ANALYSIS / U.S. sacrificed Israel for success of NPT conference
The conference of the signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a diplomatic victory for Egypt and a failure for Israel.
By Yossi Melman Tags: Israel news Israel US NPT EgyptThe conference of the signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a diplomatic victory for Egypt and a failure for Israel. Israel can feel sacrificed by the U.S. on the altar of a successful conference. Israel's nuclear program, and the international assessment that it possesses an arsenal with dozens, if not hundreds of nuclear weapons, has become a hostage to the conference.
The U.S. preferred its overall interest in advancing the idea of limiting nuclear weapons throughout the world, tighter inspections of nuclear installations and the spread of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, over supporting Israel's needs. The rein lies the difference between the Obama administration and the one preceding it. During the previous meeting in 2005, the U.S. refused to accept parts of the draft document that called on Israel to join the NPT and turned down the idea of holding talks in order to create a region free of nuclear weapons - even at the cost of the conference's failure. President Barack Obama and his administration opted for success at the conference over Israel.
On the face of it, the proposal deals with Israel in a fashion similar to the concluding document of the 1995 conference. Then, the Clinton administration agreed to have Israel mentioned in the document so that the "universality" of the NPT would be agreed upon. Then, too, there were disagreements between Egypt and the non-aligned states and the United States. However this time the decision differs and pushes forth two key issues beyond the 1995 document.
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing the NPT Review Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York on May 3, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
It talks of a target date - 2012 - for holding a conference, and appointing a special coordinator who will visit the region and hold talks for holding such a conference. However, that is still very far removed from the possibility that Israel will join the NPT. This is a sovereign decision of Israel and it is not possible to impose it.
There are many understandings between Israel and the U.S., both verbal and written, which were reiterated by the Obama administration, including the fact that Israel will not be forced into the NPT. The U.S. also accepts Israel's view on the subject of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. The Israeli approach calls on all countries in the region to first recognize Israel's right to exist, sign peace agreements, enter into security arrangements, limit conventional arsenals and also non-conventional weapons - including chemical and biological agents in their arsenals, and their missile delivery systems.
Only then will it be possible to begin discussions on a nuclear-free zone. On Friday the U.S. expressed its "serious reservations" at the end of the conference regarding the holding of a conference in 2012. National Security Adviser James Jones said that peace in the Middle East and compliance by all countries in the region - hinting at Iran - of their commitment to the NPT are preconditions to a region free of weapons of mass destruction.
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It isn't too hard to imagine that the area will move toward peace eventually. 100 years from now I don't think that Israelis or anyone else will be thanking this mind-numbingly stubborn government for the silly posturing and scaremongering. Not to mention the wholesale destruction of neighbours and even areas within it's own borders. In the final analysis there will be little pride, and much embarrassment, regarding their own conduct and it will be largely forgotten. Rather, try to imagine a World not at war with trade and good economic relations around a variety of goods. This is the way to improvements for all people in the region. Israel should demand more from it's leadership. Hard work in building a viable future for a country that is unable to be economically self sufficient. You should not permit people like this to hold the World in the grasp of fear, to try and spread that fear. These are people who do not have the country's best interest at heart. They are mere stage struck actors on the World stage tinkering with nationalism and powdering their faces for the TV. Life is not a football match with teams to cheer for, it's about hard work and building a future.
If the USA is to be considered a cop then no one will respect The USA for allowing a criminal on one side of the street to kill someone while arresting the murderer on the other side of the street. The criminals will put a contract hit out on you as we witnessed 9-11. We cannot punish Hamas while allowing Israel to freely let the Kahanists (A Terrorist group listed on the state department terrorist list) to operate freely unhindered and fundraising in the USA.
Israel can have the peace it desires only if can bring down the whole Arab world on their knees. Sinceit won't happen with that ease , it has to draft the US to do it's bidding .So whatever Israel sees fir through it's paranoiac lenses, the US has to abide by and execute. It is increasingly clear that in no way the US and Israeli interest can parallel each other for long. Israel will be be sacrificed on the altar of world Peace. Thje question that remains to ba anwered
Can it be??? Is it true??? I'm DreAMING!... Can America really be acting in her best interest instead of Israels?????????????????? SOMEBODY FREAKIN PINCH ME!
Dear Sir, It is most difficult to see, if not impossible, how the current modest agreement puts israel at danger. Best regards
for Israel to join the NPT, they suggest that other countries limit their conventional weapon, for Israel to strike at the time of its choice, Israel was the one to start hostility in the region and are the one for land grapping, they like the Arab to let off their guards. or they want to put them to the impossible, of .whether not to have any arms even to defend themself, for them to disarm their nukes. well, I can see this is the end of any Nuke free zone in the M.E
It should be noted there is a long history of Israel sabotaging international efforts on a host of issues - from global ban on torture, assassinations, landmines, to ending racism and ending the use of white phosphorous - to joining the ICC, a clear pattern exists where Israel always feels threatened when there is the smallest chance a international cop is on the beat to monitor it's behavior and actions? It's no surprise a rogue state would not like to see international law have real teeth of enforcement behind it.
Israel has done stupid things in the past. This is what worries me.
When will the Jews wake up to the fact that President Obama's ideologically driven world-view does not include Israel or its security, [despite all the (now belatedly) warm noises coming out of the White House?]
As a clever man once said: "It's healthier to believe your enemies than to trust your 'friends". Obama//Clinton (not US), should stop calling themselves 'friends of Israel....there NOT!
HE DIDNT PROTECT ISRAEL AT THAT CONFERENCE
Notice that I am an American first, I would much rather see the international law applied evenly to give us the moral ground to stop Iran and others from having nukes, than to have to see my coutrymen (Americans) die in another war for Israel. The special favors we have given Israel have cost my country (America) too much. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! Go Obama
Obama's true face.
The true face of Obama, he has chosen the right thing!
"The Israeli approach calls on all countries in the region to first recognize Israel's right to exist, sign peace agreements, enter into security arrangements, limit conventional arsenals and also non-conventional weapons - including chemical and biological agents in their arsenals, and their missile delivery systems.". Is Israel willing to do the above, recognize the Palestinians right to a sovereign nation, sign peace deals, limit conventional arsenals and also non-conventional weapons - including chemical and biological agents in their arsenals, and their missile delivery systems.?
Nor, do I wish - as it's current leaders do - to see it shown a lunatic asylum. Any nation which affirms the NPT which possesses nuclear weapons is admitted as such. A nuclear weapons power who's production complex is secure from IAEA monitoring. Are there IAEA Monitors at the Pantex plant in Amarillo? So what is the problem? Is the problem the number of nuclear weapons Israel has? How many does it take to deter any potential enemy? How many to destroy any possible invasion? Not that many. How many nuclear weapons could have been produced by Israel? That depends upon several things which ANYONE with a clue may determine. How many pure fission weapons - I know if I posted the essential equation it would be censored, but that does not change the FACT that many in the world could supply that equation. What about a minimal number of boosted fission weapons? There are many ways to use a neutron. Still an area of possibility can be established between a few boosted weapons and the maximum number of pure fission weapons might be defined. Might we consider 'hydrogen bombs'? I would. A well designed 'hydrogen bomb' can use less neutrons to build than more primitive fission or boosted fission weapons for a total stockpile yield. I do not want to see Israel destroyed. I do not want to see Israel disarmed. I don't know why Israel continues to lie about what anyone with a clue - and several billions of people who don't - knows. What is it about reality that the Netanyahu Government cannot cope with? What does it REFUSE to cope with? Did not Netanyahu notice when the nebbish Olmert shot his mouth off? Earth to Israel! Come In Israel! The Earth would like Israel to cope with REALITY! Please Israel, stop acting insane.
no more nukes in the middle east
anyone who is surprised by obama's treachery needs to wake up. obama was the candidate of the pro-muslim, pro-arab side of u.s. foreign policy establishment. brzezinski and carter must be very satisfied. one wonders who does brzezinski really represent. what is certain is that the final declarations of the conference do not advance the interests of the united states one iota. to the contrary, they advance the interests of iran and the arabs. the interests of the united states is the stopping of iran's nuclear weapons programs. yet not one word was said abaout iran. history will judge obama and his administration very harshly.
goes back on his own words and the successful policies of US administrations for many decades. Unless American Jews rise up instead of keeping silence as the Jewish community in the US did in the 1930s and 1940s... history, while Obama is the US President, may repeat itself....!!
goes back on his own words and the successful policies of US administrations for many decades. Unless American Jews rise up instead of keeping silence as the Jewish community in the US did in the 1930s and 1940s... history, while Obama is the US President, may repeat itself....!!
clearly the IL-USA friendship is now reaching the end of the lifecycle - with fake friendship bla bla alternating with backstabbing and humiliation - in true BPD fashion. Israel needs to see clearly that this friendship is over.
Obama already showed the world what he thought of Israel when he belittled Natanyahu, recently in America after which he lauded Karzei in stark contrast.. Hopefull in November Obama will suffer defeat.
its about time america woke up to the damage its doing itself, and the mid east ,by its one sided support of israel is there a realisation in the us that this cannot carry on?... if it is great., but there is a long way for america to go in undoing the damage it has inflicted. or is it waiting for another blow out before it wakes up?
"This is a sovereign decision of Israel and it is not possible to impose it. " So what are the consequences of Israel not signing the NPT?
That until Israel signs the same treaty as Iran did, Israel has no voice to criticize them with. It's a double standard and it only serves to dirty Israel's image in the world eye. x
If Israel has nuclear weapons (any it's pretty common knowledge that it does) it is difficult to ask other countries to agree NOT to try and possess the same capability. Israel can continue to try and thwart Iran's bomb making ability but my guess is that Iran has learned some good lessons from Israel's attack on Iraq's nuclear plants and have already taken precautions to prevent that from happening to them No telling if Iran will agree to stop it's nuclear ambitions but as long as arch enemy Israel has them, Iran feels threatened and will do whatever it needs to even the score
The ignorance and hatred doesn't astonish me. Do you who condemn Israel not understand these are God's chosen people? If you don't believe, you soon will but it will be too late. Those who turn on Israel have turned against God also. Do you not understand you are fulfilling the prophecies? Israel will stand not alone but with God against all enemies who wish to destroy her.
God said to Abraham 'kill me a son'.--Bob Dylan
We don't need you, you need us. We give you billions every year in direct aid, provide you with top of the line weapons (which you use against children and old men in wheelchairs), and when we ask you to stop building illegal settlement s for five minutes, you tell us to go pi&& up a rope. We the people support the Obama administration on this issue 100%. We elect leaders to represent our interests, not yours.
While I'm a strong supporter of Israel, I also understand Pres Obama's thinking on this. During the Bush Administration, a big bone of contention among Arabs, was the US not being in a position to mediate between Israel & the Arabs, because of a *perception* that Bush favored Israel. So, Pres Obama is attempting to give the *perception* of being more even-handed. The important thing is that he stands by Israel, on those *understandings* mentioned in the article. And that he made statements today, saying that the draft document unfairly singled out Israel.
There are a great many Americans that stand with you, Israel. This Obama Administration has lost many of those who voted for him in 2008. He is proving himself to be untrue to his Word....... he and those around him just plain LIE !! He is not a man of honor and many Americans are rising up against him. He tries to put down those that he thinks are not with him. He wants to turn the U.S. into a welfare state... giving to those like himself who were raised on welfare because their own parents would not work. He does not have a high regard for the individual and religion. Take Heart, we who have stood by you in the past do so now and will do so in the future as we work for the downfall of Obama, YOU REMAIN IN OUR PRAYERS. With love, An Independent American of another religion
"he wants to turn the US into a welfare state"... Where do you think Israel gets their ability to kill Palestinian children, men, and women, Build walls of Apartheid, and wage and threaten war amongst all her neighbors???? AMERICAN WELFARE 3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! WAKE UP!
"he wants to turn the US into a welfare state"... Where do you think Israel gets their ability to kill Palestinian children, men, and women, Build walls of Apartheid, and wage and threaten war amongst all her neighbors???? AMERICAN WELFARE 3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! WAKE UP!
What did you expect? There are a lot more Muslims than there Jews. Obama will go for the larger numbers!
Hoiw easy for Us to join the Arabs in Demanding that Israel give up it's major defense afainst its extinction while US, Russia, China keep theirs. I hope the Jewish voters show a little support for this tiny nation.
the world is quickly getting disgusted with these kind of cheap arguments on israel's part to defend against any impunity....soon israelis themselves will not accept these fake arguments as more skeletons tumble from places like apartheid south africa n one day UN will declare israel apartheid..watch out
Israel has always played by its own rules.....expecting others to accept any decisions that it wants to make. I have always felt that they were...and still are....a terrible friend. They take a TON of our taxpayer money every year....with absolutely no answers for us...about anything. Same old story.....different year. We are complete idiots to keep any relationship with them!
It appears, if this story reflects majority Israeli public opinion, that Israel prefers to divorce itself from the rest of the world. This is bad.
Israel prefers to isolate itself from the world community rather than follow international law and norms. In that regard, it is very much like North Korea, except North Korea doesn't subjugate any people but their own.
The US sacrificing Israel? The level of ingratitude is amazing. Israel needs to do some serious soul-searching rather than constantly pointing fingers at everyone else. If you grow up in America, you take for granted that supporting Israel is the right thing to do. Sadly, I am beginning to believe that Israel is a failed experiment requiring a very creative solution. Such solutions are nearly unprecedented and very unlikely in human affairs. The prospects for Israel are not good if it doesn't face reality in the near future. Gracefully and "generously" capitulating on the nuclear question (after the requisite shows of consternation and gnashing of teeth) is an opportunity to turn the tide.
DG"The level of ingratitude is amazing" Even as a Palestinian American, I could not have found the words you put. Thanks
While packing an arsenal of nukes and whining to anyone who will listen about Iran trying to protect its citizens.
So much for the dependability of the USA. Israel walks alone among all the nations and must look after its own best interests. No one else will!
wow, finally the world is seeing Israel for the hypocrites that they are. now if only the U S would stop arming them and teach them the fact that they ( israel) will never know peace until they stop thinking they are above the rules....
No one sacrificed anything. The US said somethings for show and to stroke Egypt's ego but in the back channels everything is status quo. Israel is used to UN sponsored theaters of hatred with Israel as the star.
Typical Obama stupidity. Bend over for the Arabs and kicking Israel where it hurts
It isn't the people of the US that sacraficed Israel, it is the current administration full of weak kneed, spineless cowards. We the people understand Israel's challenges and support you 100%
The American people are slowly coming out from under the Israel lobby barrage of lies. In the end, only the fundamentalist, rapture-believing Christians will be left to support Israel: 2/3 of Jews will be baptized, the last 1/3 killed. Nice friends.
who are you to say the people of the US support Isreal 100%? I for one do not....and i know there are many others.
We all know the people of the US feel much differently than Obama. November's around the corner and his Congress will be decidedly against his "change". He will sit alone for the last two years of his failed presidency. Good riddance BHO.
Far more people understand this than the current administration is willing to admit.
And I support the weakening of our alliance with Israel based on Israel's recent behavior ! We can be friends, just not best of friends. Hope Israel understands! We don't need Israel, Israel needs us.
"it is the current administration full of weak kneed, spineless cowards." Maybe, just MAYBE, someone has finally woken up and realized that Israel is nowhere NEAR as innocent as they would have the world believe. The bullied have become the bullies. Until they stop their warmongering ways, and actually pursue peace LEGITIMATELY, then they will always rightly be viewed around the world not as David, but rather as Goliath. "We the people understand Israel's challenges and support you 100%." Except for the people who don't buy into the crap that Israel and AIPAC constantly spew about the danger Israel faces. We constantly give them the best weaponry on Earth, and they also have the most terrifying weapon Humanity has ever known. Let's face it: They aren't in as much danger as the traitors in AIPAC keep saying. The Palestinians, however, face a VERY real threat. The threat of the terrorist squatters who vandalize Palestinian land, steal Palestinian homes, attack Palestinians, and even attack their own bloody military! The Palestinians don't have the weaponry that we supply Israel with, nor a legitimate fighting force, a condition that Israel wants to maintain for all time.
Recent polls show the following: 75% of US citizens support Israel over the Islamists; US citizens overwhelmingly place Israel with the top 5 countries favored; US citizens overwhelmingly place the Palestinians at the bottom 5 along with Iran & Libya
obama is a true believer. he is a true believer in a nuclear free world, and damned be the consequences. obama is also a true believer in the rights of the third world, among which he counts muslim states, to have full equality and parity with the united states. obama does not believe in islamic terror, or in holding third world countries responsible for their human rights violations. no one should mistake obama's acts for cowardice. obama acts out of his own beliefs. the fact that those beliefs are totally at odds with western traditions does not bother him. he is proud of it.
You should be ashamed of yourself, Dennis, for putting the interests of Israel ahead of America. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
you said" we the people understa nd Israel's challenges and support you 100%" that's morally wrong, we spend our money on Israel, and what we get from Israel, no oil, no security, nothing at all, at least we get the oil from the Arabs, what we get from Israel, just the jewish vote in the congress and the senate. as if the American people became hostage to a small country, which runs washington from Jerusalem. so only talk about yourself .
Israel continues to insist everyone meet their demands before they will even begin to consider behaving reciprocally. Meanwhile, the U.S. has a right to consider its legitimate interests, which include fairness for ALL residents of the region. Besides, how can the U.S. "sacrifice" something it doesn't own?
So Darius, you think that it is illegitimate of Israel to demand recognition from its neighbours, to not be the target of open threats of elimination, to have the right to protect itself from its brutal enemies. Well then your views are warped to the extent that they warrant being ignored.
I get so sick of Israels concept of there being one set of rules for Israel, which Israel makes up as they go, and a different set of rules for the rest of the world, which Israel calls for enforcement whenever they feel the urge. Can I get a witness?
I'll witness that Natallie...
I'm with you!
Kassam is your witness, your soul, and your mind.
When are we going to wise-up about them?????? Not going to happen...we all know that!
While I understand where you're coming from, you fail to address the double-standard Israel faces, as they are always held to a higher standard, than their neighbors. What other Country would stand quietly, when missiles are lobbed into their Country daily?
Unlike the Arab mentality, that glorifies death. And you know it, Durson.
do you think anybody really cares one iota what you think or feel...
Those that demand that the Jews are bound to a treaty that they never signed, while falling all over themselves excusing the Arabs for violating a treaty that they freely signed.
It is about time Israel was held accountable. This apartheid regime that supported South Africa's nuclear weapons program in the depths of that country's own apartheid, is in no position to complain about a possible weapons program in Iran. Demonstrably aggressive and practising its own holocaust against the Palestinians the regime is strongly in need of change. Here is a novel idea. How about one man, one vote across a unified Israel, including both the West Bank and Gaza? That would result in an Arab dominated multiracial government just like South Africa got a black dominated multiracial government. Note that the sky has not fallen in.
did precisely the right thing. Besides, what gives the US, Israel and other the right to have nukes but not Iran? It's hypocritical.
Israel and US can be trusted as sane countries that will only use nukes as a last resort. Can Iran be trusted ?? No Way. They are a lunatic entity, ready to sacrifice their entire country to destruction. BIG difference.
Let the world leaders criticise Iran who will soon have a nuclear bomb-a country whose president and supreme religious leader have threatened to wipe Israel off the map. Israel has not threatened Iran with such inflammatory language. Israel has a right to protect itself to the Max, and will continue to do so.
Read the papers, buddy. Israel has been agitating for war against Iran for years. Don't get hyper focused on Iran's response to Israel's agitations...it's just rhetoric.
Israel never threaten Iran ?? Every now and then we read the newspaper stating that Israel plans to launch an attack on Iran facilities. Iran has ZERO nuclear weapons and Israel is known to have HUNDREDS.
Israel has both threatened verbally and committed acts of war that far, far surpass even retaliatory words aimed in their direction in the region. It is now clear to the free world that it is in fact Israel that is the rough state in the middle east and alike all rouge states, it wishes to preserve it's military advantage over other states. It has also quietly, subtly let it neighbours know that if really under threat, it will use it's 'samson option'.
Israel has both threatened verbally and committed acts of war that far, far surpass even retaliatory words aimed in their direction in the region. It is now clear to the free world that it is in fact Israel that is the rough state in the middle east and alike all rouge states, it wishes to preserve it's military advantage over other states. It has also quietly, subtly let it neighbours know that if really under threat, it will use it's 'Samson option'.
When those other countries establish true democracies I'll take your criticism seriously. Iran's gov. was stolen in the last election. As for its relations with other countries... most of them are blatantly anti-semetic. I say this as an atheists who comes from neither muslim nor jewish blood. As an outsider, I see that Israel has consistently offered a two-state solution and has peace attempts thwarted by Palestinian groups that want to play a pr game to take all of the land. I also see that Jews hold more than fifty percent of the most recent nobel prizes in physics... how can they be prevented from having a technology that they essentially invented? Don't play the abuse of power card either... we all have seen the youtube videos of Palestinians launching rockets into Israel form daycares.
And who won Israel's election - Kadima? (the only thing I really understand about coalition politics is I'm glad it isn't in play in the US as the same scale as in Israel). I didn't really mean to say I'd trust Iran sooner than Israel, but many in the world would. I would just ask: must you destroy all who disagree with you? How do you discern wish from intent? Is some of this just a mindless backlashk because Israel tried to bloody Hezbollah's nose and got the same in return? If her opponents' shoes were on Israel's feet, how she would howllllll!!!
obama is a naive fool... and the american people are coming to the realization that they are being lead by a community organizer who doesn't have a clue... heaven help us!!
Nice to see the president of the USA prioritizing the interests of the USA. While Bush might have put Israel ahead of the USA, remember that North Korea went nuclear during Bush's term. A more globalized and effective Non proliferation regime might have prevented North Korea from going nuclear. Good to see Obama learning from Bush's mistakes.
I would like very much for you to be right, but Obama has a serious character defect, under political pressure he is known to cave. Let's wait and see.
US did what it needed to do to continue the NPT chirade for another 5 years. Nuclear powers will never get rid of their nukes. Israel will never own up to what everyone already knows. NPT just give veto wielding countries the pwoer to keep others down. Glad I'm not on that side of the fence. Go USA. Nuke them all like Japan, oh wait we nuked someone. At least we were responsible about it.
are you happy to watch the oppression in Iran? the same rulers are paying for terror on five continents. we all face existential threat. Except for Javieeeers who spread sheer ignorant nonsense.
Mind how the title reads: US sacrificed Israel... what a chutzpa. Doesn't Israel sacrifice the whole world including its benefactor USA...for its own interests, even when these interests are not always Kosher
the us and all other UN nations should stop blindly supporting Israel and its zionist movement ( there is no such thing as historical homeland )
First of all the concept or idea of an historical homeland is very old and widespread. Do the chinese people live in Africa? or scandinavians in South America? Several groups of people, bonded by religous, ethnic or cultural reasons, have had an specific homeland for centuries or millenia. The Hebrews are no diferent. Second, the creation and preservation of the State of Israel comes directly from a Leage of Nations (the UN predecessor) mandate that the international community is bound to respect. There's nothing blindly about it.
Check out the San Remo Conference decision 51...
Well, a Palestinian State certainly does not exist, nor is one likely to exist. Over the years, the Palestinians have turned down every peace opportunity offered by Israel. Please, don't get me wrong. I would love to see a Palestinian state in which peace loving Palestinians could live side by side with their Israeli neighbors, but Hamas and other militant groups have so far derailed every opportunity for such a state to exist. Extremists on both sides are preventing peace in the region from becoming a reality. To get past the 62 years of conflict and killing, visionaries are needed who are able to create an environment conducive to peaceful coexistence.
.....to announce whether there is such a thing as an historical homeland. Are you a historian, a policitical scientist, a philosopher.
To cry over this while crying over Iran's alleged covert nuclear weapons program. Rumor has it Israel was quite close to launching a nuclear attack in 1973. Such a small nation with contantious, militant leaders and permanently frayed relations with most of its neighbors ought not to have nuclear weapons. Can you really cry about other nations trying to do the very same thing Israel did?
No other country with daily threats would act with such restraint!
Your comment implies that there is a moral equivalency between Israel and ANY of its neighbors. The fact the Israel still exists can be attributed to the force it commends. Nuclear including.
What a strange, ill-informed comparison between a country that was and remains under constant threat of attack by all of it's neighbors, near and far (Israel); and a country that for a very long time has been making threats of aggression towards the former as well as to the western world at large (Iran). Let's not forget the fact that Iran is a country with a prestigious spot on the list of countries that support terrorism; and for good reason!
You mean bombing the capital of a sovereign state (beirut), occupying the West Bank and imposing a siege on Gaza? This is restraint?
Nonsense that "no other country" is so special. Israel acts in its own cold interests, not because it is any better or more moral than others. How was chumming up to apartheid South Africa and prviding it weapons so like "no other country in the world....the most moral country in the world, the light unto the nations, the most moral army in the world, blah blah blah"? Get over yourselves.
Other nations didn't have several million of their people massacred and burned in ovens, while the rest of the world ignored the early warning signs and the local people that new or suspected what was happening simply looked the other way. Other nations don't have to deal with neighbors that have sworn to "push them to the sea" and exterminate them and don't recognize the right of the Jew people to simply exist. If those other nations could agree to a real, meaninful treaty that allow Israel to exist in peace, then there would be no need to a nuclear deterrence. Until such a compromise is reached, Israel will need their atomic and nuclear weapons, much as the US and Russia do.
No other country in the world would FABRICATE such daily threats and then make threats of their own based on those fabrications. Look at what the world is telling you -- 189 countries: Wake up cause we're out of smelling salts!
Rumor has it Israel was quite close to launching a nuclear attack in 1973." - mark I have seen intel which showed that Israel would use special weapons to STOP the invasion of Israel as defined by it's 1967 borders by either Syria (big problem) or Egypt (no threat). "Can you really cry about other nations trying to do the very same thing Israel did?" - mark I would point out that ALL known nuclear weapons states besides India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan are member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Only Israel refuses to admit what it has spent 40 years encouraging the world to believe while pretending it didn't. This means there are 4 rogue rogue states of which only one is so dishonest as to not admit to that status. Why? You got me mark. I don't agree with your basic premise' that the world would be better off with another nuclear weapons power. But I really cannot understand why Israel is so pathological as to deny reality.
Quick question, when was the last time Iran attacked anyone? How about Israel? See a pattern?
Iran hasn't invaded a neighbor in 500 years; Israel hasn't invaded a neighbor in 500 DAYS. Does Israel not continue to violate Lebanese airspace at will, in disregard of all international laws? Whose airspace does Iran violate on a daily basis? Iran signed the NPT; Israel called in Myer Lansky when JFK wanted inspections at Dimona.
What about the fact that Israel has been illegally occupying the land of 3 of it's neigbors, and essentially enslaving the Palestinians under brutal military control for the past 60 years? Why should an apartheid state have nuclear weapons and be allowed to continue to be "ambigous" about it's program? you're damn right there's no moral equivalence between the parties....Israel, as it stands today, is far from moral in anyway.
Marks's comments illustrate why peace is so difficult to achieve. There are too many like him, prejudiced, blind and ignorant, who do not have a clue about what is going on. Is he comparing Israel to Iraq, or Iran, or Saudi Arabia, or Egypt, ot Afghanistan, or Pakistan. Pretty unbeliebable.