Senator Gordon Smith offered this bit of wisdom at the World Economic Forum conference on the Middle East, a three-day summit that opened May 20, in Jordan:
“Until we have someone on the other side who is willing to say ‘Yes,’ we’re not going to continue to prostitute the American presidency to people who aren’t serious.”
Peace Now NEWSFLASH:
Right-wing actions escalate, Peace Now urges Israelis to speak out
Israeli newspapers reported this week that six right-wing activists were arrested for allegedly planning to blow up the Temple Mount in order to stop the disengagement plan. According to the reports, five were seeking money and instruction to be able to launch a missile at the site, while the sixth had talked about flying a model airplane packed with explosives towards the structure.
Although these suspects were eventually released because their plans were only in the “talking” phase, it is easy to imagine that others might go further. (Cont. in extended entry)
According to Mark Rosenblum’s letter, these terrorists are supported by right-wing American Jews and Evangelical Christians. What are the chances Sen. Smith has serviced a few personally?
“Jordan’s King Abdullah II urged Mideast leaders gathered Friday at an economic summit at the earth’s lowest point (at the Dead Sea) to “seize the moment” to introduce reforms, a demand pushed by the United States.”
Stephen Glain’s Letter From Jordan: Kingdom of Corruption tells of Abdullah’s rule since the death of his father in 1999, a bitter descent into authoritarianism, and how he’s busied his underlings seizing land, press freedoms, people from their beds in the dead of night for purpose of interrogation, the right to public assembly, the promise of succession from half-brother Prince Hamzah, Hussein’s son by Queen Noor, Mercedes-Benz fleets from shady brothers Shaheen who garner exceedingly lucrative contracts from U.S. occupying forces they do not deserve, the right of Jordanians to hold Ahmad Chalabi accountable, the list is very, very long, but “seizing the moment” to introduce reforms is not on it.
APN recently mailed a letter by Mark Rosenblum on the consequences of such extremism. It opened with the statement, “I am concerned about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s safety.” In light of this week’s news, that letter deserves a second reading. (Click here to read the letter.)
Some might argue that such plots are not serious or only involve a “few crazies.” They should consider another item that made headlines this week: In a carefully orchestrated act, 3000 pro-settler demonstrators swarmed into major traffic intersections across Israel, sat down and chanted political slogans, generating massive gridlock across the country. It took hours for police to clear the protesters, some of whom burned tires or threw stones at police officers.
Why would the right-wingers go out of their way to irritate the Israeli public while risking the lives of those on the highways or who may need ambulance or the quick assistance of police?
We don’t have to guess at an answer. One of the demonstration organizers said it outright, “If today we succeeded in paralyzing the country without violence, one can only guess what will happen during disengagement [when police will be deployed to Gaza to evacuate settlers].” The message is crystal clear: opponents of disengagement are trying to intimidate the Israeli public.
There is an alternative to this message. While the settlers and company blocked traffic across Israel, Peace Now’s activists walked through the gridlock and handed out flyers urging the silent majority to speak out. At this historic moment in Israel, our side – the side that gives voice to those who support disengagement and a return to negotiations – needs to be visible.
Please take a moment to read the letter from Mark Rosenblum. A copy of it can be found here.
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