Ted Belman

“Change” has come

Editorial Board, The Jewish Press The stunning news that the U.S. plans to provide some $900 million to help rebuild Gaza is just one indication that the "change" President Obama promised is upon us and that Israel is in for a tough ride. Plainly, the notion that Hamas should feel inhibited out of fear of a repeat of Operation Cast Lead has now been rendered laughable.

The “peace process” needs to go back to the future

Elliot Abrams advises there are “two alternatives: realism and failure.” He ought to know.

Obama seeks American Jewish support for pressuring Israel

A year ago Obama spoke in Cleveland to the leaders of the Jewish community and tipped his hand,

Who wants what in the coalition

Netanyahu has met with Kadima and offered it an equal number of ministries with him being the Prime Minister. These ministries will include the foreign Ministry and Defence for Livni and Mofaz respectively. Kadima is mulling the offer. It is possible that Livni will reject it and Mofaz will accept it leading to a split of Kadima.

Solve the refugee problem and you solve the conflict.

The most insightful article posted in the last week on Israpundit is Ending the West’s Proxy War Against Israel which is subtitled Stop funding a Palestinian youth bulge, and the fighting will stop too. This article, from the WSJ Europe, focuses on the disease and not the symptoms.

The March of Folly in Gaza

The current war was preceded by colossal blunders.

Mandate for Israel

Over three years ago I came across a new demographic study by AIDRG which argues that for the foreseeable future Jews would outnumber Arabs in Israel, Judea and Samaria by a ratio of 2:1. This fact gave rise to the suggestion that Israel should favour a Jewish One-State Plan. I became an immediate convert and wrote Israel, From the Mediterranean to the Jordan. I made the acquaintance of Mike Wise, Yoram Ettinger and Bennett Zimmerman who were the driving forces behind it.

Netanyahu’s grand coalition

Caroline Glick , THE JERUSALEM POST The “international community” is eagerly anticipating the incoming Obama administration’s policy toward Israel. It is widely assumed that as soon as he comes into office, US President-elect Barack Obama will move quickly to place massive pressure on the next Israeli government to withdraw from Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights in the interests of advancing a “peace process” with the Palestinians and the Syrians.

The Jewish version of Arafat’s “Phased Plan”

Judea and Samaria activist Yechiel Leiter is promoting a plan that calls for immediate steps that will lead to the annexation of some 50% of Judea and Samaria. “There are those who fear talking about annexing 50%, because that means giving up the other 50%,” he told.

Three prominant Canadians praise Bush legacy

-Robert Fulford Bush's billions saved lived in Africa  but how many people know this? For those Canadians who hate Americans, and believe in their hearts that they are intrinsically superior to the citizens of the United States, George W. Bushs two terms have been a radiant period, an era when familiar impulses of nationalist bigotry were reinforced by unbridled, exuberant rage. At the same time, liberal Americans who see the Republicans as the party of the devil have enjoyed eight years of intense self-righteousness. Its unlikely that either group will ever know such satisfactions again.

“Liberal Fascism” - The end of freedom and prosperity

Jonah Goldberg recently wrote the book “Liberal Fascism”. He was interviewed by Glen Beck and the interviews can be seen on YouTube. There are six parts to watch.

So what is the new direction Obama proposes? Words, mere words

Today, Obama, in an attempt to burnish his foreign policy credentials, held a conference on foreign policy issues.

Change we can believe in, or not

Obama’s tells us that he is for “change we can believe in”. But is he? What is it about Bush’s policies that the Left is so angry about and wants to change.

My visit to Kibbutz Ein Harod

Mike Packard, a longtime friend of Israpundit, invited me to spend Shabbat with him and his family in Kibbutz Ein Harod. I gratefully accepted. So on Friday I hopped on a bus in Jerusalem headed for Beit Shean.

Livni is not the answer

The Jerusalem Report has a major article, The Livni Beat, which attempts to explain Livni’s politics.

A ceasefire at any cost

As I write, the “ceasefire”, lull” or whatever has been in place for an hour, but what are its terms? Nobody is saying at least not exactly. All responsible ministers are not to be seen and they are hiding behind the back of Maj Gen (ret’d), Amos Gilad who negotiated the deal under their orders.

Following Hitler’s playbook

Arab’s play offense while Israelis play defense. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of propaganda.

What’s behind the “appeasement” kefluffel?

Democrats outraged by Bush “appeasement” remark. Bush said,

This Means War

Hezbollah is now in control of Lebanon.

The US must get real about energy independence 

I watched O’Reilly’s interview of John McCain last night and came away very disappointed. McCain says that voters will prefer him for his experience over Obama with his inexperience. At best this will just overcome the age factor. After all, McCain, as they say, is no spring chicken.