Ahmadinejad in America / Israel is the big loser - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Wed., September 26, 2007 ,

Israel Time: 03:12 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Ahmadinejad in America / Israel is the big loser

By Shmuel Rosner

For months, Israel worked to block what happened on the podium yesterday. For the duration of his speech, Ahmadinejad produced a televised illusion: It is not Iran versus the world, but Iran versus Israel.

If he manages to convince enough people of this, the mirage would become reality and Israel would be isolated. And that is exactly what Ahmadinejad is trying to accomplish.

	Advertisement

The visiting Iranian even berated his listeners for condemning him before they had given him a chance to speak. He patiently explained that their behavior was impolite. He went on to offer a thorough explanation of his Holocaust denial. All he wanted was to promote research in the field, he said. How could an enlightened university that supports freedom of expression oppose that?

The protesters outside only served to reinforce his claims, as many were Jews wearing skullcaps who carried signs protesting his calls to wipe Israel off the map and his Holocaust denial. It was further proof that Iran is only a problem for Israel, or at most for the Jews.

Ahmadinejad aimed precisely for that. "It's the Israelis, stupid" was his primary message. Forget about the "Palestinian problem," Ahmadinejad was telling his listeners. "Instead, we need to solve the Israeli problem - and finally bring peace to the Middle East." While he did not explicitly reiterate his calls for Israel's destruction, in practice, the message could not have been clearer.

The pro-Israel camp consoled itself with the knowledge that those who are familiar with the regional complexities, and with Tehran's antics, will surely realize the absurdity of Ahmadinejad's proposal.

But the average American is not familiar with the regional complexities.

He is tired of the region's fighting. To him, Ahmadinejad's idea may sound tempting.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Dead or alive
	How can a person be deemed dead by modern medicine if his heart continues to beat?


	Betting against Grant
	After one match as manager of Chelsea, the English press is already listing replacements.

Today Online


	Shmuel Rosner: Israel is clear loser from Ahmadinejad's visit
	Responses: 587


	Carlo Strenger: Israel on path to becoming a pariah state
	Responses: 195


	Amira Hass: Showing Palestinians that there are other Israelis
	Responses: 67


	Ben-Eliezer: Barghouti is best chance for breakthrough with PA
	Responses: 113

More Headlines
00:13 Ahmadinejad: The Iran nuclear issue is closed


02:25 Texas governor announces establishment of Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce


23:52 Ben-Eliezer: Continued neglect of Israeli Arabs may spark 'internal Intifada'


01:11 Documents show Israel lobbying to import nuclear material


01:02 PM: Jewish Agency still has key role in bringing Jews to Israel


19:08 Bank Hapoalim to sever ties with Palestinian banks in Gaza


21:31 Hamas urges Saudis not to go to U.S.-led Mideast conference


21:22 FM Livni meets Arab leaders in N.Y. in bid to normalize ties


21:06 Court won't let children visit father in Sderot due to security concerns