience to gauge the likelihood that Iran will develop a nuclear bomb, and -if it is intent on nuclear weapons- when the warheads will be ready. I'm certainly not one of them. Neither are the leaders of all the American Jewish groups who have been citing the most alarmist Israeli estimates, discounting other perspectives and ratcheting up tension and fear.

Fight Back: Obama’s Mideast Policy Under Attack

The status quo lobby (SQL) is getting worried. Very worried.

It knew that President Barack Obama was determined to move aggressively on his Middle East peace agenda but never imagined that he would be this bold. He telephoned the Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi leaders on his first full day in office.

The Axiom

Amidst the endless speculation and hand-wringing about this month's meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there's one simple truth about the relationship that receives far less attention: positive relations with Washington are vital for any Israeli leader.

Vice President Biden Tells Israel at AIPAC: "Show Me"

"Israel has to work for a two state-solution. You're not going to like
my saying this, but not build more settlements, dismantle existing
outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement ... and access to
economic opportunity," Vice President Joe Biden told the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) today.

Vice President Biden addressed Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyhau as a friend, congratulating him on his second term in

Israeli Leaders in Washington: Reports from the AIPAC Conference

In an address AIPAC today, Israeli President Shimon Peres said that "the current Israeli government seeks peace and will honor Jerusalem's previous commitments as they relate to the peace process with the Palestinians." 

Peres is due to meet with President Obama tomorrow. 

Shocking New Developments on AIPAC Case

The authoritative Congressional Quarterly has some big news on the AIPAC case and alleged Congressional efforts to block it.

See Josh Marshall's analysis and follow links to the CQ piece. 

One has to wonder why this is surfacing now, just a few weeks before Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with the President.

Firestorm As Freeman "Withdrawal" Explodes in MSM

Until today the story of the "pro-Israel" right's efforts (ultimately successful) to keep a critic of Israel's policies out of the National Intelligence Council has been confined to the blogosphere. As is usually the case with this subject, the so-called MSM is afraid to touch this issue with a ten foot pole. Of course, that is what the whole Freeman case was about. Worse than that, it is about the fact that the President is prevented from appointing a distinguished public servant to an intelligence post because he is critical of Israeli policies.