Dershowitz: Obama needs hard line on Iran to win Israeli support
'Mistrust of Barack Obama will make it more difficult to persuade Israelis to take risks for peace.'
By Akiva Eldar Tags: Jewish World Barack Obama Israel newsLaw professor Alan Dershowitz, a well-known attorney in the American legal world, has made a name for himself representing celebrity clients such as O.J. Simpson, Jonathan Pollard and Mike Tyson. His lectures are seen as some of the most fervent speeches made in Israel's defense, while his books, including "The Case for Israel," have become bestsellers - particularly among Israel's supporters. He also played a pivotal role in attacking Justice Richard Goldstone's report on last year's Israeli offensive into Gaza.
Dershowitz traveled last week from Harvard University to Washington to participate in the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He also followed the clash unfolding between Barack Obama, his president, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of his favorite client, with concern.
How do you interpret the cool to frosty reception Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received at the White House?
It's clearly part of the Obama administration's strategy to increase pressure on Israel. After all, they praised Netanyahu's offer to end building in the West Bank, without him committing to ending building in parts of Jerusalem certain to remain an integral part of Israel under any agreement. In the White House they think they can have more influence on Israel than on the Palestinians. But this seems to be backfiring, because the Palestinians now believe they can demand more and more pre-conditions for starting talks. What Obama has to realize is that he is dealing with Israel, a democracy to which you can not always dictate specific terms. Israel can't make peace without the clear support of the United States. The Israeli voters supported Ehud Barak's very generous offers in 2000/2001 largely because they trusted Bill Clinton. Mistrust of Barack Obama will make it more difficult to persuade Israelis to take risks for peace.
Obama is surrounded by Jewish advisors who understand how Israel works, and even has a senior advisor with an Israeli background.
The fact that Obama has advisors who are Jewish simply gives him a better cover to be tough on Israel. On the other hand, he doesn't have close Palestinian advisors who are familiar with the other side. I'm afraid this is bringing the parties further apart rather than closer together.
Could the rift between the administration in Washington and the Israeli government cause a split in the Jewish community, between Obama's supporters and supporters of Israel?
No - the Jewish community is solidly behind Israel on security issues and largely behind Israel on building in Jewish neighborhoods in North Jerusalem that will remain part of Israel in any agreement. On the other hand, the issue is lessening support for Obama among Jewish supporters of Israel.
If you were Netanyahu's attorney, how would you advise him to end this crisis?
I would suggest that he make the following announcement: "We do not believe that new building in Jewish sections of Jerusalem is a barrier to peace. We believe that the Palestinian's unwillingness to engage in unconditional direct talks, coupled with their unwillingness to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, is the primary barrier to peace. To prove our point, and without waving any rights in Jerusalem, we will announce a three-month suspension of all building permits in all disputed areas of Jerusalem in order to see whether that brings the Palestinians to the peace table and whether they are prepared to engage in good faith direct negotiations. If the Palestinians will then be prepared to engage in good faith direct negotiations, the suspensions will continue until the negotiations are complete. If not, we will return to the status quo."
That would be a test of the Palestinians' good will - a test I hope they will pass, but believe they will fail.
How would you advise Obama?
I would tell him that the process cannot be unilateral and that there must be mutual concessions. For example, the Obama administration has falsely blamed the naming of a Ramallah square after a terrorist who murdered Jews on Hamas, rather than on the Palestinian Authority. The Obama administration has to make as substantial demands of the Palestinians as it does of the Israelis. If you think this crisis is severe, you should know it is nothing compared to what could happen with regard to the Iranian issue at some future date. I'm afraid [President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad is one of the happiest men these days thanks to the many incidents between the United States and Israel. [PA Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas, by the way, is also pretty happy.
Would you disagree that this crisis - along with earlier ones and ones that will likely follow - stems from the Israeli settlement policy?
I believe that if Israel were to put an end to the settlements in the West Bank tomorrow, as it did in Gaza, there would still be reluctance on the part of the Palestinian Authority to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish secular democracy. Accordingly, the settlements should not be a major cause of disagreement between Israel and the United States, despite their differences over this issue. Nonetheless, I hope Israel will stop building in the West Bank and in those sections of Jerusalem which are likely to become part of a Palestinian state.
I am deeply concerned that, without peace and a two-state solution, the Jewish and democratic nature of Israel is in danger. That's why I have opposed Israel's settlement policy since 1973, and that's why I have favored a two-state solution since 1967.
Do you believe that Obama is a friend of Israel and is truly committed to his promise not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons?
I believe Barack Obama is committed to Israel's security. He is also committed to the two-state solution and the peace process.
I hope he understands that unless Israelis - and the rest of the world - believe that he will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, many Israelis will be unwilling to take significant risks for peace. I will remain committed to Obama so long as he continues to support Israeli security unequivocally. Obama's historic legacy will be based on whether he succeeds in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. If such weapons are obtained on his watch, history will remember him as it remembers Neville Chamberlain, despite anything else he might achieve in terms of domestic American policy.
You've made no secret about your criticism of the left-wing Jewish organization J Street. Why are you so disturbed by Jews who support peace?
I am a peace supporting Jew. I think J Street performs an important function, as it represents many left-leaning young Jews. My criticism is that it would be better if they work within the context of AIPAC. The pro-Israel lobby could then speak with one voice, especially during a time of conflict between the United States and Israel, and especially on undisputed issues - like Iran, responding to rocket attacks, anti-terrorism measures, etc. I myself have had significant disagreements with the Israeli government on a number of issues, such as the settlements. At the same time, I emphasize the 80 percent of Israeli policies that have widespread support across the political spectrum. When I wrote "The Case For Peace," my book received endorsements from prime minister Ariel Sharon and [writer] Amos Oz, because I dealt with the agreed 80 percent. J Street, on other hand, tends to focus on the 20 percent, where there is significant disagreement. That is perfectly okay for an Israeli newspaper, like Haaretz, or for Israeli domestic organizations. But it weakens pro-Israel advocacy considerably, particularly at a time when the pro-Israel community in the United States must continue to pressure the Obama administration to de-escalate this conflict.
Can you describe what happened when you debated the representative from J Street at the AIPAC conference?
Here is what happened: I was standing with professor Irwin Cotler, the former attorney general of Canada, having a conversation. A gentleman asked me if I would like to be interviewed by the correspondent from Haaretz. I said yes. He then went over to the correspondent and asked her whether she wanted to interview professor Dershowitz. She said yes, asked me several questions, and wrote down the answers on her notepad. She then turned to the J Street representative and asked him whether he had any response, which he then provided. Following that, a polite debate ensued, I did not break into a conversation. The entire episode was videotaped and witnessed by over 100 people.
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Harvard Prof Dershowitz is a genius, and understands middle east politics and realities more than any of us. Are you a Harvard Law professor? I didnt think so....
The United States do not need Israel's support. Israel is the one whose life-line is American support. GET A GRIP!!!!!!
John Stein, You are right Dershowitz has little credibility anymore and many have called for him to be bar-red from the practice of law for denigrating the rights of the Palestinian people-especially belittling their Right of Return and for advoc-ating unlawful detention of Palestinians who oppose the Israeli regime in the territories and the judicial assassination of chieftains in violation of the right to life law and the International Covenant on civil and political rights.... What a slap on the face that all is for those brave jewish chieftains who rose up and opposed the Nazi regime. That's putting his foot in his mouth in my book also. What about yours? Dutch
"It is indeed difficult to see an ant helping an elephant." You call to mind Aesop's story about the mouse that helped the lion. Perhaps Israel can be of some use to the USA, somehow. Maybe the next time the USA is about to suffer a 9/11 type incident the Israelis might share their information about it ahead of time. Maybe next time the USA is about to invade a nation we think has a nuclear program, the Israelis might tell us they don't think there's any such thing. There are various ways that Israel might do the USA some good someday. Some of them perhaps nobody would think about ahead of time.
I must have missed something. As one who grew up in the Bronx and now live in Manhattan I never noticed what insuperable difficulties Jews have in the US. Perhaps you can spell them out for me so I will be more aware.
"Right now,the "hard line" is on Israel,to appease the arabs...It will take 7/8 months to stop this tanker and another 2 years more to turn it around..." Bush was turned around the other way. Did it take two years to turn it this way? I think you have misunderstood. Bibi turned things around in one year by demonstrating consistently that he had no intention whatsoever of attempting peace. He could change things dramatically in six months by actually working on a peace deal. The reason it might take six months is that he has demonstrated that his word is no good and so it would take results. At this point 2 years of hasbara will not help much because Americans more and more identify it as advertising and tune it out.
Take your support and ...it. What Israel needs is for Obama to save them from their own drunk goverement This goverement is more dangerous to Israel than Iran.
Do you have any Jewish friends? Do you know any Jews? If you give the answer, "some of my best friends are Jewish", then the world will know that you are an avowed Anti Semite.
#50, you epitimize Muslim refusal to recognize the Jewish people and their need for a state and resemble the West Bank Yeshiva rabbis who refuse to recognize a Palastinian people and their needs for a state. You work with the simplistic understanding of Jewish ties to Israel and no concern at all as to the difficulties of Jews as a minority where they have no state including in Arab lands. You are the very essence of why those on the Israeli right think addressing Palastinain concerns is a waste of time. Those of us who work for two state solution have no illusions that you are as much a part of the problem as those Jews who refuse to share sovreignty on Jerusalem.
... and unwavering ally. Perhaps the only country in the world that wants with all its heart and soul ! Those who hate Israel must be the enemies of all mankind ! And the only country in the world that gives is enemies equality under the law. Isn't that more than enough for Obama & others who wants a real friend !
Perhaps, Mr Obama might point out to the Saudis, Gulf states, Egyptians, Jordanians,etc that THEIR SECURITY is also at stake with a nuclear & aggressive Iran.He might point out what Iran's proxy Hizzbollah has done in Lebanon. He might remind them of traditional Arab fears about Iranian(Persian) expansionism.Gee,he might just say it's in their national interests & has nothing to do with the Palestinian issue.Sacraficing the interests of a long time ally certainly won't increase American credibility among the Arabs,only make them fear that any assurances we give them might be thrown overboard when America finds them inconvenient.
The Iran problem is being worked intensely. The Iran situation is bad for everyone--entire world-- not just Israel.
Indeed Dershowitz is not even a friend of America.
Smoke is blown in all directions. FORGET IRAN. IT'S A DIVERSION. BORDERSBORDERSBORDERS..... Peace will come if Jews/Palestinians know whose land they're standing on. Is this topic really taboo? Is Eretz Yisrael not completed yet? A One State solution? A re-united Palestine with a different name? Pisrael? If it brings peace, equality for all, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness....I'm for it. A true democracy for ALL its citizens. No Apartheid. Multi-cultural. That's a good thing. Even beneficial to the gene pool. Inbreeding causes too many genetic defects. Salaam/Shalom PS. Dershowitz has become a caricature of zionist thinking. Put him out to pasture. Salaam/Shalom
Since the plagarism scandal of Dershowitz's book "The Case for Israel", should we take anything that Alan Dershowitz says as something of value?
as president, why would i care about 2% of the votes in america? obama needs to be concerned about american interests, NOT israeli interests.
Dershowitz : Obama needs to be the Kennedy of Cuba ! A real president in his finest hour ! Not dilly-dally like Obama when the danger gives no time for wait ! Dealing with the Iranian danger today is the only chance to return the U.S.A to its rightful place as the leader of the free world ! That is not only "Change" but also a truthful "Yes we can" ! Sad ! The only thing Oblam is doing, flexing his muscles on poor Israel !
moderate arabs who say they want peace are liars. They will never recognize israels right to exist as a secular, jewish state. Israel should deal with these roaches once and for all...all of these politically correct forums and discussions are masking what WILL come. let's get on with it. Let's have it out. if they want to rouse armies to attack israel, israel should openly declare, if you do, we will absorb your first strike and we will obliterate you fully afterwards. That's it. nothing more needs be said. gaza,WB, shabaa farms, golan, ...it's all a masquerade, a trojan horse. Let's stop the BS and get on with it!
israel was given many options and abbas did accept to recognize israel.. in return for atleast a viable palestinian state. the facts on the grounds show that israel is not interested in any 2 state solution and ethnic cleansing is clearly on the table as its main option. Your trying to play a historic card because zionists recently invaded palestine even so the palestinians were willing to compromise. the zionists refused and continued to build and wipe out the palestinians. in short we have a problem you need to solve .
If someome can not see this relationship from this angle, he/she is either naive or blind or foolish. However, there is no balance - Israel needs US support even more. US will exist without Israel, while Israel may not stand alone for a long time.
You approve of shooting at Arabs buses, putting bombs in Arab market places and cinemas etc.? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irgun_attacks I don't really care why the Irgun was formed. Nothing justifies terrorism. I'm sure the Arabs would claim their terrorism was justified because European Jews wanted to set up a Jewish political enitity in their backyard. So their terrorism is probably just as justified as your Irgun terrorism.
Two things: 1) modes and mechanisms of warfare are now very different from what they were when Haig was in the loop (drones, cruise missiles, etc.); 2) all of your points concern waging war, which may be an Israeli priority but is not an American one in our Middle East policy - very interesting. As for military intelligence, Israel is likely to be an asset (when they are not spying on us), but I don't see it as a matter of 'dependency.' Compare this to Israel's need for us.
The basic thrust of Palastinian thought is that Israel is illegitimate, that the Jewish people have no right to a state in the area, and that over time one way or another the Jewish State will disappear. This is the major reason why Arafat turned down a two state solution at Camp David. They are also willing to glorify murder of Jews as "resistence" which is why they supported the naming of a Ramallah square after a terrorist who murdered Jews. What we ask of Palastinains is basic respect of Jews as a people, not just a tolerated (in varying degrees) minority in Arab lands. Dershewitz is correct in noting that the Israeli right should freeze building in E. Jerusalem and how equivical the Palastinain response is likely to be.
"celebrity clients such as O.J. Simpson, Jonathan Pollard and Mike Tyson" is this something to be proud of ? "Palestinians now believe they can demand more and more pre-conditions for starting talks" Stopping the settlements is something israel agreed to itself... yet israel demands pre-conditions on palestinians.. "three-month suspension of all building permits in all disputed areas of Jerusalem in order to see whether that brings the Palestinians to the peace table and whether they are prepared to engage in good faith direct negotiations" Ofcourse Nethanyah and lieberman and yeshai will say they failed and continue building... "Jewish secular democracy" first it was recognize israel.. now its jewish secular ? is that even registered in the UN ? and whats a religion + secular democracy anyway ? Good bye christians and muslims.
Never bash a criminal Lawyer,because one day you may need him to set you free...
Mate,you hit the nail on the head...and there is much more.Would it not be for Israel,there would be no free passage through the Suez Canal since 1956.Latakia in syrua and Alexandria and Egypt would be Russian Naval Bases, the Mediterranean would be a Russian Lake...and Americans would be riding donkeys and pedalling bikes,,,for lack of OIL...all those bashing Israel are at best ignorant,but mostly arab/moslem mouth pieces...
I suppose you're the ONE who has an idea how may lives were saved since you seem so knowledgeable!!! The rest of your post is mumbling nonsense, Israel was forced to stop because they got a bloody nose. All their might, tanks, navy and air force were DEFEATED regardless to how you try to put a gloss on it. Also the hundreds of casualties were mostly civilian women and children the same as in Gaza in case that too escaped your attention. Neither Hizbollah nor Hamas were defeated the Israeli forces were exposed as inhuman and ineffective. Maybe that is why the US got to realize that Israel is no longer that strategic ally they thought it was hence the change in policy.
I see the "Hasbara" accusation all the time as well. It seems it is the anti-Israel writers favorite way to stifle debate on legitimate issues. Amusing. That the very people who think that the antisemitism label is applied unfairly and in a manner to stifle legitimate debate about Israel...something I think rarely happens...now use that very same tactic. When you have no argument you trout out the "Hasbara" comment and your done. BTW Micheal do you know why and when the Irgun got started? It was in response to the Arab massacres of the Jewish people in Palestine in the 1920's. So the group you referred to was started as a defensive measure for the Jewish people, to protect them from Arab attacks and there were NO settlements then, or even Israel. But they attacked and killed Jews just like today only the excuse was different.
Obama needs to be very tough on Israel right now in order to gain the Arab support to face Iran. If Obama is not extremely honest broker in this deal and the Israeli government is not forced to stop building settlements, then i have no idea how Mr Obama is going to gain the Arab leaders blessing against Iran.
Obama need tougher stand on Israel in order to progress with Iran. It is hard to pursue non proliferation policy in the region while Israel dominates the Middle East with its own large arsenal of nukes..
You have no idea of what intelligence is provided and how many lives are SAVED with it. Arabs fighting amongst civillians or from booby trapped houses or next to refuges or without uniforms are sure to create civillian casualties. Not fighting like real heroic martyr wannabees. PS how many cms of Israel did the hiding loudmouth Nasrallah liberate? The last Israelis left Lebanon when the ceasefire was called Not many Lebanese supermen were on the Israeli side at the time.According to some(non Hezb controlled) Lebanese media Hezballah suffered hundreds of casualties even though the attacking force is usually the one that takes most casualties. PPS neighbours airforces have not exactly covered themselves with glory in the past have they?Since then Israel has made giant technological etc leaps
You have no idea of what intelligence is provided and how many lives are SAVED with it. Arabs fighting amongst civillians or from booby trapped houses or next to refuges or without uniforms are sure to create civillian casualties. Not fighting like real heroic martyr wannabees. PS how many cms of Israel did the hiding loudmouth Nasrallah liberate? The last Israelis left Lebanon when the ceasefire was called Not many Lebanese supermen were on the Israeli side at the time.According to some(non Hezb controlled) Lebanese media Hezballah suffered hundreds of casualties even though the attacking force is usually the one that takes most casualties. PPS neighbours airforces have not exactly covered themselves with glory in the past have they?Since then Israel has made giant technological etc leaps
Egypt and Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel when the realised that they cannot defeat Israel militarily.Iran ,hizballah and hamas still think that they can defeat Israel militarily and syria is hiding behind the other three.Abbas thinks that he can defeat israel diplomatically.Until iran,hamas,hizbulla and the palestinians give up on the idea of getting rid of israel,there will be no peace.The rest is only noise,empty rhetoric,political lies and threats,including obamapolitics.Obama has failed to tackle the head of the snake and that is iran and he is trying to cover uo for his failure.The fact of the matter is that china will not agree to impose sanctions on iran even if israel stops building in east Jerusalem.The real problem is china versus america and the waining of american power and I think Israel should start to exploit that.
Look at the evidence of these statements: First "the largest, most battle-tested" was witnessed by the whole world media being defeated and humiliated in Lebanon and Gaza. Very efficient in killing civilians and destroying houses and infrastructure but miserable failure against staunch resistance with light arms. Second we saw the results of this "contribution to military intelligence" in Iraq. NATO and especially US (and Australian) casualties are testament to this fantastic work.
in Jerusalem... the problem is Israel's inability to give up the fresh water sources of the Golan heights, inability to define the contiguous borders of the Palestinian state and in so doing, have to admit to the zionist delusion of a greater Israel.Lastly, Israel doesn't want to deal with the jewish religeous fanatics living in fortified encampments that are dotting the occupied west bank.
Interesting. I see this argument about the Pals naming a square after a terrorist coming up time and time again in Zionists' arguments today. It's obviously now standard hasbara. Yet if that's the best they've got, frankly it shows how little incitement there is from the Pals, not how much. Just think of all the streets and squares in Israel named after Irgun terrorists.
Jerusalem is the capital of two states. Plain and simple. Bush promised the same thing. Obviously, the underlying national security issues of the situation aren't made clear until one is president. Maybe you don't know it, and maybe you do, but it's not just that the last 3 presidents(since congress approved it in 1994), haven't moved the embassy, it's that every 6 months they sign an executive order, or the like, which prevents it from being moved for the following 6 months. This has been going for the last 16 years or so. Bush signed one a month or so before he left office.
Why dont YOU go home? To Lebanon?Walid? Australia is not at wear with Israel but Moslem terrorists. Do you keep an eye on the plots hatched by Moslems in Australia? the accumulation of weapons & explosives? You want to ban freedom of speech or opinion if its not your side?
Look at the evidence of these statements: First "the largest, most battle-tested" was witnessed by the whole world media being defeated and humiliated in Lebanon and Gaza. Very efficient in killing civilians and destroying houses and infrastructure but miserable failure against staunch resistance with light arms. Second we saw the results of this "contribution to military intelligence" in Iraq. NATO and especially US (and Australian) casualties are testament to this fantastic work.
with successive American Administrations, including the current one, to get American support. Understanding of course the United States could live without close Israeli ties, whilst Israel requires close American ties simply to survive.
I think Peter its time for you to make that move to Israel. I have one question for you.If you had to defend one country with your life ,which country would you choose,Israel or Australia? I have read your posts for some time and you have defended Israel on EVERY single occassion and under every circumstance even when totally wrong. As a true zionist you choose zealotry before country.Pack your bags son and ship out.
Former Secretary of State, General Alexander Haig, a former Supreme Commander of NATO, refers to Israel as "the largest, most battle-tested and cost-effective US aircraft carrier, which does not require a single US personnel, cannot be sunk and is located at a most critical area for US national security interests." According to Senator Daniel Inouye, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense and a veteran of the Intelligence Committee, "Israel's contribution to US military intelligence is greater than all NATO countries combined."
You did forget to mention that his Mom was underage and that Hawaii is in Kenya. And that makes him a British subject, right? I can see the moon from my backyard. Does that make me an astronaut, too?
Can you imagine a French American telling an American president what he should to please the French people? Is pleasing right wing nationalists in Israel an American priority? Does it help American security? We have a recession. We don't need more war for anyone including Israel. Israel is an ally, and the Israeli people are friendly with Americans and they like Obama. They don't dislike Obama. Dershowitz says he is against settlements but doing damage control to deal with the damage to the tribe caused by right wing leaders is more important than violations of international law and ethnic cleansing. Does he show concern for his own country that's having hard times? He doesn't reflect the majority of American Jews who care about civil and human rights. Imagine if people tried to shield the image of whites when blacks were oppressed. That's Dershowitz's mentality,unfortunately.
when was that?
It is indeed difficult to see an ant helping an elephant.
He blindly believes Obama is committed to Israel's security. The evidence is not there-as can be seen with his endless deadlines and appeasement of Iran, his deflection of the Iran crisis by focussing on Jerusalem, and by ignoring PA refusal to recognise the Jewish State.Dershowitz focuses on Muslim populism. Now that is what German Jews went through-blindness to the evidence and Hitler's focus on his populism as policy. Obama should be seen through the facts, not through wishful thinking.
"Palestinian Authority to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish secular democracy" I don't understand what this statement means? lets say Iran is called the Islamic secular democratic state of Iran. That doesn't make sense and is contradictory. On a second thought may be he thinks he is still defending OJ Simpson.
You are claiming that Obama should make demands to the Palestinians? What are these demands? They have virtually stopped all violence, recognized the occupation as something that they can do nothing about. What do you want from them? Do you want all of them to commit suicide? Drown in the dead sea? What?
jerusalem.and now look where we are.
Israel cannnot build on occupied land. Why is this so hard to get accross your head???? The safety of our troops is more important to us than AIPAC, Netanyahu, the settlers, the US Congress and any self proclaimed Ameican who puts Israel first. As long as Israel takes our taxpayer money, any US president has the right to tell them what to do, specially if the UN, the EU, and the entire world agrees with our president!!!!!!!!!!!!
America doesn't need Israel's support, Alan. We are big and self-sufficient. Israel is tiny and dependent on us and others who no longer acquiesce in its transgressions of international law. Yes, law. You ought to know all about that.
......he is Muslim at his core but straddles the two worlds. This is the same President who refused to wear and American flag as a lapel pin and bowed to the Saudi king. There is nothing jingoistic about showing an American flag, one has to wonder what his problem is. All of his actions have been aimed at CASTRATING ISRAEL while NEVER making any major criticism or demand upon any Arab regime. I sincerely believe he would like to see the elimination of Israel, whacky as that may sound to some.
Dershowitz. Talks so much and says so little. Yara, yara yara... Israel does not want to play ball, previous administration and in particular G.W. Bush administration not only turned a blind eye, it supported it blindly. Obama can extract more from Israel by being easy on Iran with hints that he will get tough if Israel goes along with his vision of peace. Dershowitz is a right wing idiot.
It takes more than 10 nautical miles to stop a tanker and make it turn around.Right now,the "hard line" is on Israel,to appease the arabs...It will take 7/8 months to stop this tanker and another 2 years more to turn it around...
and therefore his opinion should not be taken seriously!
At least he could say he made a mistake and apologize!
'No - the entire Jewish community is solidly behind Israel on the Jerusalem issue.' Why bother to make a statement like that? Ask him if he really thinks O.J. was innocent. Maybe he'll say 'yes.'
Happily, Obama won't be running for re-election in Israel, so this shouldn't be a problem.
There's an argument that goes, "If Abbas sees Obama lean on Netanyahu and demand concessions, then Abbas will harden his stand and demand more and more and more." Stupid. If Abbas sees Obama get concessions from Netanyahu, and then Obama demands a concession from Abbas, is Abbas going to say no? Obama doesn't have to get an agreement. He can walk away and tell the world who's preventing peace.
Than peace will be made. What are you talking about Palestinians demanding more and more pre-conditions. Palestinians alongside the rest of the world ask that you follow basic international law and stop building on land that you have occupied. Obama should not try and win Israeli support when they treat him and the US like mugs. Obama should and will take a firm stance on Israel. The extremists no longer run free like they did before and the sooner people you realise this the quicker peace will be achieved.
"Nonetheless, I hope Israel will stop building in the West Bank and in those sections of Jerusalem which are likely to become part of a Palestinian state." Where is Finkelstein when you need him most? Dershowtiz, that 'nonetheless' is the devil in the details. And those details could mean a Buntustan or a real Palestine. Quit fooling us. We need a courageous Jew like N.Finkelstein to expose you again.
He values the security and success of Israel over that of the US. He should make the move and go live there aleady. He's widely disliked in the US outside of rightwing Jewish circles.
They are all GUILTY, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Something to keep in mind when someone is being defended by Dershowitz.
not if he needs to sell his soil to do it. Israelis only support only those who accept all their repression of Palesirnians. Obama is unlikely to, and so he is free to ignore those terms
Ever since Prof. Norman Finkelstein demolished Dershowitz in print and in live debates absolutely no one in the academic community takes anything Dershowitz says or writes seriously. Only because of his reputation, earned before he became a shameless pro-Zionist shill, does the MSM consult him at all.
What does anyone expect from Dersh? Would he want the US to be a Christian nation? he would be the first in front of the supreme court arguing against
Evidently his zionism has blinded him to the real world. We don't need Israeli support; they need ours.We are not the ones who need to make concessions.