Check out what Ehud Olmert just declared (according to Ha’aretz):
If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights (also for the Palestinians in the territories), then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished. The Jewish organizations, which were our power base in America, will be the first to come out against us because they will say they cannot support a state that does not support democracy and equal voting rights for all its residents“
Yes, for once Olmert got it right. He even claims that he already said all these things four years ago and, in fact, he did. This really begs the question of why during all these years did Olmert, and all his predecessors, work so hard to make a two state solution simply impossible?
The answer is simple: the Israelis did indeed endeavor all these years to make *their version* two state solution possible, that version being a combination of the biggest open air prison on earth (Gaza) and a small number of isolated bantustans (West Bank) controlled by (US financed, armed and trained) Palestinian collaborationist forces lead by a small coterie of corrupt officials in Ramallah.
The threat, as outlined by Olmert, is real. Israel is becoming a pariah apartheid state and American Jews are becoming more and more offended its policies. It is one thing to defend the mythical Eretz Israel of Leon Uris and quite another to have to defend the last openly racist regime on the planet and its systematic atrocities and violations of international law and human rights.
The old myth about ‘Antisemitism’ fulled by the ‘us versus them’ mentality is slowly crumbling and more and more American (and Israeli) Jewish organizations are spontaneously appearing which try to find an alternative to the AIPAC/ADL/ZOA/CPMAJO/JINSA Neocon cabal and its propaganda.
Regardless, the Neocons in the USA and Israel will continue make absolutely everything in their power to make a real two state solution impossible and I would argue that they have achieved their goal: a real two state solution is, by now, simply impossible. Which leaves only two alternativea: kill most, if not all, the Palestinians or settle for a one state solution.
Thus it ironically appears that Olmert agrees with Ahmadinejad:
Olmert: If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights (also for the Palestinians in the territories), then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished (translation: unless we succeed into getting rid of most the Palestinians under our control Israel will not survive as “a Jewish state and as a state of all the Jewish people”, to use the *official* Israeli formula)
Ahmadinejad (quoting Khomenei): “the regime occupying Jerusalem will vanish from the page of time” (translation: since the regime occupying Jerusalem is racist by its very nature, and since it will never succeeded in getting rid of most of the Palestinians under its control, Israel will not survive as “a Jewish state and as a state of all the Jewish people”).
Sure looks to me that these two agree here. One, of course, dreads this moment while the other yearns for it. Still, this will happen eventually as no political system can expect to survive, much less so enjoy any peace, if it is built on racism and violence.
From now on, its just a race for time with one side desperately trying to delay the inevitable and the other trying to survive until it happens.
I dunno, VS.
Sure, many (but certainly not most) US Jews are critical of individual policies of the state of Israel, but very few are anti-Zionist. Nor do I see much prospect that they will be in the foreseeable future. And I really don’t think Olmert has much to fear about US Jews turning against an obviously racist state – if that were the case, they would never have supported Israel in the first place.
The only factor that I can see which could turn large numbers of US Jews against Israel would be if that state fell from favour with US decision makers. If, for whatever combination of reasons, the US political elite decided that unconditional support of Israel was not in America’s best interests, and if the political climate changed to the extent that it were possible to openly debate US support for Israel, it is quite possible that many US Jews would no longer be quite so ‘supportive’ of Israel. I suppose this is the Chomsky thesis: that Jewish support for Israel did not so much cause the overwhelming political support for that country, but was rather a result of it. Not sure if I entirely agree, but it’s certainly worth some thought.
Sorry totally OFF topic
but this Palestinian lady has just won a prize in Jordan it was nice to see her smile
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/313770484_29e238e2a8.jpg
Quote Irish Eyes :The only factor that I can see which could turn large numbers of US Jews against Israel would be if that state fell from favour with US decision makers. End quote .
The Earth will become square before that can happen .
Just wanted to add that Many US officials and Media experts still peddle the lie that Ahmadinejad said he will wipe Israel out of the world Map , (and he may use his Nuclear weapons ) and no one correct them , not even So called Credible CNN staff . they even repeated it on AL Jazeera with no one reacting . I wish i was there . i will make them look like liers in front of millions of viewers .
“The Earth will become square before that can happen “
Granted, there is no prospect of it happening any time soon. However, what is already happening is that the US is losing power to influence events in the ME, and the world in general. As the great David Hirst has written, like all colonial entities, Israel requires a metropolitan sponsor to continue its existence. Absent that sponsor, Israel will wither away.
I agree , America may be losing its power but still it is still the most powerful nation on earth and has enough money , resources, and armies around the world to still remain feared and behave like a bully .
and the sayanims around the world will always stand by Israel no matter what . or they can fool our Arab leaders to lend them the money too . Most Saudis and Khaleejis invest in the US and Europe and keep their wealth there too , as they do not trust their own banks .
Fatimah, most Arabs Israelis, and Americans agree on almost everything important.
We all want a rapidly growing global economy that benefits all of us. We also want to work together to solve global problems and provide global public goods (Climate Change, fighting infectious diseases, fighting organized crime, smashing the Takfiris, keeping the global see lanes open, integrating Africa into the global economy and facilitating their prosperity, reducing pollution, global technology access for everyone, etc.)
The rest is mostly noise.
We (and the rest of the world) are collectively failing at fixing a total mess-up in Palestine.
We need to come up with a holistic plan to do that. I think it will require a Marshall plan paid for by foreign taxpayers (including Israeli Taxpayers and Western Tax-payers), as well as a long term commitment to helping the Palestinian state improve its capabilities, governance, police, army. Then the Palestinians can arrest or deport all the terrorist, ordinary crime and organized crime trouble makers. Israel won’t need to spend as much on defense (they will be able to outsource part of it to the new Palestinian security forces), and will be able to allow free movement of goods, services, investment, tourists and workers across their borders with Palestine. The resulting economic boom and increased security would greatly benefit both countries.
Ahmadinejad is a wacko. Just leave it at that. Fortunately he has little real power inside Iran, and most Iranians don’t like him. Talking about Ahmadinejad’s absurd statements is a waste of time.
I really like the name Fatimah. The Koran describes her as the second holiest woman ever born after Mary, mother of Jesus.
I wish Fatimah would come back from heaven and solve our many global problems today.