This video clip is taken from Glenn Beck’s program Exposed: The Extremist Agenda. It features a section on the threat from Iran and an interview with Benjamin Netanyahu (former Israeli prime minister and chairman of the Likud party). For those who are interested, the full program is available here.
Category Archives: Middle East Politics
Hezbollah’s offensive in Lebanon has begun
by Dr. Walid Phares
From World Defense Review:
According to sources and contacts – as well as statements made in Lebanon over the past few weeks – all analysis indicates that Hezbollah is on the verge of an all out offensive in Lebanon to crumble the “March 14” Seniora Government and to seize strategic control in the country.
Following are few points deserving attention (a more comprehensive analysis will follow later):
1. As predicted since July 12, (and posted on the Counterterrorism Blog), the aim of Hezbollah’s summer war with Israel, was to provoke a “strike-back” at the Lebanese Government and reshape the balance of power in Lebanon to the advantage of the Teheran-Damascus axis. Nasrallah and his allies across the sectarian divide aimed at shifting the issue of disarming Hezbollah and militias (according to UNSCR 1559) to crumbling the government, which is supposed to implement this disarming process.
2. By mid-October, Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies had begun a political counter offensive aiming at “enlarging” the Seniora cabinet, as a way to paralyzing it further from the inside. The political discussions took longer than anticipated by Hezbollah. Hence, a decision was made in Tehran (and subsequently in Damascus ) to move forward.
Continue reading Hezbollah’s offensive in Lebanon has begun
Horsefeathers
by Gerald A. Honigman
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently gave a speech in which she said something to the effect that there would be no greater cause than the birth of Palestine.
Horsefeathers…
While my own limited Arabic, Turkish, and so forth from my own doctoral studies’ days has grown all too rusty over the decades, Condi better stick to her Russian expertise for sure. And relying on the Arabists who too often run the show at Foggy Bottom doesn’t change this for the better either. Together, on this topic at least, they all behave as if they are deaf, dumb, and blind to what is happening on the real Planet Earth. The sad reality is that they do know better…yet don’t hesitate to stick it to the Jews anyway. Recall that Condi’s crew fought President Truman over the very rebirth of Israel in the first place. But as Truman himself also said, “the buck stops here.” So President Bush must agree with what’s going on.
Now think about Dr. Rice’s statement long and hard…
Nothing could be more deserving or noble than the Arabs gaining their 22nd state, and second one in “Palestine” (Jordan having already emerged in 1922 on some 80% of the original April 25, 1920 Mandate)?
Really?
How about this for starters?
If the Arabs hadn’t constantly demanded that only they be granted political rights in the region with the break up of the Ottoman Turkish Empire after World War I (which controlled much of the area for about five centuries)–at the expense of scores of millions of native non-Arabs, including one-half of Israel’s Jews who were refugees from what Arabs claim as “purely Arab patrimony”– they could have had that additional state they demand over a half century ago… and many other times ever since.
Continue reading Horsefeathers
Iran Paid To Stop Captive’s Release
by Benny Avni, New York Sun
UNITED NATIONS — Iran has paid Hamas $50 million to prevent a deal to release a kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, Israel’s ambassador said here yesterday.
Dan Gillerman did not disclose his sources, but told The New York Sun that based on “reliable” sources the Israeli government believes Tehran has paid the money to the Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, to stop a deal to release Mr. Shalit.
Addressing the Security Council during a periodic discussion on the Middle East yesterday, Mr. Gillerman referred to a report yesterday in Israel’s Yediot Ahronot, saying Tehran paid $50 million to Mr. Meshaal, “to sabotage the negotiations on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit and prevent his release.”
The kidnapping of Mr. Shalit in Gaza on June 25 started a major round of confrontation between Israelis and Hamas, followed later by the July kidnapping in Lebanon of two Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwaser and Eldad Regev, which ignited the war in southern Lebanon.
A Homemade Genocide
The Arab world is subject to genocide, it is true. It’s just that it’s mostly self-inflicted, and Israel has nothing to do with any of it
by Ben Dror Yemini, Ma’ariv correspondent (translated from the original Hebrew)
Fact no. 1: Since the establishment of the State of Israel a merciless genocide is being perpetrated against Muslims and/or Arabs. Fact no. 2: The conflict in the Middle East, between Israel and the Arabs as a whole and against the Palestinians in particular, is regarded as the central conflict in the world today. Fact no. 3: According to polls carried out in the European Union, Israel holds first place as “Danger to world peace”. In Holland, for instance, 74% of the population holds this view. Not Iran. Not North Korea. Israel. Connecting between these findings creates one of the biggest deceptions of modern times: Israel is regarded as the country responsible for every calamity, misfortune and hardship. It is a danger to world peace, not just to the Arab or Muslim world.
The finger is pointed cleverly. It’s difficult to blame Israel for the genocide in Sudan or for the civil war in Algeria. How is it done? Dozens of publications, articles, books, periodicals and websites are dedicated to one purpose only: Turning Israel into a state that ceaselessly perpetrates war crimes. In Jakarta and in Khartoum they burn the Israeli flag, and in London, in Oslo and in Zurich hate articles are published, supporting the destruction of Israel.
Any request in Internet search engines for the words “genocide” against “Muslims”, “Arabs” or “Palestinians”, in the context of “Zionists” or “Israel” – will give us endless results. Even after we’ve filtered out the trash, we are left with millions of publications written in deadly seriousness.
This abundance brings results. It works like brainwashing. It is the accepted position, and not just a fringe opinion. Only five years ago we were witness to a international anti-Israeli show in the Durban Convention. Only two years ago we were shocked when a member of our Academia blamed Israel of ‘symbolic genocide’ against the Palestinian people. Much ado about nothing. There are thousands of publications blaming Israel of genocide, and not ‘symbolic’.
Continue reading A Homemade Genocide