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Last update - 09:20 23/03/2008
Evil is not neutral
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: U.S., Israel, Iran 

Two of the most prominent personages today in the global arena, who visited Israel last week, spoke clearly and lucidly against the Iranian danger. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential frontrunner, agree that the Islamic Republic in Tehran is a genuine threat to the security of Israel, the Middle East and even beyond.

Through its attempts to procure nuclear weapons and its declared ambition to destroy Israel, its active support of Hezbollah and Hamas and its incitement of American forces in Iraq, Iran has proved to be a power that is actively undermining worldwide stability. The international community is obligated to work to stop Iran before it causes a major conflagration.

Even those who warn against Iran agree that the use of military force against it should be a last resort. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany, have made it clear to Tehran that it will not succeed in driving a wedge between them - despite Chinese and Russian reservations about a military operation. They have also signaled to Iran that a diplomatic failure will only serve to strengthen those calling for an offensive.
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Merkel, perhaps the most prominent European leader today, is initiating an international conference to discuss the issue. McCain, who will be running in November against the Democratic Party candidate, has dropped signals that should cause Iran's leaders to lose sleep at night: Although President George W. Bush is about to retire, it is quite possible that the next administration will maintain a policy of continuity on the issue of Iran.

In recent months the Bush administration scored two own goals in the complex game against Iran: the National Intelligence Estimate, which determined that Iran had ceased its nuclear planning in 2003, and the public rift with Admiral William Fallon, the commander of Centcom, who objected to Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney's "saber rattling." Of no avail were all the belated excuses of the intelligence report's authors, who claimed it was not their intention to make light of the Iranian danger, but only to point out that external pressure influences decisions in Iran, and that in the two most important channels - the production of nuclear material for warheads and the development of ground-to-ground missiles meant to carry them - Iran is growing stronger.

Fallon, who was forced to resign, depicted Bush and Cheney as warmongers and weakened their standing, although his main intention was internal: a warning that the U.S. Army is stretched to the limit because of involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new situation created in the wake of the intelligence report and Fallon's statements prepared the ground for negative developments, such as Switzerland's wooing of Iran ahead of a gas deal. Switzerland's behavior is disgraceful. This country, which boasts of its neutrality, stood on the sidelines when the continent on which it is located was torn apart in a world war between Adolf Hitler's forces of darkness and Winston Churchill's forces of light. Now it is exercising its neutrality in the struggle between Iran - which openly favors the destruction of Jews in their own country - and Israel and the free world, which are trying to foil the plot.

Sixty years after the establishment of the State of Israel, Switzerland is closing its eyes to what is so clear to Merkel and McCain. The Swiss have to be aware: Evil is not neutral, and there can be no neutrality exercised toward it. Anyone who is not against it is perforce in favor of it.
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  1.   What the Haaretz editorial fails to understand..... 09:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  2.   I DON`T SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE SWISS DID AND WHAT T 10:03  |  Robert. 23/03/08
  3.   "The boat is full" 10:08  |  samos 23/03/08
  4.   Swiss neutrality is a myth 10:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/03/08
  5.   Swiss(Dino) 10:21  |  Sarah 23/03/08
  6.   This article has some serious factual errors. 10:32  |  anti-racist 23/03/08
  7.   trigger fall of ailing UBS and Credit Suisse 10:40  |  end of Switzerland 23/03/08
  8.   not the only one 10:42  |  pitcher 23/03/08
  9.   interesting 10:49  |  Tristan 23/03/08
  10.   This article is 100 percent B.S. 10:51  |  Horst Wessel 23/03/08
  11.   ALL I KNOW 10:52  |  indrajaya 23/03/08
  12.   Winston Churchill`s forces of light 10:57  |  Yiannis 23/03/08
  13.   But.... 11:06  |  Esther 23/03/08
  14.   consistency 11:14  |  Isolde 23/03/08
  15.   this article is a joke. 11:16  |  k 23/03/08
  16.   HAARETZ SHOULD HAVE A SECOND THOUGHT 11:21  |  indrajaya 23/03/08
  17.   SWISS KNOWS WHO THE REAL EVIL IS 11:44  |  indrajaya 23/03/08
  18.   Give it up 11:44  |  Clickfool 23/03/08
  19.   Cock-eyed Zionist optimism 11:51  |  Clickfool 23/03/08
  20.   Boycott Nestle. 11:55  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/03/08
  21.   Good ole brave little Israel 11:56  |  Clickfool 23/03/08
  22.   Nonsense or faked nonsense 12:03  |  Leo 23/03/08
  23.   "ambition to destroy Israel" 12:04  |  The Prince 23/03/08
  24.   Is this really a "Haaretz" editorial....???? 12:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  25.   wow haaretz does have balls! i thought you guys just bow 12:30  |  palestinian in tears 23/03/08
  26.   #4 Esther 12:31  |  Sarah 23/03/08
  27.   Bravo to Switzerland 12:43  |  Natallie Durson 23/03/08
  28.   If Israel is so concerned about 12:51  |  Stephen of New York 23/03/08
  29.   Which is why 12:53  |  He has risen 23/03/08
  30.   12 million people 12:59  |  Stephen of New York 23/03/08
  31.   Well done Switzerland 13:18  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  32.   Switzerland, had no choice. It·s a survival thing. 13:30  |  Stephen. 23/03/08
  33.   Well done Switzerland 13:36  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  34.   # 3 Tristan....It`s OK 13:52  |  Lynn 23/03/08
  35.   No, evil is certainly not neutral, but sadly, this has been ... 13:57  |  Avihu 23/03/08
  36.   This editorial is a disgrace - enough already 13:57  |  dana 23/03/08
  37.   Tristan 14:07  |  Purple Canary 23/03/08
  38.   Governments today are no example of moral leadership 14:10  |  Dutch 23/03/08
  39.   # 3, TRISTAN 14:30  |  indrajaya 23/03/08
  40.   # 8, LYNN 14:36  |  indrajaya 23/03/08
  41.   Switzerland & the UN Tristan 14:39  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 23/03/08
  42.   Well done Switzerland 14:40  |  Hanson 23/03/08
  43.   Anything goes 14:43  |  Natallie Durson 23/03/08
  44.   i truly cant believe it 14:45  |  english jew 23/03/08
  45.   re 11 14:51  |  english jew 23/03/08
  46.   # 9, PURPLE CANARY 14:51  |  indrajaya 23/03/08
  47.   Swiss worse crime ever 14:51  |  Roo 23/03/08
  48.   re 7 14:54  |  english jew 23/03/08
  49.   Well said Tristan. 14:54  |  Roo 23/03/08
  50.   Kudos to the Swiss & Iran!! Shame on Apartheid Israel. 14:59  |  POP 23/03/08
  51.   Evil in the world 15:04  |  John 23/03/08
  52.   Not Withstanding those Jews fleeing the Nazis Through Switzerland 15:06  |  Reader 23/03/08
  53.   "Evil" is religious concept 15:13  |  TimothyL 23/03/08
  54.   article full of lies 15:19  |  aHumanBeing 23/03/08
  55.   Is the author really that stupid or does he think we are? 16:13  |  Paul 23/03/08
  56.   17 Re: The Wall and the Ronald Reagan challenge 16:27  |  Dutch 23/03/08
  57.   Seriously, what is wrong with the Swiss deal? 16:44  |  Tosefta 23/03/08
  58.   If this is Haaretz under new chief-editor, then 16:51  |  Mark B. 23/03/08
  59.   Gaz deal Swiss /Iran is nothing more than fantazy 17:37  |  Sal 23/03/08
  60.   A ridiculous argument 17:40  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 23/03/08
  61.   To Purple Canary 17:46  |  Persian Kitty 23/03/08
  62.   To Stephen of NY 17:47  |  Persian Kitty 23/03/08
  63.   The Haaretz staff will not be very welcome in Switzerland after 17:56  |  Andreas 23/03/08
  64.   Seriously, what is wrong with the Swiss deal? 18:01  |  Tosefta 23/03/08
  65.   To aHumanBeing 18:07  |  Persian Kitty 23/03/08
  66.   Europe! Keep on appeasing the Mullah`s 18:13  |  Yuri 23/03/08
  67.   circling the wagons 18:16  |  al 23/03/08
  68.   "Evil is not neutral"? Are you sure about that? 18:23  |  Virginia 23/03/08
  69.   Most of the gas is for Italy 18:28  |  David Plane 23/03/08
  70.   Actually, in WW2, it wasn`t on the sidelines 18:32  |  Colin Wright 23/03/08
  71.   What Iran nuclear weapons program 18:53  |  Butros Dahu 23/03/08
  72.   Another ridiculous editorial.... 18:54  |  betz55 23/03/08
  73.   Seriously, what is wrong with Tosefta`s common sense? 19:00  |  Fortuna Benmayopr 23/03/08
  74.   Well done Switzerland 19:02  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  75.   Seriously, what is wrong with Tosefta`s common sense? 19:06  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/03/08
  76.   @ Swiss Dino 19:11  |  Ralph 23/03/08
  77.   Merkel and McCain are fooling you, the Swiss are right. 19:25  |  ManInTheMiddle 23/03/08
  78.   Editorial is right on! 19:31  |  Gordon 23/03/08
  79.   Why is Iran growing stronger? 19:32  |  ManInTheMiddle 23/03/08
  80.   Swiss treat all terrorists equally like the un. 19:33  |  Avram 23/03/08
  81.   a"humanbeing" full of lies 19:35  |  Iranian Refugee 23/03/08
  82.   U.S. get`s it`s Gas from Evil Sources 19:42  |  Meir 23/03/08
  83.   #22, Fortuna Benmayor, he has no common sense 20:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/03/08
  84.   #23 Ralph From Caesarea 20:02  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  85.   Why is everyone surprised? 20:23  |  leo 23/03/08
  86.   Switzerland and Iran. 20:41  |  Stephen. 23/03/08
  87.   Iranian zero threat 20:42  |  yuyubenson 23/03/08
  88.   Swiss Dino 20:53  |  Leonie B 23/03/08
  89.   Israel has no lesson to give to others!! 21:12  |  Moise 23/03/08
  90.   Swiss morality (magnifying glass anyone?) 21:19  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  91.   #82 Interplanetary traveller must have been away 21:30  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  92.   Not good to smoke too much (Fortuna #75) 21:33  |  Tosefta 23/03/08
  93.   Swiss 21:38  |  Michael T 23/03/08
  94.   Swiss Dino 22:14  |  Montessori 23/03/08
  95.   Switzerland did not "stand on the sidelines" in WW2 22:20  |  Jason 23/03/08
  96.   #perfecty clear who the enemey is !! 22:24  |  Henryk 23/03/08
  97.   Hard to imagine buying Gas is worse than selling arms 22:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/03/08
  98.   Frightening world 22:38  |  Michael 23/03/08
  99.   #92, Tosefta worrying about the need for more energy 22:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/03/08
  100.   A common Martian sense #83 22:56  |  Tosefta 23/03/08
  101.   Labhras #90 22:59  |  Charles Ronen 23/03/08
  102.   # 76 Ralph, here I am.....!!!! 23:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  103.   # 20 Fortuna Benmayor 23:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  104.   An article full of frustration 23:10  |  Axel 23/03/08
  105.   #101 Charles Ronen re fake Labhras 23:15  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  106.   # 88 Leonie/ # 94 Montessori, the day Israel gets out..... 23:16  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  107.   Meir #82 23:19  |  Roo 23/03/08
  108.   Remember 23:20  |  Axel 23/03/08
  109.   # 41 Margie in Tel Aviv 23:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  110.   JUST LIKE A JPOST EDITORIAL. HAARETZ`S EXTREME RIGHTWING EDITORIA 23:23  |  JACKAL 23/03/08
  111.   Dino you fool 23:28  |  Nik Miller 23/03/08
  112.   # 84 Labhras 23:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/03/08
  113.   # 40 INDY....it is OK by me 23:32  |  Lynn 23/03/08
  114.   The Swiss gas deal 23:32  |  Axel 23/03/08
  115.   #111, Axel 23:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/03/08
  116.   #108, Axel 23:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/03/08
  117.   #106 Swiss Dino re fake Labhras and Margie 23:45  |  Labhras 23/03/08
  118.   To Iranian Refugee re #81 23:45  |  Persian Kitty 23/03/08
  119.   Axel 23:50  |  Ehud 23/03/08
  120.   # 113 lynn 23:50  |  Axel 23/03/08
  121.   # 84 and # 112 There is nothing wrong 23:53  |  Bobby 23/03/08
  122.   Love of money 23:59  |  Joseph 23/03/08
  123.   To Micheal of NY 00:09  |  Persian Kitty 24/03/08
  124.   # 115 CJK 00:10  |  Axel 24/03/08
  125.   # 111 Nik Miller, you (non)-fool..... 00:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/03/08
  126.   # 119 ehud 00:14  |  Axel 24/03/08
  127.   To Micheal of NY - Part II 00:21  |  Persian Kitty 24/03/08
  128.   # 116 CJK 00:25  |  Axel 24/03/08
  129.   # 5 Sarah 00:39  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/03/08
  130.   Purple canary 00:40  |  kiwi girl 24/03/08
  131.   Switzerland has every right 00:45  |  Harold 24/03/08
  132.   SWISS"neutrality".Sucessfully hiding money laundering&arms parts 00:47  |  PETER SM 24/03/08
  133.   125 Swiss preaches Morality to others, but business replaces it.. 00:47  |  Rob 24/03/08
  134.   # 115 cipora 00:50  |  Axel 24/03/08
  135.   MORE Swiss WW2 lies.Refugees.Swiss insited passports be marked"J" 01:06  |  PETER SM 24/03/08
  136.   MOISE""Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there 01:15  |  PETER SM 24/03/08
  137.   We all see, CJK 01:40  |  Axel 24/03/08
  138.   Dino the Swiss 01:50  |  Avihatsera 24/03/08
  139.   Response to Swiss deal with Iran 02:07  |  Reid 24/03/08
  140.   concern for others 02:08  |  tobia 24/03/08
  141.   re 10 I give you credit 02:16  |  Alan the real one 24/03/08
  142.   # 132 / # 135 PETER SM 02:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/03/08
  143.   The Law Will Not Be Silent 02:22  |  Yechiel Cohen 24/03/08
  144.   #137, Axel 02:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/03/08
  145.   Church Hill Didn`t Give a D about Jewish Refugees in Palestine 02:25  |  Yechiel Haredi 24/03/08
  146.   # 133 Rob 02:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/03/08
  147.   Entire Talkback 02:27  |  Barry N 24/03/08
  148.   #112, Dino 02:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/03/08
  149.   #135 PeterSM. "The Jewish problem." 02:34  |  Maureen Ann 24/03/08
  150.   Swiss Deal with Iran 2 02:42  |  Reid 24/03/08
  151.   Evil is not neutral 02:59  |  Cy 24/03/08
  152.   129Dino, Swiss FM Fig Leaf to cover up world?s oldest profession: 02:59  |  Rob 24/03/08
  153.   Perhaps the Swiss merely see that there 03:08  |  Che Vive 24/03/08
  154.   oh lord of the rings, give us a break! 03:19  |  otiwa ogede 24/03/08
  155.   TO HORST WESSEL. 03:19  |  DANNY. 24/03/08
  156.   KIWI girl and red herrings. What was the excuse in 1830? 03:19  |  PETER SM 24/03/08
  157.   Iran 04:20  |  Paul 24/03/08
  158.   Switzerland looks out 04:32  |  Steve 24/03/08
  159.   No more swiss, chocolate ,watches or medicines for me.... 05:14  |  r 24/03/08
  160.   So, let me get this right.... 05:36  |  Abla 24/03/08
  161.   #1 Swiss Dino proves that Swiss didn`t change since WWII 06:05  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 24/03/08
  162.   J`accuse!! 06:07  |  John 24/03/08
  163.   Boycott Calmy Rey. She shook Ajemedads hand 09:41  |  Laila 24/03/08
  164.   We the Swiss ARE the free world 10:33  |  Free Swiss 24/03/08
  165.   Free Swiss - wrong information 10:46  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 24/03/08
  166.   Reply to Margie 11:04  |  Free Swiss 24/03/08
  167.   # 144 cjk 11:08  |  Axel 24/03/08
  168.   in WWII, Switzerland welcomed 295,381 refugees , 11:43  |  Dan 24/03/08
  169.   Reply to #145 12:07  |  Joseph 24/03/08
  170.   Peter SM 12:56  |  Richard 24/03/08
  171.   Danny 155,, 13:02  |  Richard 24/03/08
  172.   # 165 margie 13:05  |  Axel 24/03/08
  173.   Dino הארצ אנא 13:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 24/03/08
  174.   # 172 margie 13:22  |  Axel 24/03/08
  175.   swiss d and his FLIP FLOPS - the PROOFS 13:29  |  CK Tan 24/03/08
  176.   Swiss neutrality is NOT a myth... 15:01  |  Marius 24/03/08
  177.   Axel I didn`t say we don`t have our exceptions 15:02  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 24/03/08
  178.   # 174 Axel, spinning lies about jews and Israel.Well engrained in 16:01  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 24/03/08
  179.   Nothing worse than... (For Tosefta # 92) 16:16  |  Fortuna Benmayor 24/03/08
  180.   # 176 Marius..Why Are So many Australians Biased against Israel? 16:48  |  I 24/03/08
  181.   # 178 max 18:10  |  Axel 24/03/08
  182.   #142 Dino Swiss..Even White Powder Snow Gets Very Dirty.. 18:21  |  KATHY 24/03/08
  183.   # 178 margie 18:38  |  Axel 24/03/08
  184.   #182 For Dino An Addendum.Chocolates,Cheese,salad etc.. 01:02  |  KATHY 25/03/08
  185.   # 184 kathy 01:36  |  Axel 25/03/08
  186.   Canting Haaretz-Article 00:19  |  Mark Colling 26/03/08
  187.   #185 Axel ...The Ridiculous..About the Swiss Economy..(Late Reply 22:33  |  KATHY 26/03/08
  188.   #184 For Kathy 23:35  |  Mischa 26/03/08
  189.   #188 Mischa..And I never Read such Stupid Condemnation .. 00:25  |  KATHY 27/03/08
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