This is not necessarily good news. This offer, more than it speaks of a friendship toward Israel, expresses an American resignation to the nuclearization of Iran. The 'nuclear umbrella' is meant to bring about an Israeli resignation to this reality. What the proposal means is that America will threaten Iran with a 'second strike' in response to any attack on Israel's cities with nuclear weapons.
I would like to wish my readers a good year, a year of health and peace, for you and your loved ones.
The fulfillment of some of our wishes for the coming year depends not on us but rather on others who are outside of Israel:
Stability for the world economy and the US economy in particular. The American Administration has understood at the eleventh hour that only vigorous government intervention can halt the destruction wrought by the unrestrained greed of large private corporations.
That the democratic countries stand together against the regime of the Ayatollahs in Teheran. A regime whose fascist and anti-Semitic character was again exposed this week in the UN speech of the President of Iran. If these countries impose genuine economic sanctions, if they cease to ingratiate themselves to Iran and court its favor, the need will diminish for a military action to prevent Teheran's Islamist zealots from acquiring nuclear weapons.
From my point of view, last week's most meaningful event was my participation in the AIPAC conference which took place in Washington. AIPAC is the biggest and most significant pro-Israel organization that exists in the United States. It acts as a lobby to the Senate and Congress and it succeeds, almost always, in passing legislation that is favorable to Israel.
Amid the excitement of last week's events - the announcement of negotiations with Syria and the developments in the latest Olmert corruption scandal - not enough attention was paid to the most significant event of the week: the fall of Lebanon in oil-rich Qatar.
In negotiations that took place under the sponsorship of the Qatari ruler, the Lebanese government surrendered to the demands of Hizbullah and Syria: the pro-Syrian military chief General Michel Suleiman was nominated for the presidency, Hizbullah would appoint a third of cabinet ministers (11 out of 30), Fuad Saniora would no longer remain prime minister and Hizbullah's demands for the renewed division of voting areas which would enhance its Parliament representation in the next election was also approved. Under Lebanese law, a third of government ministers have veto power on every decision. The moment 11 ministers are Hizbullah members, every decision made in Lebanon has to first be approved by Teheran and Damascus.
The killing of a senior Islamic Jihad operative in the West Bank and the renewal of attacks on the western Negev last week only illustrated further the threat posed by Islamic terror.
These incidents brought to light the purpose of using targeted killings against senior operatives who are known to be carrying high-trajectory weapons aimed at our cities - we're not just talking about Sderot anymore and the areas in the western Negev, we are now also talking about our cities in the north.
In order to understand the answer, one must be aware of these fundamental facts:
Brian Sandridge CT, USA: If America won't even establish a naval blockade on Iran, and do all the other things mentioned above like economic boycott by the Anglosphere with maybe EU support, why would anyone believe that the US would retaliate with a nuclear strike on Iran. What if Russia places an "umbrella" around Iran? Will the US trade say Seattle for Tel Aviv?
No, Israel better recall that only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has brought them like Wings of the Eagle back to the land promised their ancestors. Do not lean on weak reeds!
Daniel Gritsky, London: What's interesting is that americans tend to view guns and weapons differently than non-americans do. For instance, if you check out http://www.thegunpoll.com you can see a survey that clearly shows americans want to be in control of weapons much differently than internationals do. Pretty interesting
Lars, Mad City, USA: This is a joke, right? You can't possibly believe that the United States, the UN, or ANY other country is going to prevent Iran from getting their bomb? If it isn't already in the protective shelter, it sure will be. Dr. Sneh, you are correct that the powers in the United States, occupied as they are with a finanacial crisis, NEVER intended to do anything but talk about Iran and a Nuke. It is, as it always has been "an Isreali problem"...if not now, it will be. The UN and Europe won't lift a finger either. Peaceful men like you shall one day know that "talk" is only good for tea parties.
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