Coming February 6, 2024 . . .
MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
Pre-order at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop
Coming February 6, 2024 . . . MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE by Michael Wolraich Pre-order at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop |
Over the weekend, Secretary Kerry, addressing the status of what appear to be intensive peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, mentioned that the failure of the peace process could have disastrous consequences for both sides. With respect to Israel, Kerry said that it could expect increasing support for boycotts and an intensification of efforts to "deligitimiize" the Jewish State. The response from Netanyahu and other members of his Cabinet was to condemn Kerry for allegedly expressing support for boycotts. Of course, that's not what Kerry said. Needless to say, the Administration is not pleased, as reflected in the "tweets" by Ambassador Rice reported on in this link.
Reading tea leaves, this observer would conclude that the United States, through Kerry, is placing extraordinary pressure on both sides to reach agreement, and that the attacks on Kerry by the Israeli prime minister and leading cabinet officials is a reflection of that--they're upset because they are being forced to make unpleasant decisions.
Indeed, if this opinion piece is a reflection of what is going on in the minds of the hardliners to Bibi's right, then it means that negotiations have moved the parties closer to agreement. Here, we read from a columnist (who I don't know but is clearly opposed to the peace process) implores Naftali Bennett, who heads the National Home Party and is part of Bibi's cabinet, to resign from the cabinet now lest he give cover to Netanyahu's "suicidal deal with the Arabs."
Of course, this is negotiations and this is the Middle East. All of this could mean something good, and all of this could mean nothing at all. But I do think that if there was no movement in negotiations, then we would not expect to see Bennett's allies urging his resignation, and neither would we expect to see Netanyahu et al. react as they did to Kerry's expression of what I believe to be a truism.
At this point, I don't know what dimension of chess is being played by the president and Secretary Kerry, but I guess I'm beginning to feel some cautious optimism, and it's not the way I was feeling only a week or so ago. From my mouth. . .
Comments
Seemed designed to get the Americans to again repeatedly announce steadfast support for Israel. 3 tweets from Rice supporting Israel & condemning boycotts, followed by several statements from Psaki at State Dept declaring the same thing.
Perhaps we should help Ms Rice with:
by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 02/04/2014 - 3:49pm
Tzipi Lipni sits at the negotiating table and she is furious about the attacks on Secretary Kerry. She calls them "shocking". Perhaps more importantly, the article I link to addresses signs of a growing rift in Netanyahu's rather fragile governing coalition:
This is further evidence to me that there are intensive negotiations going on right now--that's why tempers are flaring and the coalition frays. This is no simple task. Secretary Kerry may or may not have to be a bit more careful with impromptu comments (if that's what they were), but bully for him and for the president for trying to make this thing work.
by Bruce Levine on Wed, 02/05/2014 - 10:48am
Kerry doubles down and says his right wing critics in Israel will not intimidate him. Good for him, and good for everyone.
by Bruce Levine on Wed, 02/05/2014 - 6:33pm