MY MEETINGS WITH ISRAELI LEADERS

I recently returned from a visit to Israel where I
meet with Israeli leaders and discussed ideas
contained in "The Future of Israel." You can see
photos here: http://www.devinsper.com/israelpics.htm

Best Regards,
Devin Sper

Palestinian Protection Racket

“The head of Hamas in Gaza City, Mahmud al-Zahar, told reporters the "cooling down period" currently being respected by Hamas and other Palestinian factions could only "continue indefinitely if Israel offers concessions". (AFP 3/11/05). And then what? At some point Israel is going to run out of concessions, (even if Peace Now were running the state).
Hamas’ statement is revealing. It clarifies the true nature of the “peace process” in Palestinian eyes. It is not and never has been about peace, it is about terrorizing Israel into endless concessions until she disappears. There is no peace at the end of this path, there never is with a protection racket.

Targeted Assasinations: Ok for other states but not for Israel?

Yesterday, the Russian military proudly announced that it had killed the Chechen rebel leader, Aslan Maskhadov, in a "special operation.” http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/14/content_306086.htm This is not the first time the Russians have assassinated or tried to assassinate Chechen leaders. For example, Omar Ibn al Khattab in 2002 and Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev just last month.

Now, I have no issue with Russia’s right to defend itself against Muslim terrorists from Chechnya. Likewise, I have no issue with the United States which bombed Gaddaffi’s tent, killed Saddam’s sons, and will not be having tea with Osama Bin Laden when they catch him. My problem is with world hypocrisy in criticizing Israel for doing the very same thing. The U.N. only recently condemned Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Yassin with Russia voting in favor.

How to explain this blatant hypocrisy? There is and always has been a double standard towards the Jewish State just as there has long been a double standard towards the Jewish People. This double standard has been around for a long time and has a name: Anti-Semitism. It is time we recognized it for what it is and treat it accordingly.

Where have the critics of Syrian Occupation been for the past 20 years?

The sudden world chorus calling on Syria to end her 20-year occupation of Lebanon brings up two obvious questions:

1) Where were all these same Arab and Western governments, suddenly so concerned for the civil liberties of the Lebanese people, until now? Why are they only today criticizing Syria’s illegal and brutal occupation of Lebanon? After all, Syria has occupied Lebanon for over 20 years.

2) Why have the countries so concerned with what they call Israeli “occupation” been so silent all these years on the occupation of Lebanon next door? Let us, for the sake of argument, accept their false premise that the Jews are somehow “occupiers” in the land they have inhabited continuously for 32 centuries. Why have those nations so vocal in their criticism of Israel’s “occupation” never applied same standard and criticism towards Syrian occupation until now?

The answer is clear. There is and always has been a double standard towards the Jewish State just as there has long been a double standard towards the Jewish People. This double standard has been around for a long time and has a name: Anti-Semitism. We should recognize it for what it is and treat it accordingly.

Kofi Annan coddles Hezbollah.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday said in regard to Hezbollah: “The world must accept that in every society different groups may hold different views.” (AP, see full article at: http://www.political-news.org/breaking/7401/un-must-accept-hezbollah-annan-says.html). In other words, Annan sees terrorism as a legitimate political point of view (at least when it is aimed against Israel). What’s more, Hezbollah stands in the way of the implementation of a U.N. resolution calling for the end of the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In other words, Kofi Annan is not interested in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the organization he heads (at least not in regard to Israel’s enemies).

There is only one explanation for Kofi Annan taking positions running counter to his own interests. His hatred of Israel is so deep that it trumps all other considerations including the war on terrorism and the credibility the organization he himself heads. This irrational hatred towards the Jewish State is no different than the centuries-old irrational hatred towards the Jewish People. This hatred has been around for a long time and has a name: Anti-Semitism. It is time we recognized it for what it is and treat it accordingly.