Ted Belman

Israel can and must act in her own best interests

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero – “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future”

Horace. As I read Ettinger’s excellent piece below, I was reminded of other historical facts having to do with limiting Jewish settlement, emigration or immigration. Even before the British Mandate, Britain was actively limiting Jewish immigration to Palestine. Stalin also prevented Jewish emigration.

The “settlement enterprise” is here to stay

The Left in Israel keeps repeating that the settlement enterprise was a mistake and should be abandoned, In 2006 Gershon Gorenberg published an article in the NYT titled Israel’s Tragedy Foretold to the same effect.

Netanyahu is sticking to Rabin’s guidelines

In attempting to evaluate the “partial freeze, we must be wary of spin. We must also be wary of “Greeks” bearing gifts. Netanyahu has released about 500 units for construction. Is this a big deal or no deal at all?

The Saudi Plan is really the US Plan

The Saudi Plan was introduced prior to the Gulf War. After the war began, the Roadmap was unveiled which included the Saudi Plan and now we are stuck with it.

Belman confronts Women in Black

Friday, in Jerusalem, is like Saturday in America only ten times better. In America, Saturday is a day unto itself. In Jerusalem, Friday is a prelude to the Shabbat. And most people here honour the Shabbat. The Shabbat is not just a day of worship like Sunday used to be in America, it is a day that is much anticipated and much prepared for. Food must be bought and cooked prior to Shabbat, a bottle of wine must be bought for saying Kiddish, flowers must be bought to grace the home and the children and their clothes must be scrubbed in preparation. All this so that the families can welcome in the Shabbat, considered a bride, at sundown.

Its an all or nothing deal now

Yesterday, I commented on the NYT article The Two State Solution Doesn’t Solve Anything but failed to address it on a strategic level.

The Problem Isn’t Settlements, It’s Arab Rejection of Israel

SIGN THE PETITION ADL : August 5, 2009 ADL has grown increasingly concerned by the seemingly single-minded focus on an Israeli settlements freeze by Administration officials and those directly engaged in promoting Israeli-Arab negotiations leading to a final resolution of the conflict. We are confident in the fortitude of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and President Obama has been clear about the stalwart U.S. support for Israel and the importance of this relationship.

Don’t just stand there, do something

The talk of the town, Jerusalem that is, is that Mitchell, Gates, Ross and a whole US team are in discussions for the sought-after freeze among other things. One Israeli diplomat commented on Israel’s position,

Just say “No” to the settlement freeze

The Jews are divided as to what they want. The left wants to get the hell out of the West Bank. The center, including Kadima and Labour, want to keep the settlement blocks containing most of the settlers but are prepared to uproot as many as 70,000 Jews, perhaps even 100,000. The right does not want to allow a Palestinian state to emerge, even if demilitarized.

Moise Feiglin gives Jewish response

First, the Obama administration used strong rhetoric demanding the end of all settlement activity.

Memo to Bibi. What your speech should entail.

The League of Nations granted to Jews everywhere the right to settle in Judea and Samaria. The Palestine Mandate recognized our right to reconstitute our ancient homeland there. The United Nations is bound by this document.

What settlement freeze commitment?

Everyone assumes that Israel is committed to freezing settlement activity without preconditions. Not so. Here's why.

What settlement freeze commitment?

Everyone assumes that Israel is committed to freezing settlement activity without preconditions. Not so. Here's why.

Justice For All

The Arabs cry out for justice. The Jews cry out for security.

Obama Weakly Explains U.S. Boycott of Durban II

Obama said in Trinidad, after attending the Summit of the Americas, that the language of the draft declaration prepared for the conference

If the US abandons Israel, will Russia fit the bill?

On March 30th DEBKA reported

DEBKAfile’s Washington sources report that the Obama administration is on the threshold of a major rapprochement with Tehran, a reversal of US policy dramatic enough to block out international sanctions. Iran will be allowed to keep its nuclear program, including military elements and enriched uranium stocks, up to the point of actually assembling a weapon.

Obama’s Muslim Outreach

One year ago I wrote about Obama's Muslim connection. No matter how strong this connection was, the main stream media and ultimately Jewish Americans ignored it.

NYT: Give the Palestinians what they want, or else.

As the Netanyahu government nears completion, everyone is piling on the pressure to succumb to Palestinian demands. The EU made it clear again, if Israel rejects the two-state solution, it won't be business as usual between Israel and the EU.

Understanding Netanyahu

In response to Solana threatening Netanyahu with these words,

Pick your poison, Israel

Israel must decide whether to attack Iran or not and whether to accept the Saudi Plan or not. In both cases Israel has to pick her poison.