Your article is written by a guy involved in Oslo. Good luck to ya.

As to the Israelis out of gaza, this was just a headache and expense. There's a real problem with the settlers, too. Since by and large the don't work, live off the dole. And, don't participate in the required draft. They're ecluded for "religious reasons."

The other reality is that Olmert is NOT proposing putting anyone in hotels. There will be a WALL. That's the premise of this meeting. That it GOES UP. And, it follows the borders that eventually will deliniate Israel from it's neighbors.

What happens to those outside the wall? LEt them buy homeowners insurance. And, car insurance. Those realities have ways of moving people around.

(Heck, even in Iraq, the populations are moving around. ALL of the sunnis (otherwise known as palestinians) where were living in Baghadad, are gone. And, a lot of middle-class to rich Iraqis have departed the country.

So when you say that Israel has people who will live outside protective barriers, the pressure on them will be to find solutions. Unlike those in gaza who sat on their hands. And, the IDF had to pack them and evacuate them to safety.

Did Arik Sharon know that once the Jews were out the arabs would riot? He wasn't stupid. But he also knew it wasn't gonna be his problem.

Israel's been doing fine. But Olmert has shifted to the LEFT. And, has tossed out some of the major gains done by Bibi Netanyahu and Livnat. There's no guarantees he gets more than six months before his government collapses. And, it can collapse in three different ways. Of the ten seated Likudniks, 4 up and leave. In Kadima, of the 29, I think 10 have to go. It's in the rules that within the Knesset members can re-align.

On the other hand Omri is very, very quiet. So, who knows what's happening in the background.

The terror within the palestinian "compound" isn't reaching Israel proper. That Iran is up to mischief? Sure. But that doesn't mean I-rant is winning.

ALso, the MSM's revenues, when put up on a graph, looks like a ski slope. Downhill's not good. But it has momentum.

Okay. Back to Olmert. His base is in America! He's the one who was traveling here practically every weekend. And, the Jewish community loves him. He gets to talk to both houses of Congress. Arik never did. And, he's gonna go back with money. Because it's raised here. What's not to like? Olmert's the politician who was almost out, but is now in. Such a lucky stroke. What can I tell ya? It's fun to watch democracies in action.

I think the world needs a lot of help when it relies on vision from Bush and Olmert.

You're dreaming, Steve. It is far more likely they will discuss how to kill the Muslims off at a quicker clip. Wake up, man.

Ho hum, ....after 5 years of watching this Israeli crapola...and billions of our US dollars flow down this toilet, I can't even hear the word Israel without barfing...

Sooner or later Israel is going to get it's just deserts for it's "expansion by slo mo genocide" in Palestine and so will we for supporting these 21st century midget nazis and allowing our goverment to be inflitrated by them.

I agree with the CIA guys, Israel could disappear tomorrow and the US would not only not miss it, but have a fatter wallet, a better reputation and more friends.

besides fixing israel's borders, THIS is what bush and olmert will be talking about...

(from Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner as quoted by Steve Soto at The LeftCoaster...)

"We know that Bush and Olmert are meeting this Tuesday, and you don’t have to be a psychic to guess what they’ll be talking about. The Security Council is meeting Wednesday to finish work on a resolution calling for the Iranians to suspend enrichment activities while negotiations continue, something that the Iranians have already rejected as violating their rights under the NPT. We also suspect that neither the Russians nor the Chinese will support a Security Council resolution that can be enforced through military action. So it is very possible that the diplomatic avenue will be closed in Bush’s mind by the end of this week.

The carrier battle groups arrive in the region shortly after that."

http://takeitpersonally.blogspot.com/

more of the same:

- loan guarantees
- trash talking about Palestinians
- praise for Israeli "withdrawals"
- more advanced weapons systems
- sabre rattleing over Iran
- calls for every Palestinian to lay down arms so Israel wont be forced to brutalize them any more
- mutual masturbation over "special relationship"
- assurances that the US will never allow UN accountability of Israel

Heard last evening a report by the BBC (in the clip segueing into Fresh Air) that said, Olmert declared Iran has the technology to have a nuclear weapon in months, not the "years" others believe. Is this meeting as much setting the stage for war with Iran as continuing to hedge on the Palestinian issue?

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stats/chil-cook.html

It is fascinating to watch the choreographed sequence with which the Ahmadenijad-Hitler analogy is being constructed. Olmert's visit will undobtedely build on the recent Israeli comments about the Iranian weapons program: in the latest revelation apparently only months away from fruition. A main theme (quoting Michael Massing - NYRB) of this years AIPAC conference was to fuse the Ahmadinejad-Hitler analogy with the necessity of military action on Iran. Coming so soon after our ruinous intervention in Iraq and the undeniable, verifiable ties of its architects to various Jewish and Israeli lobbies, it is hard to stomach yet another misadventure promoted by the same choir. However, "miracle of miracles," as Tevye would have it, this too may yet come true. Meanwhile the Palestinians rot in ghettoes and camps as a testament to the perversion of the first great moral western religion, Judaism. An unfortunate misadventure ("it was really an empty land in 1948") that will keep us all on edge and send us back young Americans in body bags.

The time for deal-making seems to be far behind. What is there left to negociate? The cards were delt a long time ago but they most certainly do not lack talking points.
When I see these world leaders meeting, the only thing that comes to my mind is a Scorsese film or an episode of the Sopranos.
All they know is manipulation and brutality hidden behind pious declarations about their concern for principes.
Watch what they do, what they have done--look at the results of their actions. You can turn off the sound, it is all static and double-speak.

I'm just gonna pray George Bush realizes the differences between what are US interests and what are Israeli interests, because they aren't always the same. Yeah, that will defintely take some divine intervention.

"re-visioning"

You're kidding, right?

Steve, read this thread through, thus far.

Tell your friends in Washington that America is waking up to their bullshit. Don't you think it is about time you did too?

I have a few random questions--

Steve, you wrote several weeks ago that your sources in Israeli intelligence were considerably less worried about Iran's nuclear program than the Bush Administration is. What happened to that story? Is that still true?

The Daniel Levy article sounds nice, but it also sounds nothing like Bush, not even a little. So it reads like pure fantasy to me.

As I understand it, Hamas was elected on a platform of (1) ending corruption at home, and (2) destroying Israel one day. I abhor Hamas, but how can anyone demand that they give up half of their reason for being so soon after being elected? How is that supposed to work politically? A settlement with Hamas may simply be impossible for a good long time.

Does Israel still want bases in the Jordan Valley? Straegically, this makes sense for them, but it looks awfully bad on the map, since any Palestinian state would be well and truly surrounded.

That's enough questions for now.

Hal

carol herman, far from living off the dole, the Jewish residents of Gaza in fact built up the land by their own hard work. They created those greenhouses, schools and other businesses. No sooner did Israel pull out of Gaza, then the "palestinians" tore down the greenhouses. arabs of course don't built up or create anything, they only tear down and destroy and kill.

Laura, why are the "Palestinians" in quotes? Do you not believe they exist? It is indisputable that the vast majority of the residents of what is now Israel were not Jews in 1948. So who then were these people? Well, whatever they were, one would have to at least accept they were people! These "people" have lived for generations in a miserable state, caused for the most part by a burgeoning and ever more militaristic Israel, that has managed to quite effectively negate their rights to self determination with great skill. Islamic Terrorism, as a rap singer in the Middle East sings in a popular song today, is the bastard child of the rape of Palestine. Strong words, but perhaps with truth embedded therein. There is no peace without justice, for then and only then can hate melt into peace and even perhaps, if we dare say the word, love.

Well Laura I have to correct you...

The Palestines did not tear down the greenhouses, according to Haarezt and even the JP, the 'settlers' trashed the greenhouses before they left out of vengence...and then some Jews for Peace here in the states contributed some money to help replace them. According to the Isralei papers there was some looting and destruction by Gaza refugees after the pullout which was to be expected, same as happened in Iraq.

But the point is the 'settlers' were on land they stole with the help of the Isralei goverment. Everyone in the world except our AIPAC occupied congress recongizes that the settlers are illegimate and the settlements are illegal.

I am telling you this zionistic Greater Israel cult mentality is cruising for a bruising because they are supported by no one in the universe except our own US outlaws...and the blowback to both Israel and the US is going to be considerable when all is said and done...for two reasons, what Israel/USA is doing and has done in regard to Palestine is both immoral and illegal in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Caroll, I think you make some valid points, but I don't anyone needs to debate the finer points of what or what not the Palestinians did to the greenhouses in Gaza.

Consider what life must have been like for a young Palestinian growing up: Never sure whether your home will be bulldozed, seeing your father's farm destroyed, seeing no employment opportunities, the ever possible military raids, the endless checkpoints, having to walk for hours to visit a friend or relative, relying on handouts from the world to survive, the collective punishment that may be coming your way for the action of a cousin or brother. Frankly I would be in a psychiatric ward if I had to go through life like this. It IS torture and we should not hesitate to say this.

What is truly amazing is the majority Israeli and Mass Media expectation of rational behaviour from a child whose life was taken away in every sense other than the physical! A greenhouse is a metaphysical concept in this context. Go figure!

it looks like the amobae in Congress have done it again:http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll181.xml
(Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act)

they are an accessory to Israeli crimes against humanity. "progressive" representatives my foot. what a spineless display of cowardice! i have lost all respect for the likes of Rangel, Nadler, Waxman, Waters et al. this is a travesty of diplomacy and cements the notion held in much of the rest of the world that Americans are joined at the hip with the Israelis. where are all the eloquent voices that so impassionately fought the racism of apartheid South Africa?

Don't be surprised at how Congress votes. They are all useless which is why we are going to a collective hell in a handbasket.

Check out this amazing piece by Michael Massing in the June issue of the New York Review of Books (NYRB) on how AIPAC does what it does best, subverting democracy:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19062

Joined at the hip is an understatement, it's more like a feed valve with AIPAC's fingers wrapped tightly around the tap.

. . . and now we can add "protect and defend" the state of Israel as if it were one of our own. To my knowledge there is not formal defense treaty. But, hey, what's a little formality when it comes to the Israeli black hole.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/23/us.mideast/index.html

Hi -- off topic, but I blog here often and just wanted to let everyone know that I was just banned from dkos... for having the nerve to point that Armando (full name Armando Llorens-Sar) is a PARTNER in a anti-evironmental, anti-labor law firm (McConnell Valdes) that represents Walmart and many other perennials on the "worst corporations list." During the day Armando's law firm fights AGAINST the same progressive causes he promotes on dKos. The firm even has a lobbying department to promote corporate special interests! This is all public knowledge that he himself has presented publically, but apparently mentioning it on dkos is an offense worthy of banning. Also, this all came about in RESPONSE to a diary that he wrote attacking ME!

Is there any way you can blame this on Israel?

be like the mainstream press and blame everything on the palestianians...

No, I'd rather be a sceptic, an inquirer, someone whose mind is open at least an inch or two.

The gap between the quality of Steve Clemons' posts and the comments here is remarkable.

Blah blah blah..... "the arabs of course don't built up or create anything, they only tear down and destroy and kill."

Posted by Laura

"Arabs", eh??? You're a bigoted ass.

"the arabs of course don't built up or create anything, they only tear down and destroy and kill."

0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 4,170 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since September 29, 2000.

Peter Hansen, Commissioner General of UNRWA, condemned Israel’s demolitions: “Any humanitarian looking at the sheer number of innocent civilians who have lost their homes can only condemn Israel’s house demolition policy as a hugely disproportionate military response by an occupation army... It is a policy that creates only hardship and bitterness, and in the end can only undermine hope for future reconciliation and peace.”

Summary of Israel’s Home Demolition Policy
B’Tselem

Excerpts from “Through No Fault of Their Own”
November 15, 2004

“During the course of the al-Aqsa intifada, which began in September 2000, Israel has implemented a policy of mass demolition of Palestinian houses in the Occupied Territories. In that period, Israel has destroyed some 4,170 Palestinian homes.

“The IDF carries out three types of house demolitions. Most are carried out in the framework of what Israel calls ‘clearing operations,’ which are intended to meet what Israel defines as ‘military needs.’ These operations take place primarily in the Gaza Strip: along the Egyptian border, which passes through Rafah and its refugee camps; around settlements and army posts; alongside roads used by settlers and IDF forces; and in the northern part of the Gaza Strip [...]

“The second type of demolition are administrative demolitions of houses built without a permit. These demolitions take place in Area C in the West Bank, where Israel retains authority over planning and building even after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, and in East Jerusalem. [...]

“The third kind of house demolitions are those intended to punish the relatives and neighbors of Palestinians who carried out or are suspected of involvement in attacks against Israeli civilians or soldiers. These punitive demolitions are intended for the homes in which these suspects lived. However, in many cases, adjacent homes are also destroyed.”

"the arabs of course don't built up or create anything, they only tear down and destroy and kill."

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stats/deaths.html

3,895 Palestinians and 1,084 Israelis have been killed since September 29, 2000.

American news reports repeatedly describe Israeli military attacks against the Palestinian population as “retaliation.” However, when one looks into the chronology of death in this conflict, the reality turns out to be quite different.

Source: The Palestine Red Crescent Society, is our source for the Palestinian deaths. (Visit their statistics page, which was last updated on May 21, 2006.) Our source for the number of Israelis killed is Israel’s military, the Israel Defense Forces. (Visit their statistics page, which was last updated on January 15, 2006.)

We are currently in the process of revising the number of Israelis killed, because we recently discovered that the IDF has slightly inflated numbers.

*****

Causes of Deaths of Israeli Soldiers
2005*

Committed Suicide**
30

Illness
14

Accidents
26

Terror Incidents
6

* Source: Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv, Oct. 10, 2005, p. 6.
** The paper also reported that since 1992, 459 Israeli soldiers have committed suicide.

ViewFromMars :

I totally agree with you about the children in particular. Some time ago I read an article in Haarezt written by a sympathic Israeli about two Palestine children about 12 years old that got to go to the seashore for the first time in their lives..I think is was either after the Gaza withdrawl or one of the road openings ...the description of these children being able to go to the shore when they had only been able to look at the sea but never cross over the road to enjoy it just torn my heart out.

I will never get over my country supporting this occupation and repression.....and the filthy zionist and corrupt traitors in this country who made my country part of it need to hang...

"Is there any way you can blame this on Israel?"

Only if you follow the money and recognize AIPAC and the like as organs of the government of Israel masquerading as legitimate grass roots lobbying organizations . . . for a foreign government.

As for the rah rah US support, its a no brainer politically, again thanks to AIPAC, and the fact that virtually all politicians tow the line or risk the wrath of the Israel lobby. It just happens to coincide nicely with the fundy right wing just now as well.

Its hypocritical to the max because, if put in the context of competing politcal priorities of voters, or if citizens really comprehended the costs of enabling the zionists, you'd probably find a hoard of anti-semites coming out of the woodwork.

But, given the conflation of terrorism with all things not western, its not likely that the a clear view of the zionist charade will emerge anytime soon.

We are owned by Israel, lock, stock, and the rotten barrel of media and congress. One burp of truth about what Israel is all about concerning West Bank settlements, you are charged with being anti-semitic. Speaking the truth, about what is happening in that sick area of the world, opens you up to being anti-semitic. Having a president that thought Sharon was a man of peace, and the constitution is "just a god damned piece of paper" tells us all about where we are headed with Iran.

I don't understand the fascination with Daniel Levy.

Laura: "arabs of course don't built up or create anything, they only tear down and destroy and kill."

Were you wearing a hood when you typed this? What an embarrassment to humanity you are.

A LETTER TO AIPAC

By Betty McCollum

The letter below was sent by Representative Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, to the executive director of AIPAC. The bill mentioned, H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, would place so many restraints on aid to the Palestinian people, and so many restrictions on the administration's ability to deal with the Palestinians, that even the State Department has opposed it. AIPAC has strongly backed it. The Senate version of the bill, S. 2237, would allow the administration far more flexibility. On April 6, the House International Relations Committee passed H.R. 4681 by a vote of 36 to 2; McCollum was one of the two nays. As of May 11, AIPAC has yet to respond to her demand for an apology.

—Michael Massing

April 10, 2006

Mr. Howard Kohr
Executive Director
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
440 First Street, NW; Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20001

Dear Mr. Kohr:

During my nineteen years serving in elected office, including the past five years as a Member of Congress, never has my name and reputation been maligned or smeared as it was last week by a representative of AIPAC. Last Friday, during a call with my chief of staff, an AIPAC representative from Minnesota who has frequently lobbied me on behalf of your organization stated, "on behalf of herself, the Jewish community, AIPAC, and the voters of the Fourth District, Congresswoman McCollum's support for terrorists will not be tolerated." Ironically, this individual, who does not even live in my congressional district, feels free to speak for my constituents.

This response may have been the result of extreme emotion or irrational passion, but regardless, it is a hateful attack that is vile and offensive to me and the families I represent. I call on AIPAC to immediately condemn this un-American attack and disavow any attempt to use this type of threat and intimidation to stifle legitimate policy differences. I will not stand to be labeled or threatened in a manner that questions my patriotism or my oath of office.

Last week, I did vote against H.R. 4681 during mark-up of the bill in the House International Relations Committee. As a Member of Congress sworn to uphold the Constitution, and ensure the security of the US and represent the values and beliefs of the constituents who I serve, it was my view that H.R. 4681 goes beyond the State Department's current policies toward Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and potentially undermines the US position vis-à-vis the coordinated international pressure on Hamas. The language contained in S. 2237 accurately reflects my position.

Keeping diplomatic pressure on Hamas to renounce terrorism, recognize the State of Israel, dismantle terrorist infrastructure, and honor past agreements and treaty obligations, while preventing a humanitarian crisis among the Palestinian people, are all policy goals already strongly supported by myself, the Bush administration, Congress and the American people. But, if the purpose of H.R. 4681 was to send another strong message to Hamas and the Palestinian people, as Congress already has sent with the passage of S. Con. Res. 79, then I disagree with the vehicle for that message. In my opinion, Congress should be articulating clear support for the Secretary of State's present course of action; not creating a new law which likely diminishes the diplomatic tools needed to advance US policy goals with regard to the Palestinian people, potentially cuts US funding to the United Nations, and largely restates current law while creating on-going and burdensome unfunded reporting requirements.

As you well know, in Congress we do not shy away from condemning the vile words of despots and dictators who use anti-Semitism as a weapon to incite hatred, fear and violence. AIPAC should not have a lower standard for persons affiliated and representing its organization when they label a Member of Congress who thinks for herself and always puts the interest of our nation and people first a supporter of terrorists.

You and your colleagues at AIPAC have the right to disagree with my position on any piece of legislation, but for an AIPAC representative to say that I would ever vote to support Middle East terrorists over the interests of my country will never be tolerated by me or the families I serve. This incident rises to a level in which a formal, written apology is required.

Mr. Kohr, I am a supporter of a strong US–Israeli relationship and my voting record speaks for itself. This will not change. But until I receive a formal, written apology from your organization I must inform you that AIPAC representatives are not welcome in my offices or for meetings with my staff.

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress
4th District, Minnesota
Washington, D.C.

Jiggy -- I jumped into the midst of the brouhaha on Kos before seeing your post. But I had suspected all was not correct with Armando's "sweetness and light" version of the story.

Frankly, I (as "goblue72" did last fall) smell a monetary sellout, or compromise, at least, of principle.

I think Armando's vaunted desire for anonymity was NOT about worrying about compromising his posts at Kos, but about losing corporate clients if they knew more about him.