After all, a strong Israel is an obstacle on the way to realizing the dreams of the Biden Administration, such as forging a “new” Middle East where Iran is a regional player.
Two more examples worth adding: the 1979 fall of the Shah, triggered by Carter's unwillingness to support him in quelling protests by force, as is the custom in all Islamic majority countries.
Then there was the 2011 effort to topple Mubarak in Egypt, following Obama's courtship of the Muslim Brotherhood with his 2009 speech to them in Cairo.
The only true American diplomatic achievement in the Middle East in the last 45 years is the Abraham Accords. It was possible only because President Trump and Jared Kushner acted independently and bypassed the mediocrities, under-achievers and anti-Americans in the State Department.
Trump did good but we must still be cautious if he wins the election. Remember: for him, it's all about the US getting THE BEST DEAL money and American jobs-wise and keeping American boots off the ground. Anything he promotes in the Middle East will have those goals in mind, not necessarily what is best for Israel.
Caution: Kamala's chief foreign policy advisor, Phillip Gordon, is part of the "Iran Experts Initiative" directed by the Iranian Foreign Ministry to improve Iran's image in the West. Another member, Robert Malley, had his security clearance revoked and was forced to take leave from his position as Biden's Middle East envoy.
Oh, Kamala's not even a consideration. I'm just saying that even the most pro-Israel president will still, by his own obligations, put America's interests before Israel's.
As a US President should. It's the job of Israel's PM to get Israeli and American interests to align.
I think we're seeing that now in real time: Israel's amazing successes against Hezbollah in the last 3 weeks have made it possible for American officials to think about a Middle East free of Iranian influence. That may account for the lack of US pressure on Israel recently regarding Hezbollah and Iran. Never imagined I'd live to see US officials say in public they want to help Israel exact a severe punishment on Iran, as Jake Sullivan recently did.
Who has to be cautious, Susan? American Jews? Israeli Jews? Should we then default to the very same ideological ignorance so blatantly practiced by the Obama/Biden/Harris administration because we need to be "cautious" about former President Trump, who accomplished more for Israel than any other U.S. president? Good try, but Harris and her brand of progressivism should be completely left out of the equation. Forever.
If you looked at one of my responses I noted that Kamala shouldn't even be a "consideration". But those who support Israel must understand that Trump's first consideration - and rightly so - is putting America's interests first. Let's hope Israel's interests can align with this but it's not a "given". For years Israel put US interests before its own survival by not consolidating the gains we made in the wars we won - and for pushing an idiotic 2-state solution.
Thank you. A rabbi I knew that studied the tribes as dad did, found a connection of the Shah’s family to Jewish. Esther, the Persian Queen was after all. Rise of Mohammed forcing conversions at pain of death in 7th c … it’s possible if not probable. The people certainly rejoiced w Israel’s counter op taking out some thugs.
You are quite right about America's sabotaging and sandbagging Israel's war effort in Gaza and Lebanon. But let us not forget that Israel paved the way for this with the Israeli left's brainchild of a two-state solution and their efforts to open the US State Department's doors to the PLO. The Israeli government, long dominated by the left, endorsed this policy with the Oslo Accords, and until October 7 the Israeli public went along with it as did Jews worldwide. Even today it remains to be seen what the Israeli government will do with the growing terrorism and murder emanating rom the Palestinian Authority. Until Israel dismantles that disgraceful excuse of a governing body and lockdowns the Palestinians there, moving forward on the Knesset vote that there will be no Palestinian state wets of the Jordan River, the daily existential threat to Israel as evidenced by the murder of 7 people in Jaffa this past week, will remain.
It is correct: the Israeli left is truly a malignant force. Stopped temporarily by Menachem Begin in 1977, it has come back with a vengeance in recent years, infiltrating the high echelons of government bureaucracy and the IDF
The academics, the students...at least a substantial number, the media .....the anti semitic state dept which blocked Jews from getting life saving visas to the USA...as the Frank family.....they are all out for blood.....Jewish lives don't matter. They will be celebrating "al aqsa flood" as Jews...most...mark the massacres and the continuing plight of the hostages. IN the scenario presented it is the USA which looks weak and feeble and to China and Russia and Iran, the US can be degraded out of any meaningful role in the Mid East. So the geniuses in our gov't could enable the Israelis to strike a punishing blow to Iran. Instead of "no" from the titular president. Just as I'm watching on the Hebrew language panal on I 24 this morning. Israel alone....Jews alone....to borrow from Bernard Henri Levi.
I agree but you are ignoring the 800lb gorilla in the room. Those pesky Palestinians.
My solution is to allow them to have a “state” with borders you want them to have. No negotiation.
Next
bring in a third party to help them set up a currency, a government, a police force etc. Everything except an army. Now they are a nation. Mazel tov.
Now As a state any violence directed towards Israel will be considered an act of war and their “country” will be subject to a “disproportionate” response legally.
After enough pounding they probably should learn the error of their ways and EVENTUALLY will have to elect a government that is more receptive to their well being and protection rather than to their predictable punishment. Problem solved.
That is very naive and won’t work. That is exactly what Sharon said after the disengagement. Did it happen? Of course not because there are all kinds of excuses. It’s only a few rockets, etc.
The Biden administration's politics before november, 5th are probably : 'for heavens sake, don't rock the boat'. But indeed, it's up to Israel to decide when to deal the final blow to Iran: no nation can tolerate a permanent existential threat from abroad, certainly not with an enemy who embraces a deathcult.
Since the 2020 coup, whatever the government says, we Americans know the opposite is true. The bully on the playground has been outgrown by his victims.
In one of Trump's recent "town hall" type rallies, he encouraged Israel to take out Iran's nuclear facilities. This is not the first time he's spoken about the risk these days of nuclear war. And I don't think it's just fear-mongering to get votes. He seems genuinely worried. But I don't think Israel is waiting for his or any other President's approval. If they haven't taken out the facilities yet it's because there are challenges in doing so they haven't figured out how to overcome. In any case, gone are the days when Israel follows the US blindly. The Biden/Harris administration's treachery towards us was a lesson we won't forget. And Israel had better quiet those far-left Jews who are stabbing us in the back, too, by still pushing for a delusional 2-state solution. Our policy MUST be to retain control over every bit of Israel, including all of Jerusalem (including the Temple Mount), the Golan Heights, Judea/Samaria and Gaza. Zero tolerance for terrorism of any kind: whether it's from Gazans or Israeli Arabs and their traitorous Jewish helpers in other parts of the country. Re-education of Palestinians or deportation. To where? To the desert if they can't find a country to take them. Our patriarch Abraham didn't worry about where the trouble-makers Hagar and Ishmael went after G-d told him to listen to Sarah and send them away. If he had worried about it (and let them stay) there would likely have never been an Israel.
Works for me. Except they never wanted a state of their own. It was all about destroying Israel, still is - and always will be as long as they live by Jihadi ideology.
Yes if Israel claims it Watch the world outrage. I’d love to see endogan foam at the mouth after 50 years of Turk occupation of Cyprus and war of genocide against Kurds
The long term solution is one that no one dares mention. That is the total expulsion of Arabs from Gaza and the West Bank and Israel annexing both as part of Israel. Give each Arab in Gaza a one-way ticket to Egypt and each Arab in the West Bank a one-way ticket to Jordan. Then tell the US and the UN to go fuck themselves.
Joshua, or anyone else for that matter, could you please explain this sentence in the article "They fear that Israel will win this war and dramatically change the balance of power in the Middle East in its favor"
Exactly, why would the Americans fear that? They should want that to be the case. I just do not understand that at all ..... they would rather have Iran than Israel?
Great article. The US reminds me of an impulsive child who acts wtihout thinking and then when things don't pan out, oops. The US in every event had a plan without ever discussing all the possibilities of what could happen once implemented. It's not surprising the Shah could forsee the future of what would happen if the US ingterfered. He knew his country and its people, as did Sadan Hussein and others, another boondongle of the US. You are right, Joshua, whatever the US says, do the opposite because they are not credible, have very little understanding of the Middle East and the Arab mind. Sadly, the US has been more of an ally to Iran than to Israel. Our administration has tried to tell us not to believe what we actually see and hear, and yet, as you pointed out, 330 days of rocket bombardment, and they're talking about a 21 day ceasefire. Obviously, they ignore what they see and hear. Biden doesn't want Israel to hit the oil fields? Hmmm. could it be because oil prices may increase and it wouldn't look good for the "election?" This administration is all about the election, but I would also say this same administration would give the very same advice to Israel without an election. A very long time ago, I read a company's mantra (cannot remember which company) but I never forgot it and that was, "A plan poorly executed is not a plan." That seems to be the M.O. of the US. Thank goodness, Israel made the choice to do what was best for its country and people. Let the US admin continues to try to appease their pro Hamas voters, hopefully, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history.
By the end, this discussion degraded to insults. It is surprising to me that people find time to insult each other. What I find quite interesting is that Jews on “both sides” feel the need to self identify themselves as Jews.
Agreed. Never follow American advice. There is an ulterior motive. Their interest does not lie with Israel! The only American that is on Israel’s side is Trump!
Two more examples worth adding: the 1979 fall of the Shah, triggered by Carter's unwillingness to support him in quelling protests by force, as is the custom in all Islamic majority countries.
Then there was the 2011 effort to topple Mubarak in Egypt, following Obama's courtship of the Muslim Brotherhood with his 2009 speech to them in Cairo.
The only true American diplomatic achievement in the Middle East in the last 45 years is the Abraham Accords. It was possible only because President Trump and Jared Kushner acted independently and bypassed the mediocrities, under-achievers and anti-Americans in the State Department.
Spot on, brother. ישר כוח 🇮🇱
Trump did good but we must still be cautious if he wins the election. Remember: for him, it's all about the US getting THE BEST DEAL money and American jobs-wise and keeping American boots off the ground. Anything he promotes in the Middle East will have those goals in mind, not necessarily what is best for Israel.
Caution: Kamala's chief foreign policy advisor, Phillip Gordon, is part of the "Iran Experts Initiative" directed by the Iranian Foreign Ministry to improve Iran's image in the West. Another member, Robert Malley, had his security clearance revoked and was forced to take leave from his position as Biden's Middle East envoy.
Conspiracy theory? https://www.semafor.com/article/09/25/2023/inside-irans-influence-operation
Trump any day of the week over Kamala
Oh, Kamala's not even a consideration. I'm just saying that even the most pro-Israel president will still, by his own obligations, put America's interests before Israel's.
As a US President should. It's the job of Israel's PM to get Israeli and American interests to align.
I think we're seeing that now in real time: Israel's amazing successes against Hezbollah in the last 3 weeks have made it possible for American officials to think about a Middle East free of Iranian influence. That may account for the lack of US pressure on Israel recently regarding Hezbollah and Iran. Never imagined I'd live to see US officials say in public they want to help Israel exact a severe punishment on Iran, as Jake Sullivan recently did.
They finally removed his security clearance…
Who has to be cautious, Susan? American Jews? Israeli Jews? Should we then default to the very same ideological ignorance so blatantly practiced by the Obama/Biden/Harris administration because we need to be "cautious" about former President Trump, who accomplished more for Israel than any other U.S. president? Good try, but Harris and her brand of progressivism should be completely left out of the equation. Forever.
If you looked at one of my responses I noted that Kamala shouldn't even be a "consideration". But those who support Israel must understand that Trump's first consideration - and rightly so - is putting America's interests first. Let's hope Israel's interests can align with this but it's not a "given". For years Israel put US interests before its own survival by not consolidating the gains we made in the wars we won - and for pushing an idiotic 2-state solution.
Amen to all…I heard a particular gem about the deposed Shah. From a rabbi…
https://www.newsweek.com/shahs-son-says-regime-change-possible-make-iran-wests-ally-1957997
Thank you. A rabbi I knew that studied the tribes as dad did, found a connection of the Shah’s family to Jewish. Esther, the Persian Queen was after all. Rise of Mohammed forcing conversions at pain of death in 7th c … it’s possible if not probable. The people certainly rejoiced w Israel’s counter op taking out some thugs.
Brilliant! Say it louder for the morons in keffiyehs up the back! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏻🙏🏻
Yeah…wrapping that Arafat kitchen towel around their necks—couture of hatred.
You are quite right about America's sabotaging and sandbagging Israel's war effort in Gaza and Lebanon. But let us not forget that Israel paved the way for this with the Israeli left's brainchild of a two-state solution and their efforts to open the US State Department's doors to the PLO. The Israeli government, long dominated by the left, endorsed this policy with the Oslo Accords, and until October 7 the Israeli public went along with it as did Jews worldwide. Even today it remains to be seen what the Israeli government will do with the growing terrorism and murder emanating rom the Palestinian Authority. Until Israel dismantles that disgraceful excuse of a governing body and lockdowns the Palestinians there, moving forward on the Knesset vote that there will be no Palestinian state wets of the Jordan River, the daily existential threat to Israel as evidenced by the murder of 7 people in Jaffa this past week, will remain.
It is correct: the Israeli left is truly a malignant force. Stopped temporarily by Menachem Begin in 1977, it has come back with a vengeance in recent years, infiltrating the high echelons of government bureaucracy and the IDF
The academics, the students...at least a substantial number, the media .....the anti semitic state dept which blocked Jews from getting life saving visas to the USA...as the Frank family.....they are all out for blood.....Jewish lives don't matter. They will be celebrating "al aqsa flood" as Jews...most...mark the massacres and the continuing plight of the hostages. IN the scenario presented it is the USA which looks weak and feeble and to China and Russia and Iran, the US can be degraded out of any meaningful role in the Mid East. So the geniuses in our gov't could enable the Israelis to strike a punishing blow to Iran. Instead of "no" from the titular president. Just as I'm watching on the Hebrew language panal on I 24 this morning. Israel alone....Jews alone....to borrow from Bernard Henri Levi.
I agree but you are ignoring the 800lb gorilla in the room. Those pesky Palestinians.
My solution is to allow them to have a “state” with borders you want them to have. No negotiation.
Next
bring in a third party to help them set up a currency, a government, a police force etc. Everything except an army. Now they are a nation. Mazel tov.
Now As a state any violence directed towards Israel will be considered an act of war and their “country” will be subject to a “disproportionate” response legally.
After enough pounding they probably should learn the error of their ways and EVENTUALLY will have to elect a government that is more receptive to their well being and protection rather than to their predictable punishment. Problem solved.
I love the idea but the Palestinians agreeing to ANY solution that doesn't involve the destruction of Israel is not in the cards this century
That is very naive and won’t work. That is exactly what Sharon said after the disengagement. Did it happen? Of course not because there are all kinds of excuses. It’s only a few rockets, etc.
Very well explained.
The Biden administration's politics before november, 5th are probably : 'for heavens sake, don't rock the boat'. But indeed, it's up to Israel to decide when to deal the final blow to Iran: no nation can tolerate a permanent existential threat from abroad, certainly not with an enemy who embraces a deathcult.
Since the 2020 coup, whatever the government says, we Americans know the opposite is true. The bully on the playground has been outgrown by his victims.
In one of Trump's recent "town hall" type rallies, he encouraged Israel to take out Iran's nuclear facilities. This is not the first time he's spoken about the risk these days of nuclear war. And I don't think it's just fear-mongering to get votes. He seems genuinely worried. But I don't think Israel is waiting for his or any other President's approval. If they haven't taken out the facilities yet it's because there are challenges in doing so they haven't figured out how to overcome. In any case, gone are the days when Israel follows the US blindly. The Biden/Harris administration's treachery towards us was a lesson we won't forget. And Israel had better quiet those far-left Jews who are stabbing us in the back, too, by still pushing for a delusional 2-state solution. Our policy MUST be to retain control over every bit of Israel, including all of Jerusalem (including the Temple Mount), the Golan Heights, Judea/Samaria and Gaza. Zero tolerance for terrorism of any kind: whether it's from Gazans or Israeli Arabs and their traitorous Jewish helpers in other parts of the country. Re-education of Palestinians or deportation. To where? To the desert if they can't find a country to take them. Our patriarch Abraham didn't worry about where the trouble-makers Hagar and Ishmael went after G-d told him to listen to Sarah and send them away. If he had worried about it (and let them stay) there would likely have never been an Israel.
there's a little patch of desert between Egypt and Sudan which is claimed by neither....so make it the Palestine State.
Works for me. Except they never wanted a state of their own. It was all about destroying Israel, still is - and always will be as long as they live by Jihadi ideology.
Yes if Israel claims it Watch the world outrage. I’d love to see endogan foam at the mouth after 50 years of Turk occupation of Cyprus and war of genocide against Kurds
Amen.
Been saying that since the 80's! "Whatever the Americans tell you tom do, do the exact opposite, and you'll do the right thing!"
The long term solution is one that no one dares mention. That is the total expulsion of Arabs from Gaza and the West Bank and Israel annexing both as part of Israel. Give each Arab in Gaza a one-way ticket to Egypt and each Arab in the West Bank a one-way ticket to Jordan. Then tell the US and the UN to go fuck themselves.
Joshua, or anyone else for that matter, could you please explain this sentence in the article "They fear that Israel will win this war and dramatically change the balance of power in the Middle East in its favor"
Exactly, why would the Americans fear that? They should want that to be the case. I just do not understand that at all ..... they would rather have Iran than Israel?
papa j
Great article. The US reminds me of an impulsive child who acts wtihout thinking and then when things don't pan out, oops. The US in every event had a plan without ever discussing all the possibilities of what could happen once implemented. It's not surprising the Shah could forsee the future of what would happen if the US ingterfered. He knew his country and its people, as did Sadan Hussein and others, another boondongle of the US. You are right, Joshua, whatever the US says, do the opposite because they are not credible, have very little understanding of the Middle East and the Arab mind. Sadly, the US has been more of an ally to Iran than to Israel. Our administration has tried to tell us not to believe what we actually see and hear, and yet, as you pointed out, 330 days of rocket bombardment, and they're talking about a 21 day ceasefire. Obviously, they ignore what they see and hear. Biden doesn't want Israel to hit the oil fields? Hmmm. could it be because oil prices may increase and it wouldn't look good for the "election?" This administration is all about the election, but I would also say this same administration would give the very same advice to Israel without an election. A very long time ago, I read a company's mantra (cannot remember which company) but I never forgot it and that was, "A plan poorly executed is not a plan." That seems to be the M.O. of the US. Thank goodness, Israel made the choice to do what was best for its country and people. Let the US admin continues to try to appease their pro Hamas voters, hopefully, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history.
America doesn't win wars, it prolongs them so our domestic defense industries keep their contracts flowing.
By the end, this discussion degraded to insults. It is surprising to me that people find time to insult each other. What I find quite interesting is that Jews on “both sides” feel the need to self identify themselves as Jews.
Agreed. Never follow American advice. There is an ulterior motive. Their interest does not lie with Israel! The only American that is on Israel’s side is Trump!