Maneuvering in Treacherous Territories: PA, D.C. & ME

Choose peace
Jerusalem Post Editorial Dec. 18, 2006

…it would be a mistake for anyone to become caught up in the idea of new elections as a panacea. Abbas, while opposing terrorism, has taken a hard line on the Palestinian demand for a "right of return" and has recently insisted that he is not demanding that Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist. … Most Israelis have given up the idea of "Greater Israel," but it is far from clear that the Palestinian majority, let alone their leadership, has given up their dream of "Greater Palestine" - the destruction of Israel.

US, UK welcome call for early Palestinian elections
Reuters Yediot Aharonot 12-16-06

Tensions in the Palestinian territories are at their highest in a decade. Violence between Abbas's Fatah faction and their Hamas rivals has sparked fears of a civil war. … The peace process has been frozen since the aftermath of a win by militant Palestinian group Hamas in January parliamentary elections.

Stubborn or Stalwart, Bush Is Loath to Budge
By Peter Baker Washington Post Dec 17, 2006; Page A01

Bush told a group of conservative journalists in September. "If you believe in a strategy, in Washington, D.C., you've got to stick to that strategy, see? People want you to change. It's tactics that shift, but the strategic vision has not, and will not, shift."

2 senators slam Baker-Hamilton report
By Herb Keinon Jerusalem Post Dec. 18, 2006

A Congressional delegation headed by US Senators John McCain (R-Arizona) and Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday that they were squarely against the Baker-Hamilton report calling for the US to engage in dialogue with Iran and Syria, according to officials present at the meeting.

Troubles in the House of Saud?
By Elaine Shannon and Adam Zagorin Time Dec. 15, 2006

What does the sudden resignation of Saudi Arabia's U.S. Ambassador point to? …. a split within the House of Saud, whether based on personality or policy, could make it even harder for the U.S. to convince them to stay on the sidelines.

Iranians deal blow to Ahmadinejad
Associated Press The International Herald Tribune 12-18-06

…the victory in Friday's elections was for moderate conservatives, supporters of the cleric-led power structure who are angry at Ahmadinejad, saying he has needlessly provoked the West with his harsh rhetoric and has failed to address the faltering economy.

News from the Badlands

Palestinian PM: Hamas will not participate in elections
By Avi Issacharoff Haaretz and Agencies 12-17-06

The PA chairman called Saturday for new elections for his position and parliament, in a dramatic challenge to the ruling Hamas, and met Sunday with officials from the Palestinian Central Election Commission….A majority of Palestinians favor holding new elections, but Abbas would face a tough race against a contender from Hamas, according to a poll published Sunday.

Missionary man
By Larry Derfner Jerusalem Post Dec. 14, 2006

Khaled Mahameed, an Israeli-Arab attorney who set up a Holocaust museum in his Nazareth office with photographs from Yad Vashem, was planning to attend the Holocaust denial conference in Teheran this week. He hoped to tell the hosts and attendees: "Stop denying the Holocaust and start studying it, because it's this refusal to understand the Holocaust that caused such a catastrophe for the Palestinians."

Jews who make Satan look good
By A Special Place in Hell columnist, Bradley Burston Haaretz Dec 15, 2006

The worst of them are the most sincere, those who believe with perfect faith in the righteousness of the iniquity they preach.

Bottom Lines are Top Priority

'We're Going to Win'
The president finally has a plan for victory.
by Fred Barnes The Weekly Standard 12/25/2006, Volume 012, Issue 15

It turns out you only have to attend a White House Christmas party to find out where President Bush is headed on Iraq. One guest who shook hands with Bush in the receiving line told him, "Don't let the bastards get you down." Bush, slightly startled but cheerful, replied, "Don't worry. I'm not." The guest followed up: "I think we can win in Iraq." The president's reply was emphatic: "We're going to win." Another guest informed Bush he'd given some advice to the Iraq Study Group, and said its report should be ignored. The president chuckled and said he'd made his position clear when he appeared with British prime minister Tony Blair.

Move to bring genocide case against Ahmadinejad
as Iran president repeats call to wipe out Israel
Robert Tait in Tehran, Ed Pilkington in New York The Guardian December 13, 2006

The outgoing US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, is backing a call for the president of Iran to be charged with inciting genocide because of his speeches advocating the destruction of the state of Israel.

Peres: Syria must stop arms transfers
By Jerusalem Post Dec. 16, 2006

"Damascus must stop sheltering terror leaders, and they must stop actions of the exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal in Syria; these are preconditions for starting the dialogue," Peres said.

EU charges Iran with destabilizing Middle East
Resolution slams Iran over nuclear program, threats towards Israel; condemns denial of Holocaust by Tehran
Reuters Yediot Aharonot 12-15-06

The European Union accused Iran on Friday of destabilizing the Middle East with its nuclear program and threats towards Israel, in a significant hardening of the 25-nation bloc's tone towards Tehran.

Is Anyone Really Shocked Beyond Belief?

Olmert: We won’t be first to introduce nukes to region
Ronny Sofer Yediot Aharonot 12-12-06

"I reiterate that Israel has not changed its policy on the nuclear issue and will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East. I stressed it twice in the interview I gave and I don’t think we should elaborate or hold a public discussion on this," Olmert added.

US to double emergency equipment stored in Israel
Yitzhak Benhorin Yediot Aharonot 12-12-06

WASHINGTON - The American Congress gave Israel financial and security encouragement when the Senate and the House of Representatives gave their approval to double the emergency equipment the United States stores in Israeli stockpiles.

Report US to boost Persian Gulf force
By Jerusalem Post and AP Dec. 19, 2006

US officials said the deployment was not aimed at launching an attack but rather to deter Iran from performing "provocative steps", such as the recent naval maneuvers Teheran held.

Israel Views

To hell with ambiguity
If your enemy doesn't believe you'll use your weapon, then that weapon is worthless.
By Sam Ser Jerusalem Post Dec. 17, 2006

It takes a credible deterrent. Iran's fevered dash to develop awesome nuclear technology is a clear signal that we have lost that deterrent. To get it back, Israel will have to do something much bolder than simply making more roundabout hints at what may be hiding in the country's proverbial basement.

Israel worried Hamas and Iran developing strategic relations
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff Haaretz 12-15-06

In response to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's recent visit to Tehran, experts here have said Iran is seeking to form a strategic alliance with Hamas. According to these sources, the Iranians would like to develop a relationship with Hamas similar to that with Hezbollah in Lebanon, in which the "final word" - on matters regarding Israel, too - is Tehran's.

Like the Taliban
By Dapha Berman Haaretz 12-19-06

Miriam Shear insists that she is not out to get the ultra-Orthodox community [Haredim], but only the more extreme and violent elements among them…."I feel like by going public, we can prevent this. We can expose it and clean it up.”…. Supporters…are hailing her as the Rosa Parks of the Haredi community.