I've been a Zionist all my life - I BELIEVE in Israel's right to exist within the borders defined by the United Nations in 1948. Having said this, my opinion of Netanyahu's government are easy to delineate. I'll never forgive his circumventing President Obama when he came to the US at the invitation of the GOP leaders in Congress, that's point 1. Now we see that he is not only friends with the tyrant in the White House but is trying to grab power in a way that is inconceivable for Israel. Israel has faced near disaster in the past and neither David B-G, Golda M., Menachem B, Shimon P. or Yitzhak R. ever requested the authority to declare war without the explicit approval of not only the Cabinet but the government and the predominance of the citizenry. Israel is a small country and every person living there has a direct role in it's defense. I cannot believe that the situation today is more dire than in times past. Who can forget, after all, that Israel has been under threat and been at war repeatedly since it's founding? The lack of respect for AMERICAN values as defined by circumventing Obama, the cozy rapport with Trump and now this power grab smack of something entirely NON-KOSHER. I leave it to the people of Israel to sort out the mess before it's too late because it seems to me that it's high time for a change in leadership. Menachem B and Yitzhak S, both Likud, were hawkish and I supported them for the most part but not this man.
4
Watch the clip with General Clark it is on you tube.Enough said
1
There are many of us who have major problems with Bibi who is selling out Israel to the Orthodox theocrats and racist extremists. He wants to be to become an Israeli Orban or Erdogan by neutralizing the Israeli Supreme Court and nixing the investigative power of the police and the prosecutors.
However, the ambitions of Teheran regime are limitless because no other Muslim entity is anymore in the way. While the Korean dictatorship about self preservation, Iran wants to play the endgame of the failed Arab Spring and be the ultimate winner.
Russia and China could not care less if also Israel goes up in smoke. They are awaiting the "natives" to wipe each other out.
No matter who is, or will be in charge in Israel, there no other way to act than making clear that threatening Israel is suicidal.
There is not a single Israeli who believes that the western powers will come to its rescue in time of need.
It painful for me read scores of plainly uninformed and hostile comments.
2
Iran's people are much smarter than their ayatollahs:
You don't amass thousands of soldiers near the border of a paranoid nation one thousand miles away without expecting fierce resistance.
1
Netanyahu's dog and pony show convinced no one but Trump. Hopefully both of them will end up impeached or in jail, sooner than later.
5
All of these comments are superficial and irrelevant. Israel
is a dangerous and militarily loaded gun that is not going to be the victim of some theocratic madmen.
Netanyahu needs leverage to reduce the risk of imminent warfare
as the Iranians probe to get closer and gain a distinct tactical
advantage from Syria. Hence Israel would love Trump to force the Iranians to
re-adjust and spent time, effort, political capital and money in
tending to their nuclear ambitions. Obama again created unintended consequences by mis-reading Iran's strategic goals and funding their objectives. Israel will not go quietly and it will preempt what even closely resembles that result. They view Iran as the quintessential existential threat. The best hope now is a safety valve where Iran changes its Syrian foray and really limits it's nuclear ambitions. Trump has to start that process. This is no place for right or wrong. This is real nuclear hardball and the Israel's see the field clearly. It either ends now for Iran or the Sunni's are next. $1,000 oil anyone?
WWII
isn't
worth
this,
.
2
I am grateful to Netanyahu for finally showing the world that we are no more clever than average. Maybe we need Jordan Peterson's lecture on antiSemitism and the bell curve. It is only at the extreme where Jews are exceptional. In the center of the curve we are just as likely to be Trump voters as your American snake handler.
3
I think there was a mistake in the first paragraph of this article. "Netanyahu has strengthened his hand in trying to foil Iran's strategic ambitions" should probably read "Netanyahu has strengthened his hand in trying to advance Israel's strategic ambitions." Pick your theocracy, folks...
1
The US has a strong Jewish representation thus constantly supporting Israel. Perhaps explains why Netanyahu is always correct and Gaza/West Bank always wrong. No Einstein needed.
4
We in the US (some of us) rail on Russia for their cyber theft, conspiracy to maliciously defraud voters and sabotage our elections. Our friend, Mr. Netanyahu, up to his ying-yang in corruption scandals, has made a quick trip to Staples to buy some metal shelves, ring binders, blank CDs, and a few blackout drapes to mount this lame craft-project infomercial with the goal of subverting our foreign policy. Call it what it is: disinformation.
And what happened to that little problem lurking in the background that was (and is) the catalyst for all this Middle East destruction, murder, and chaos? What did they used to call those guys: Palestinians?
If all else fails, we can always build a wall.
4
It's been said before, Netanyahu will gladly use every US soldier to meet his ends.
3
Bibi has less credibility than a used car salesman.
7
He's despicable
4
Bibi is a warmonger and threat to peace. Said and done.
5
Round 5,000+ in the nasty war of comments against Israel, let alone Netanyahu. And the repeated lies, such as 1. Iran is patient, never threatened Israel, a stable force in the Middle East. Amazing that these commenters never mention Iran's multiple publicized threats to wipe out Israel, a belief they've had since 1979, though threats began later. No mention of their heavy build up of Hezbollah rockets aimed directly at Israel, their increased bases in occupied Syria, with money NOT going to rebuild Syria, but only to hunker down with a new front, and more sophisticated weaponry, against Israel. Wiping out Israel is their religious imperative, so the Ayatollah and like minded clerics believe. 2. Israel was behind the failed Iraqi war. It happens that their intelligence of WMDs, along with that of America and Europe, wasn't accurate, but Israel was hardly a consideration in the war. Bush didn't concerned himself with Israel at the time. This lie is similar to the old anti-Semitic trope that Jews are always behind major wars. Many Americans in WWII blamed its involvement in Europe on the Jews, some calling it a Jewish war in which they had no interest. 3. Israel as apartheid. Those living in the 60% of the West bank that is occupied are Palestinian and carry PA passports and are entitled to vote in PA elections. They are not Israeli citizens, despite being occupied for security reasons. Totally different than native Africans who lived under apartheid rule in SA.
3
The only thing that will be lost if Trump pulls out will be the robust, inspection regime. And the only loser in that case is the rest of the world.
3
When will we be rid of this ultra-militarist war hawk? It is farcical that a leader that practices "strategic ambiguity" (about Israel's own openly secret nuclear arsenal) should lecture us that he has "proof" about another country's nuclear ambitions. Israel has routinely violated the sovereignty of its neighbors in pursuit of maintaining its military dominance. But until now it has not dared to strike at the Iranian homeland. Nor will it. He may be a bombastic warmonger, but he is not insane.
5
Reasonable world leaders, before entering some conflict that Netanyahu starts in the ME will demand to see Israel's own nuclear arms and receive proof of where they are and have been pointed. After that look - how many nations in eastern and western Europe, and the balance of the ME will back Israel, knowing they have historically had nukes pointed their way.
People, do not start saying I am making things up here, considering Israel will not/never have acknowledged their existence nor allowed International inspections.
If anyone nation brings this world to nuclear/atomic armed warfare - it will be Israel.
3
I'm 74. Seeing Netanyahu, Abbas, Giuliani. Trump, Cosby, Charlie Rose so unhinged makes me scared of what may lay ahead for me. Fortunately there are millions of counter examples.
1
People criticizing Netanyahu are plain wrong. Dead wrong.
Sending the F15s was necessary. There is a threat from Iran, and it is existential for Israel. Of course Netanyahu is instigating Murica to bomb Iranian facilities. That is the easy part. He would have earned his place in history of the glorious if he can get Saudis to bankroll the whole thing (I know, I know, one can hope).
If not, the F15s can get to Iran and back without much of a bother; Iranians have no plausible interceptors in their air force.
You go Bibi. He seems to be the only one clear that sanctions only enrich the republican guard and the mullahs, and negotiation with Iran is a waste of time.
2
The world we created for ourselves is only talk, PowerPoint hasn’t helped any. It only appears to get deeper the shallower it actually gets.
If you can't trust the messenger
How can you trust the message?
4
Iran keeps threating to wipe Israel off the map. That gives Israel the right to call out their lies. Many commenters derisively call the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi, when they wouldn't refer to other heads of state by their first names. They assume he has an agenda. Israel is not looking to start a war, but they will defend themselves if attacked. Yes, they have made pre-emptive attacks on various nuclear installations in the area in countries that have loudly threatened their existence. Many are calling for them to denuclearize. What is the difference between Israel and the rest of the Middle East? Israel never threatens to wipe other countries off the map. That is an important difference. The US would certainly not sit still if Canada and Mexico talked about wiping the US off the map and had the means to do it. Why is it different for Israel? People can pretend they are anti-Zionist when they are actually anti-semitic.
4
A war between Israel and Iran may have the potential to pull the US into the fray. The calculus is whether Russia would view this positively as it would tie up the US militarily or negatively as it would cause instability in a region it is trying to dominate through its own proxies. I believe it is the latter which is why Israel has a free hand in destroying limited but important Iranian assets. Indeed, if the US were pulled in Russia would be hard pressed to stay out since they openly support Iran and Assad. And since Russia is plaing a smart game of chess and not battleship, their own interests would not be served in such a senario.
"There are none so blind as those who will not see" (John Heywood, 1546).
Which member state of the UN routinely calls for the destruction of another member state? Only Iran - for the destruction of Israel.
Why should Israel turn a blind eye to these threats. Would Britain, would Australia etc etc.
Like him or not, Netanyahu is pointing out the reality of Israel's position. And it behoves the world to listen. Mr Obama did the world no favours in pushing through a treaty which leaks like a sieve.
3
Israel knew Iran was lying. We all also knew including President Obama. Everybody knew but now Israel proves it. Rather than condemn Iran the media is circling the wagons around President Obama's legacy. Remember, President Obama chose the Shia of Iran over the Sunni of Saudi Arabia. In Egypt he chose Morsi the Muslim Brotherhood rep over Mubarak. What a disaster President Obama's foreign policy was.
1
Netanyahu, for all his faults, seems to be a staunch defender of Israel. He seems to care very much about Israel's future security. But, we must ask, will Israel's security be enhanced by further war and conflicts?
I keep reading about how Iran is the greatest threat to stability and peace in the region, but has Iran ever attacked another nation? Yes, they fund and arm insurgents in the region. They are vying for control and influence, competing with the other powers, notably the Sauds. But how can we best dampen Iran's power?
Right now, the government of Iran is not beholden to or responsible to its citizens. It's ruled by self-appointed religious mullahs in alliance with the military. I don't think we will change this situation by military attacks and bombings. The only way lasting change will occur is internally, through its people, and this will take time.
2
Israel is the only nuclear weapon armed state in the Middle East. I shudder at the thought of two religious zealots, one facing an end of a political career due to a corruption scandal, and other a bumbling fool in defense matters, making the decision about whether to attack Iran, Egypt or Saudi Arabia in a nuclear strike.
Israel's nuclear doctrine has never been made clear, in fact, no one can speak about Israel's nuclear doctrine in Israel.
Some Israeli zealots argue that the "surrender of Sinai" including dismantling of settlements would not have occured, had Israel used nuclear weapons early in the 1973 war.
A Western/Israeli attack on Iran will cause tremendous instability in the region. We may end up with a Pakistan which is completely Islamist, rather than the currrent government which is independent enough to not allow use nuclear weapons against Israel.
Iran can-and indeed has built facilites that are immune to all but bunker busting nuclear bombs.
2
Quite obviously, we're preparing for war with Iran. Don't worry: It will be a nice safe war; easy to win, much like an exhibition game in professional sports, and we get to be the good guys.
Why, if I didn't know better, I might think Bebe would like to see 'Merica in a war with Iran.
13
Is this journalism or a press release? It sounds like the latter.
19
Bibi Netanyahu has every right to destroy Iran's military and save the world from that terrorist state.
And how he has a great friend in the White House who will support him.
11
And of course there will be no unintended consequences, right? No blowback from Russia or other stakeholders in the region. Certainly, no possibility of igniting WW III. Why wars are simple, easy to win, cheap, and never get us stuck in something we didn't want to happen like Viet Nam, Iraq, or Afghanistan, right? Clearly you know more than the generals do.
13
Plus, the Saudis are partnering with him against the Persians. This partnership could conceivably continue to the point that radical Wahabbism could stop funding terror groups around the world.
Israel has "every right" to destroy another county's military and launch a war? Are you sure? Other countries who acted on their aggressive impulses didn't fare so well. Count me out.
1
Why are liberals so afraid of the truth? Iran is the #1 sponsor of terrorism and have declared that they want to wipe Israel and the United States off of the map. Why would you side with a sworn enemy vs an sworn ally?
11
Pure domestic propaganda. Iran never attacked any country in the region and it has neither the intention neither the capability to attach Israel or the US. Iran was attacked by Iraq with the total support from the US. This is the reality as much as I don't their government. Peace and economic incentives will take down the Iranian government, A war by Israel will only boost their sense of victimism.
3
Nobody is siding with a sworn enemy. Netanyahu is ginning up war talk with a false premise. He is trying to use us.
3
"Why would you side with a sworn enemy vs an sworn ally?"
Why would you folks that diss liberals constantly come up with false dichotomies? Other than your love of oversimplification, misdirection, and pitching to the simple-minded that is.
3
Let's inspect Israel's nuclear arsenal.
23
My friend, Israel does not have thousands of troops stationed near Iran's borders. Iran is on military adventures throughout the Middle East. You can be sure that there will be many seeking the ultimate deterrent to Iran's proxy wars and imperialist tendencies.
1
Netanyahu is a mobster thug who, like Trump, Putin and Erdogan, will do ANYTHING to maintain his grip on power. The best thing that could happen would be for Iran and Israel to destroy each other. All of humankind would benefit.
11
This man is a threat to world peace and a National threat to our country! He is also a Liar and a bunch of other horrible things I don't want to say right now
18
If the Jewish people in the 1930s had a State of Israel along with a forceful advocate for their safety, there would never have been a Holocaust.
10
"If wishes were horses than beggars might ride"
Go ahead Netanyahu, start a war with Iran. You deserve the consequences. If Trump is stupid enough to send our troops in to dig you out of hole, is not going to go over well here in tthe US.
By the way, the George W. Bush Administration tried the same lie, to attack a]=Iraq, what you are doing with Iran. We never found WMDs in Iraq.
Finally, anyone following Netanyahu, he is plagued by scandal, and like Trump, is deflecting from his own scandal.
Like the US, Israel, elected far right politicians should have have never been on the ballot. People voted for Netanyahu's party, and this is what you get.
What Netanyahu will start could be more than a war with Iran, but a much bigger war that would envelope the world. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and 6.5 million Jews in Israel (14.5 million in the world). Netanyahu is about to create another Shoah.
26
Can’t believe a word he says! Another politician trying to escape investigation!
27
From what I have read in the news, Iran is keeping to the agreement and Netanyahu has not provided any evidence to the contrary.
The prime minister's actions so far have a tendency to widen the violence in the middle east, and Trump apparently has given him a blank check.
President Trump should be wary of Mr. Netanyahu. For, he would love to sucker us into a war with Iran.
But, we cannot afford another war in that region, a war that would kill and maim thousands of our soldiers and add trillions to our national debt.
Netanyahu is an extremist, and if he is removed from office for corruption, Israel and the middle east would both be better off.
29
Maybe Bibi would be a little more credible if Israel were a party to the NPT.
2
Trump isn't being suckered in. He wants Netanyahu to give him cover. It matters, not, that the reason given, is fake. Trump lies without matter, all the time.
This obsession with Iran is getting tiresome.
Persia had one of the world's most glorious civilizations for thousands of years, we won't be able to keep them down forever.
21
Any country ruled by religious zealots is doomed.
1
So far Netanyahu has shown the public fancy charts and graphs, but no proof that Iran has actually violated the treaty. In this case the attack from the F15s was an aggression move by Israel and by Israel alone.
14
Netanyahu is determined to get us into a war with Iran. Why the people of Israel elect this man is beyond me. He has to be the worst for decades.
19
If Bibi is so eager for the US to drop that Iran deal, maybe we should, and pull out of that Middle East mess altogether. Iran will consecutively pick up their nuclear development program where they had left off some years ago, and within 3 years Iran and Israel will be lobbing nukes at each other. Problem solved.
11
Problem solved? The wind blows in all directions, carrying nuclear fallout with it. Do you want to be downwind? I don't.
1
There are reasons why Trump is called "The Orange Clown".
Iran did not even want to sign any deal. Obama forced them. The mullahs complain about Trump's comments on the nuclear deal, but in reality, they don't give a d. Europe, Russia and China wont follow Trump. The US adversaries would always use it to claim that the US is not reliable should Trump leave the agreement.
7
The implications of Bibi's War are clear: U.S, involvement and many unnecessary deaths, many likely our brave soldiers. If that happens, Bibi will have turned our soldiers into mercenaries for him if not for Israel as well.
16
Israel knows it can't acquire territory in Syria unless it is able to neutralize Iran, which isn't possible without massive US support. All of these Mid East wars have been preceded by labeling and demonizing each country through orchestrated media presentations, mixed with a constant theme of "get them before they get us" litany of threat exaggerations. They've done this before. It's ugly. During the first days of shooting in Syria, Israel's armament industry investments jumped 20%. Not good.
11
As has been pointed out repeatedly:
- Netanyahu is corrupt. He's desperate to change the atory
- His evidence is dubious, at best
- Iran is relatively "good" compared to Israel and the US in the ME. Whose bombing children's hospitals, bombung UN bases, killing protestors and civilians and steal land for profit? Not Iran.
Finally, what would happen if US schools managed to teach the history of US foreign policy in the ME? Would Americans be as susceptible to war-mongering propaganda if they knew the truth out their own country's behavior?
14
"Chris" wrote
"Whose bombing children's hospitals, bombing UN bases, killing protestors and civilians and steal land for profit? Not Iran. "
He is right, its Russia that is doing these things. And don't forget the use of chemical weapons Chris.
1
From banning BDS and JVP, to stacking its Supreme Court with right-wing justices, to centralizing the decision to initiate a war, Israel is becoming a more authoritarian state. Maybe, like the citizens of Hungary, Israelis support that.
8
Meanwhile, China is quietly expanding its influence while the US remains distracted by regional disputes that have no bearing on US security.
14
The Iranians have been very patient and diplomatic on many fronts and with everyone they are engaged with. I have heard interviews with their foreign minister, Javad Zarif, on more than one occasion and he comes across as a highly intelligent man.
The problem with Israel is that they haven't seen a war for many years and are itching for it to possibly gain and annex more territory. The problem with this strategy is that they could lose. In a war nothing is guaranteed. They do not know what the Iranians have in their arsenal. Iran is also a very big country and unlike Iraq and Syria they have a well organized military. This is probably the reason why the USA hasn't attacked them directly so far, fear of getting a ship or two or more sunk, and escalating the war into Saudi Arabia etc.
I say, Israelis should calm down. They have had their wins in the past with their very strong and mindless lap dog, USA, supporting them. Escalating the already bad situation there would not benefit them and has a huge potential of bringing their "very small" country to the brink of total destruction. Everyone in the world knows that the source of all instability in the middle east is Israel and people are getting tired of it. So, one wrong move would bring in many entrants and Israel is very small.
45
"The problem with Israel is that they haven't seen a war for many years and are itching for it to possibly gain and annex more territory"
I don't know your background, but I bet your ancestors have not been thrown out of every country in Europe, and that your grandparents were not murdered in gas chambers.
The lesson we Jews have had to learn is: when someone says they want to murder you, believe them.
If you really believe Israel is the source of instability in the middle east, there are only two possible reasons:
1. you don't know anything about history
2. you hate Jews
8
You forgot to mention that Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and the other camps never happened.
7
How well were you paid for that very elegant piece of shilliing? Everything you say is patently false, and bullet by bullet from other Iranian propaganda.
6
There is a little girl in France whose face was slashed while walking home from her Jewish private school wearing its uniform; an eight year old boy, wearing a kippah, was beaten badly by teenage assailants earlier in the same month. This is not shocking to anyone who cares, as Jewish students have been in danger in French, German and British public schools for years now, as their elected leaders intone soothing phrases about an attack on religious tolerance. Netanyahu is determined that there will be one refuge on this planet to which Jews can flee. Any Jew with an interest in survival will support him in his refusal to continue watching as Iran is handed a pathway to becoming a nuclear power, and fires off increasingly effective missiles inscribed "Israel will be destroyed". The Nazis were particularly outraged when Jews fought back; doesn't look like the world is accustomed yet to seeing Jews fight to stay alive. If America and Russia agree, the Iranians can be stopped by Middle Eastern opponents now and can devote itself to figuring out how to have a decently run nation with a 30% unemployment rate. If we don't let the Israelis and Saudis stop them now, an increasingly desperate Iran will also have nuclear armed missiles to express its outrage that they are no longer the Persian Empire, and it will have to be opposed by the world's superpowers.
24
I understand: it is a bad, bad, bad world.
1
And meanwhile Israel tests the latest military weapons on an unarmed Palestinian population, shooting fishermen if they venture past whatever arbitrary limit the Israeli military feels like imposing today.
Iran hasn't invaded anyone. Israel and the US on the other hand...
9
Nonsense.
2
Netanyahu states that Iran 'may' threaten Israel with nuclear weapons "Within a Decade". while Israel repeatedly threatens Iran with nuclear devastation via it's already developed nuclear arms and delivery system programs and regularly bombs the Nations around themselves if they think there is 'weapons shipments' or 'nuclear sites' and are constantly overflying other nations, without permission, with armed attack aircraft.
Israel's excuse is always the same: But, But They Hit Us BACK First...!
37
WEL and B.Honest, and the 40 "recommenders": Are you feeling threatened by the admissions that Iran and the US and Europe made a deal to finance Iranian despotic leaders?
It is the only way I can interpret the above rationalizations and lies.
1
There is only one superpower in the World and that's Israel, the rest are pretenders. Sooner the World understands this, the better, as no one can control its actions.
12
In any nuclear war, Israel will go down first. It would be wishful thinking if anybody would assume that Iran would attack Israel with nukes.
Netanyahu has help from Jared Kushner and will continue to lie about Iran to get the US involved in another mess in the Middle East. He and his wife have both been charged with corruption.
28
"...flaunting the booty pilfered from a secret Tehran warehouse by an intrepid Mossad team... " NYT 5/3/18
This is just one of the comments within this article that betray the distorted and blatantly anti-Israel comments that have become all
too rife in your recent reportage. In real time and actual life Netanyahu is thoroughly justified in his recent criticism and
actions against a regional power that notably thru our own doing we have propelled to growing suzerainty in the region. And at the
top of its list remains the destruction of Israel.
While I've rarely agreed with Netanyahu on anything else, here
he's correct and remains loyal to his conviction that from the inadequate treaty itself to Obama's abettment of Putin and deliberate reduction of American influence today's Mideast,even
ISIS notwithstanding, is hardly much better off than it was before 2015.
In no small way this too is because Obama totally failed to abide by his own redlines in opposing a Syrian regime that, with Russia's and Iran's support, has shown itself to be no better than than the very worst of them. Moreover, if Trump's guilty of anything it's that, like his predecessor, he's doing his best to reduce what power and influence we have left in this troubled and unstable region.
So if the Mossad needs "to pilfer" a bit to reveal the shenanigans of any of these good folks, then so be it and Godspeed.
12
Netanyahu is exploiting the volatile proxy wars in the Middle East to further his agenda, and coincidentally distract attention form his personal and political problems. Iran has long been perceived as an existential threat to Israel by Israel's right. To be fair, were I an Israeli I too would feel threatened by the Iranian build-up in Syria.
But instead of trying to moderate Iran's intentions, Natanyahu is attempting to use the Sunni-Shiite wars as a cover to defang Iran. I imagine he is expecting tacit support from the Saudis and Egyptians, and he already has the Trump Administration in his pocket.
19
Bibi Netanyahu has a decades-long history of threatening that the-end-is neigh dog-and-pony shows in which he lies, or shades the truth regarding Iran; each performance is more hysterical and unhinged, each performance yet another gross intrusion by a foreign power into US sovereign policy and government. As Michael Hayden, former head of both the CIA and NSA put it, regarding Bibi's latest "revelations" "there is nothing new here." Netanyahu and Israel are aided by the potent Israel lobbies like AIPAC, and advisors around Trump, whose slogans seem to be "Israel First!"
Netanyahu's goal is nothing short of dragging the US into another Middle East war, one fought--again-- with US and blood and treasure.
36
I believe the lynchpin in Mr. Netanyahu's thinking is the fact that he will never, ever have a US president and Congress so supportive of Israel. If Bibi is to act, he knows he must do it relatively quickly. With the likely scenario of the Republicans losing the House in November, the political support for Israel will likely begin to wane. If Mr. Trump is in fact further embroiled in legal controversy, he will be inevitably weakened. If in fact Israel attacks Iran and Iran chooses all out war, which President of the last several decades other than Ronald Regan perhaps, would be most likely to militarily support Israel? With that calculus, Bibi may act strongly and soon, and have the president blessing.
8
He doesnt need to do that. He already has the American President in his pocket.
11
Would anyone like to explain why Iran has threatened to destroy Israel? Why they are using Syria to place forces on the Israeli border? Iran is 1000 MILES from the “occupied territories”. Gee what could be the reason? Oh yeah, they hate Jews. Shame on you armchair generals, who wouldn’t last 5 minutes under that kind of pressure.
23
Iran is not threatening any country now. Iranians have been supportive to Jews throughout history. Just go and read some history. Iran feels alone in the region with the attitudes of Isreal and Saudis, which is not a good thing for all people in that region.
2
"a bravura PowerPoint performance" . How would this be any different if it were written by Netanyahu's PR firm?
10
A bit of a puff piece, eh?
4
Disagree. Israel isn't looking for a war with Iran; it would be ugly. Rather, it has unequivocally stated it will not tolerate Iranian bases in Syria close to Israel, and/or a build up of heavy weaponry, especially anti-missile defenses. Of course few wish to admit Iran, and Russia to a lesser degree, have taken over Syria, but it's Iran specifically that actively threatens Israel, now from southern Lebanon, and in Syria, closer to the Golan.
What Israel needs is some assurance that if Iran does indeed provoke Israel by a huge build up in Syria, or use Hezbollah or others to directly hit Israel, that America will diplomatically or militarily intervene, such as sending warships near the Syrian and Lebanese ports on the Mediterranean. America need not fire any shots; its presence in strategic locations would be sufficient deterrence.
Netanyahu took security risks in revealing that it stole confidential information from Iran. Simultaneously, it hit Iran's underbelly which might lessen the chance Iran will provoke, or hit, Israel. What Israel needs is a tighter, and much longer, JCPOA, as well as unrelated sanctions to stop Iran from its designs in Syria. Please be aware Iran cannot afford the mega millions it would cost to rebuild Syria, nor is it remotely interested in Syria's domestic needs. Its sole interest is to retain a military stranglehold on Assad for its continued engagement with Hezbollah, and another front against Israel.
21
"What Israel needs is some assurance...that America will...militarily intervene..."
Rosalie, if you want to go fight Iran for Israel's benefit, by all means proceed. Please leave me, my kids and my tax dollars out of it. The United States has done plenty for Israel over the years, but enough is enough.
18
Israel doesn't want to fight a war against Iran. It wants the US to fight a war against Iran. And with Trump and Bolton in charge the US just might do it.
16
You left out Kushner: I understand Israel has problems but enough is enough ... We can't afford it as long as we have starving people and sub par public education ... Maybe Jared should sell 666 and give Bibi the $ !
So why is Benny trying to interfere AGAIN in making US policy? Didn't he do enough damage to the USA in helping to elect DJT?
23
Netanyahu's transparent lies and agenda aside, there is the hypocrisy of this coming from the head of an aggressive country with a nuclear arsenal which has refused to sign any nonproliferation treaties or to be subject to inspections. Why is Israel not subject to the same rigorous standards imposed in Iran? Iran has never threatened military aggression against Israel. The reverse is worse than not true.
It is time we threaten to pull our financial underwriting from Israel unless they back off of threats to attack Iran, sign onto non-proliferation agreements and open their nuclear program to international inspectors, and end their human rights abuses and apartheid of Palestinians.
31
We will never pull financial aid from Israel. We may abandon our other responsibilities to say... Puerto Rico, but to our 51st state, Israel-the pocketbook opens wide.
8
Mr. M.: as most defenders of Palestinians, you fall short of the real facts. 1. Iran has threatened Israel many, many times, for many years. It even shows off missiles in military parades with some saying they are headed to the Zionist state. Why lie about this. 2. Israel doesn't threaten Iran as a primary offensive. It has stated, call it a threat if you wish, it will attack certain military installations in occupied Syria that are solely meant to use against Israel. For what does Iran need this? Hezbollah already owns at least 100,000 missiles directly aimed at Israel, which the fickle U.N. refuses to acknowledge, let alone do anything about. 3. The apartheid claim is false and purposefully inflammatory. The Palestinians aren't second class citizens of Israel; they aren't Israeli at all. They may be occupied, but they have their own, worthless to be honest, government which also refuses to negotiate with Israel to end the occupation. Instead, they occupy themselves with trying to kill Jews and destroy the Jewish country.
10
Iran has not bombed across its borders. Israel has, repeatedly. Missiles aimed at Israel? Israel has bought nuclear submarines to be in striking distance of Iran. It has killed more than a few Iranian scientists and stolen Iranian documents. Has Iran done any such thing to Israel?
Let's first have Israel -- whose war armaments business has increased by 40% in the last year -- submit to nuclear inspections (as Iran does) and sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (as Iran has). Israel is, in essence, a rogue nuclear power along with North Korea and Pakistan.
Iran has 10 times Israel's population, a well-educated and young workforce (only 59% of Israelis graduate high school), plentiful natural resources and is destined to become a major regional power. Netty doesn't care for that, believing Israel should be perpetual top dog. Unfortunately, his country is veering ever more sharply from its founding principals and is hamstrung by its own internal war against the Palestinians.
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Nothing like a war to distract the public from a corruption scandal. If Netanyahu wants a war with Iran we need to stay clear of it.
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Let's be clear about one thing. Like Netanyahu or not, agree with his approach or not, Iran is a real threat to Israel, to the Middle East and to world peace. The missiles destroyed and Iranians killed in strike in Syria did not come from nowhere. The support given to Hamas, Hezbollah and rebels in Yemen by Iran is real. The terrorist acts conducted by Iran and its proxies around the world are real.
Israel does not have an agenda against Iran. It is Iran that has an agenda against Israel and Netanyahu is doing what is necessary militarily and politically to keep that agenda from coming to fruition.
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Guess that opens the doors for other countries to attack the US then too. Right?
When Yemen bombs us we should understand.
The worlds largest arms dealer, backed by the largest military the world has ever known, with a history of starting illegal wars, controlled by a psychopathic, narcissistic grifter, who's being brought to trial. I'd say we are a danger to the world.
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Since segregating us from the whole world should be tried first, as has been done to other countries. Do not buy from or sell to us. Accept no money (investments) from any American. I even suggest banning all Americans from traveling, even for a vacation, to any other country in this world. Any booked for such, should NOT get their money back. No products made by American companies overseas, should be allowed in this country. Sanction us all. Make sure it pinches. A lot. No trips to Montreal from New England for a weekend. No trips to Tiajuana from the Southwestern US for beer parties (Cinco de Mayo, as celebrated HERE). We should all be declared pariahs & left to live in our own excretement. Until this regime is tried & hung, including all of the Freedom Caucus. Congress is investigated, & all Trust Funds audited. Found lacking, everyone in congress since they were instituted, including the already dead, will have to turn over every thing in their whole families of even minimum value, with the congressmembers themselves incarcerated for life. In solitary, no visitors, no communications, no TV, computers, or current books. Only classic literature, to get another one, they will have to write a 20 page book report & get an A from Literature teachers. Oh, we will see them, on the streaming security cameras in their cells. 24/7. Awake, asleep, playing with themselves, whatever they do. Knowing their spouses can’t find decent work, their kids refused schooling.
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No one. I repeat, no one is a threat to Israel. Israel has hundreds of nukes and plenty of ballistic missiles, they're safe.
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Netanyahu lives and dies for gotcha moments, regardless of how cheap and meaningless they are. He is not after improvements in understanding, but just his agenda -- which is to oppose Iran. He uses outright murder via assassination and every other means -- except comprehension of the real interests of this world. His mindset is way too crowded with tricks to understand that Israel is built under water with only the tenuous shield of the USAholding that water back. There are far better ways forward than Netanyahu's scuzzy machinations.
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Netanyahu advised the U.S. to invade Iraq which led to a disaster.
Netanyahu now wants to drag America into a war with Iran and Trump might be just dumb enough to do it.
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That is a common trope used to smear Israel. America and its European allies may have had faulty intelligence about Iraq, as did Israel. If Israel wanted Saddam out of the way, understandable after the scud missiles he lobbed at Israel during the 1991 war, it was but one small factor in the decision.
You are bringing up an anti-Semitic reference to all wars being "Jewish" in origin. Jewish WWII vets have said that many in the U.S. Army referred to the war in Europe as being a Jewish motivated war. Like, what did Americans care what Hitler was doing. Why should Americans have gotten involved and killed for the sake of those Jews. Thanks a lot.
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“In Tel Aviv the next evening, Mr. Netanyahu gave a bravura PowerPoint performance on live television from inside the Defense Ministry, flaunting the booty pilfered from a secret Tehran warehouse by an intrepid Mossad team — evidence, he said, of Iranian deceit about its long-running efforts to develop a nuclear bomb.”
Well, “booty [he claimed sans evidence to have been] pilfered from a secret...”
Also, no the presentation by Netanyahu was widely derided (except by the likes of Fox News); the documents he presented look to be the same as 2003 documents held in Vienna.
“He [Netanyahu] railed against the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement from its inception under President Barack Obama, contending it would allow Tehran to threaten Israel with atomic weapons within a decade’s time.”
And various leaders in Israel (including Netanyahu) have been making such unfounded assertions for the last 25 years.
As the NY Times Editorial Board (of all places) pointed out, Netanyahu’s 2018 speech reads much like various claims about how much a danger Iraq posed [to Israel, Europe, the USA] in 2003. So full of prevarication.
This “reporting” belongs on the OpEd page–or at FoxNews.
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Perhaps you should read this NYT editorial.
Netanyahu’s Flimflam on Iran
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/01/opinion/netanyahu-iran.html
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Say what you may about the Iran Nuclear Deal, at the time it was the only way of reining in the aggressiveness of a hostile and rogue nation. Critics rather than condemning it should instead look to it as a prototype for a multi-lateral agreement concerning North Korea. Rather than impugning it, we need to improve not destroy.
The timing of Netanyahu's "revelations" are beyond suspicious in view of Trump's upcoming decision to stay in or withdraw from this act of global diplomacy. I may be wrong, but front and center, is the cooperation and common ambitions of Bolton, Pompeo, and Bibi. They are, I believe, aiming toward a war-like assault on Iran. Deja vu of Iraq, but far worse, if that is possible.
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Yes, "they" are absolutely pushing for a military destruction of Iran -- migod look the assassinations and bombings by Netanyahu. By 'they' I mean Netanyahu, Bolton, and the scurvy group of American neo-cons (probably including HRC). Of course Israel wants to keep its own (undisclosed!) nuclear bomb edge.
And yes, Trump is stupid (and brutal) enough to go along with this. And so are ~ 40% of Americans if we can judge from their voting choices and how they are quite willing to sell their souls for judicial control chimera.
Although it is more true that Trump merely wants to demonstrate his ability to maximize the use of American swagger. Bolton though is ready to bomb; he's really evil.
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When will America stop supporting this monster? He runs our foreign policy with his bought and paid for American politicians. He set us up for the Iraq war and now wants us to kill a few hundred thousand Iranians so Israel will be more powerful. Israel is a giant drain on American resources and reputation. The rest of the world hates Israel for its brutality and sees us as morally bankrupt because we are the main reason israel gets away with it.
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The fact that Israel is a democracy and the ONLY true U.S. ally in an important and volatile region makes above statement meaningless and derived solely from personal misguided beliefs, sadly widely shared among nyt readers and editors.
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Israel is not a democracy. It is an aggressive enthnocracy, using democratic forms to favor its favored people, and its whole political power to oppress, subjugate and dominate another people, the Palestinians. Who doesn't comprehend this simple fact?
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Israel, such a great ally that they give literally nothing to the US and demand from the US everything. Wait, sorry, they have given us something: dozens of dead sailors from the USS Liberty. At least Saudi Arabia helps the US prop up its petrodollar scheme. In that regard, it's a much more useful ally than Israel has ever been or will ever be.
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What am I missing? Why do we give the one country in the Middle East with a nuclear arsenal a say in what Iran should or should not be able to do? This is particularly galling because Iran is a member of the NPT and subject to international scrutiny, while Israel is not a member of the NPT. Such imbalance and hypocrisy make a mockery of international rules and undermine their moral legitimacy.
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You fully understand why Israel cannot join. Without that arsenal Israel has no real deterrence if conventional war would be threatening to destroy it.
Would you ask India to give up its arsenal? Not when Pakistan, or at least a large part of it, believes India should be attacked.
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Agreed, but I would not support India demanding that Pakistan get rid of its nukes while keeping its own. That's the hypocrisy alluded to in the prior post.
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Israel wouldn't need a strong deterrence if it weren't a blatant human rights abuser. Then again, I'm sure you only care about human rights when it applies to people who speak Hebrew.
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It sounds like the Israeli Prime Minister is doing what any good leader would do who’s country is constantly being threatened with annihilation.
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Sniper unarmed men, women and children?!
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Steven Parilis:
And yet Iran has not threatened to annihilate Israel.
But what Netanyahu is doing could lead to a nuclear war, possibly worldwide, and that would annihilate Israel, amongst other places.
This is not the first time that Netanyahu has made such claims about Iran in the last 20 years. He was wrong back then too.
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Netanyahu is just another corrupt politician trying to get the spotlight off his family.
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Remember, Mr. Netanyahu, when you point the finger at Iran,the rest of your fingers point back at Israel. Many of us already know you Israelis have a massive arsenal of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, it is one of the main reasons Iran seeks nuclear weapons - to defend itself against yours.
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Look at the NY times trying to normalize both Israel and Netenyahu's behavior, so cute, and typical, casting Israel as the hapless victim, instead of the US supported local, nuclear armed settler colonial imperial state that it is. Israel needs to be reined in, it's not just a menace to others countries but to itself, kicking the thick and capable regional power like Iran can only end really badly for everyone in the region. And if this is the NY times essentially supporting the US thinking it can step away from the Iran nuclear deal, (Netenyahu's presentation of Iran's lies is right up there with Colin Powell's excreable performance at the UN before the US killed Iraq) siding with the frankly insane Israel, without extreme consequences then I have some unicorn pastures I would like to sell you.
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Bibi is a smart and effective Trump. Israel always claimed that it is the "only democracy in the Middle East". That claim has been severely undermined by Bibi. He is frantically attempting to cover up several major corruption cases - against himself, his profoundly disturbed wife and his profoundly stupid son. To shore up his fortunes, he is shamelessly riling up his base of Judeo-fascists, religious fanatics and violent messianic settlers. This latest display of hysteria against Iran is part and parcel of this. To save his skin, Bibi will stop and nothing. He has no compunction about tearing Israel apart along the way.
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DokYo:
"To shore up his fortunes, he is shamelessly riling up his base of Judeo-fascists, religious fanatics and violent messianic settlers. "
Yep. And he's also riling the christer-fascists in the USA who dream of a nuclear war in the Levant.
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Senator Schumer voted against the Iran agreement which guarantees that Iran will become, after the sunset clauses kick in, a nuclear power. Why does it matter that Israel provided proof that Iran had lied about its nuclear intentions? Because agreements with liars don't work out too well. Ask Neville Chamberlain ( if that were possible.) The President should withdraw from the Iran agreement and re-issue his statement that if Iran resumes development of a nuclear weapon it will regret it big time. This strategy appears to be working with North Korea. Trump may be obnoxious but he isn't stupid.
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alan brown:
"Why does it matter that Israel provided proof that Iran had lied about its nuclear intentions? Because agreements with liars don't work out too well."
Well, no Netanyahu has done no such thing, he's apparently reused documents from 2003.
"Ask Neville Chamberlain ( if that were possible.)"
I'm sorry how is Iran akin to Nazi Germany, and when was the last time Iran invaded anywhere?
" The President should withdraw from the Iran agreement and re-issue his statement that if Iran resumes development of a nuclear weapon it will regret it big time."
So you advocated Trump threaten to start a world wide nuclear war? Won't end well for you, or me, or Israel.
8
Netanyahu needs to act quickly if he wants Trump's help in a war against Iran (and a major distraction from his own criminality). Once Mueller releases a report detailing obstruction of justice by our fake president, Washington will no doubt be consumed with unprecedented partisan fighting and the run up to midterm elections.
Trump is already unhinged and likely to become more erratic. At the same time, it's hard to say how long his congressional enablers will back a manifestly criminal and incompetent president. That uncertainty makes an imminent Israeli attack more probable while it still has an ignorant and largely unfettered pawn in the White House.
7
Finally, somebody has confronted Iran, and the one sided lousy nuclear deal that Obama foisted on the American people. Think about Iran having a path to nuclear weapons within 10 years. That is the reality that Obama capitulated to. Then think about the fact that Iran is the number one sponsor to international terrorism, as confirmed by the Untied Nations. Then think about the ultimate goal of Iran, which is the subjugation of all non-believers to Islam. It's time to confront Iran and to end their nuclear ambitions.
10
Amazing.
Have you seen the list of Churches, Synagogues, Gurdwaras and other religious centers in Tehran alone?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_centers_in_Tehran
The only ME country to attack us (recently) is our ally, Saudi Arabia. (so we destroy Iraq instead.)
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