Author Archives: Soccerdad

About Soccerdad

I'm a government bureaucrat with delusions of literacy.

The President’s teachable Mideast moment – the Washington Post vs. the New York Times

The Washington Post surprised yesterday with an editorial Tough on Israel: But the administration also is guilty of missteps. Rather than pocketing Mr. Netanyahu’s initial concessions — he gave a speech on Palestinian statehood and suggested parameters for curtailing settlements … Continue reading

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Aluf: Don’t be aloof part 2

Joe Klein weighed in on Aluf Benn’s column: It’s taken me decades to realize this. Most Israelis–especially those who live in Tel Aviv and environs–not only don’t see settler types, they also don’t see many Arabs. They live their lives, … Continue reading

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Aluf: Don’t be aloof

While I don’t totally agree with his perspective, Ha’aretz columnist Aluf Benn has an excellent op-ed in the New York Times today, Why won’t Obama talk to Israel? Mr. Obama came to office determined to repair America’s broken alliances in … Continue reading

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Candid and positive

The Washington Post reports that George Mitchell has left Syria and headed to Israel with good news: Earlier in the Syrian capital, Damascus, the former U.S. senator said that he had “just completed a very candid and positive conversation with … Continue reading

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If I’ve lost Ha’aretz, I’ve lost Israel

Evelyn Gordon writes about three columns in Ha’aretz that show resistance to the charms of President Obama. (h/t Israel Matzav). She concludes: When even the hard-core leftists of Haaretz’s editorial board feel that a) Obama seems hostile to Israel and … Continue reading

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Denying self-defense

The other day, Charles noted that PM Netanyahu stated the obvious; that Israel’s security fence was preventing terror. That’s part of it. But there’s a bigger reason that there’s little terror coming from the Fatah ruled areas: Israel destroyed much … Continue reading

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The cost of confrontation

Yesterday I blogged about the consequences of President Obama’s pressure on Israel. Daniel Pipes sees it as a sign that the administration is prepared to precipitate a diplomatic crisis with Israel. However Barry Rubin was less concerned. He observed that … Continue reading

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Protesting too much?

Amnesty International just issued a report condemning human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. In the 69-page report, Amnesty said that since Sept. 11, 2001, since the 11 “and in the wake of a series of attacks by armed groups and … Continue reading

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The pressure Israel only foreign policy isn’t working

President Obama has apparently decided to make a showdown with Israel over settlements his primary foreign policy initiative. Sure he offered an open hand to the Muslim world, but that was just words. The main action he has taken is … Continue reading

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Looking for peace partners in all the wrong places

Last week, while expressing some limited skepticism towards the government of Binyamin Netanyahu, Ethan Bronner of the New York Times reported that the economic and security situations in areas under the control of Fatah have improved greatly in recent years. … Continue reading

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Dissin’ Nissenbaum

Surely you remember back in March, there was quite an uproar about Israel’s conduct during Operation Cast Lead. A story in Ha’aretz, followed by one in the New York Times told of abuses committed by Israeli soldiers against Palestinian civilians. … Continue reading

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Hamas shimmers

From SNL: Wife: It’s a floor wax, I’m telling you! Husband: It’s a dessert topping, you cow! Spokesman: [ enters quickly ] Hey, hey, hey, calm down, you two. New Shimmer is both a floor wax and a dessert topping! … Continue reading

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The president’s ear

Jeremy Ben Ami of J-Street who was at the meeting between Jewish leaders and President Obama, thought that the President was amazing. In an extremely soft interview Ben Ami recounts: One is Malcolm Hoenlein’s, and he’s said this publicly, that … Continue reading

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A masterful assuaging

Last year those of us Jews who didn’t support President Obama in his bid to be elected president were subjected to ridicule. If we didn’t support him it was because we were prejudiced or misinformed. This mocking didn’t just come … Continue reading

Posted in American Scene, Iran, Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time, Jews, Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Fayyad’s facade

The Washington Post’s Howard Schneider profiles PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad, A Palestinian Technocrat Rises Steadily, but Questions Persist. The profile is generally positive but Schneider notes some of the problems that Fayyad faces. Here’s one: Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian … Continue reading

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