POSTED COMMENT TO A COLUMN IN TORONTO'S GLOBE AND MAIL
Breakthrough? Isn't that a rather delusional word to use in this context?
How do you get a breakthrough from a nasty bully who for some years
has had everything going his way? Continued assassination, torture,
abuse of millions, illegal blockade, and no one dares say a word.
What incentive can you possibly think of to push Israel towards
fairness and decency? How else do you make a bully behave himself if you
don't apply pressure?
Only the United States pushing hard to get results - as Obama
started 3 years ago doing - would get even minimal results, but of
course Obama was literally reviled and called hateful names in Israel so
now he has joined the crowd of bought-and-paid for American politicians
who dare not say one tough word about Israel.
We heard the quiet truth from Sarkozy and Obama at the press meeting
a while back when a couple of honest exchanges were heard by reporters
in error. It was almost the only truth we have had reported in years on
this appalling situation.
Israel and its Lobby in the United States have created a virtual
machine to stall all meaningful efforts and to create an endless, almost
sickening round of absurd statements in the mouths of American
politicians hoping to get elected.
Gingrich, Santorum, and Romney - to say nothing of the truly
ignorant Bachmann - have all made ridiculous statements on Israel's
behalf just for some campaign funds in Iowa. Where's Israel's incentive
to compromise?
After the last Congressional elections in the United States, about
80 new Congressman were given deluxe trips to Israel where they are
typically feted and fed the right words to use in future. To refuse such
a "gift" is almost like signing your own political death warrant, so
virtually all of them go.
What have the poor Palestinians to counter that kind of unbelievable
influence peddling? Nothing but a just cause, and in the power
structure in Washington, that counts little more than spit.
