“The Jewish People Control America”

by | Jan 14, 2009 | israel

No – that’s not ME saying that. I have no evidence to support it.

It’s actually a quote attributed to former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon from 2001.

The quote (which is allegedly from a conversation between Sharon and his Foreign Minister, as quoted by Israeli radio) reads:

I want to tell you something very clear, don’t worry about American pressure on Israel, we, the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it.

(I found the link on the Beyond The Fringe blog).

Why would Sharon say that? How does it all work? I have no theories. But I find it an interesting quote.

The US calls Israeli PM a liar

by | Jan 14, 2009 | israel, US politics

From the “When You Can’t Even Trust Your Friends” department:

A boast by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he persuaded President Bush to reverse a U.S. vote on a Gaza cease-fire at the United Nations is “just 100% totally completely not true,” the State Department declared Tuesday.

(from the LA Times – are they still running?)

So – one of them is lying.

You have to wonder – what incentive would Olmert have to lie about such a thing? To make it sound like he has pull with an out-going US President? What’s the point of that? Especially when his phone call didn’t stop the vote passing.

But if you ask yourself what incentive the USA would have for lying – that’s much easier to comprehend. They don’t want it to seem like the US President takes orders from Israel.

The LA Times story also says that diplomats from around the world were sure the vote was going to be unanimous minutes before it happened, so it seems obvious that the US State Dept is lying through their teeth.

What do you think?

(Update: Beyond The Fringe has a great and detailed analysis here.)

Condoleezza Rice left “pretty shamed” at US abstention in UN

by | Jan 14, 2009 | israel, US politics

Some interesting statements in this story.

In a speech late on Monday, (Ehud) Olmert (Prime Minister of Israel) said Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, was left “pretty shamed” at the vote and had to abstain on a resolution she had helped arrange.

(Al Jazeera – US denies Olmert influenced UN vote)

Olmert goes on to claim he rang Bush, who was pulled off stage to take the call, just minutes before the UNSC vote which insisted a halt to the Gaza offensive. Olmert told Bush that the US must abstain from the vote – and they did. Fourteen of the other fifteen members of the UNSC supported the resolution. Israel has, of course, totally ignored it. Wouldn’t you love to hear a copy of that phone call?

Let’s remember once again that the UN created Israel in the first place. Israel has been a member since 1949 and, as such, is legally bound to abide by decisions of the UNSC. As it isn’t, Israel is, by definition, a rogue nation.

Gaza Not Hard To Solve

by | Jan 12, 2009 | israel

I’ve been involved in a few debates about Gaza over the last couple of weeks – on Twitter, in Facebook, and on a variety of blogs.

And I keep hearing people say “it’s complex”. I don’t think it is.

Israel is a member of the United Nations. It has been since 1949. In fact, it owes the United Nations for its very existence.

Article 2 (points 3 and 4) of the United Nations charter states:

# All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
# All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

If Israel has issues with The Palestinian National Authority or the PLO, it should take those grievances up with the UN and the let UN decide how to deal with them. Unilateral military actions on behalf of Israel are in direct conflict with the UN charter which they have sworn to uphold. If Israel continues to fail to abide by the UN charter, then it should be evicted from the UN and declared a rogue nation.

Sounds simple to me.