M E N O R A H

ANALYSIS / Why Netanyahu isn't backing a two-state solution

There are obvious political reasons for Netanyahu's refusal to demonstrate a more moderate stance: It would cost him his potential coalition with the right-wing National Union and Habayit Hayehudi, and force him into a rotation arrangement with Livni. But his opposition to a Palestinian state is also a matter of principle, one he has held for many years.

The question is what Clinton will make of Netanyahu's opening gambit. Netanyahu's aides believe that as a seasoned politician, Clinton will find a way to work with him, not against him, but it will be interesting to see whether she will also try to effect a compromise between Netanyahu and Livni in a bid toward creating a more moderate Israeli government. More

John Bolton at CPAC

Bolton said that conservatives should not be comforted by the fact that Obama has backed off some of his campaign rhetoric on issues such as Gitmo, NAFTA, and CIA black sites. "Being inconsistent and deceptive is not the same as being moderate," he said.

Bolton, echoing Joe Biden, said that Obama would be challenged internationally by foreign powers who seek to test the young administration. He said that Obama's weak reaction to Georgia during the campaign coupled with his skepticism regarding missile defense has emboldened a resurgent Russia. Hillary Clinton's decision to essentially take human rights off the table in her trip to China was a mistake. More

Obama is opening dialogue with Iran with Hollywood Stars

Willful stupidity knows no bounds -- only thing is it's coming directly from the White House. Annette Benning is dialoguing with the poison pygmy regime on behalf of President B. Hussein? Does Benning have a clue about Islam? Does she sanction the stoning, hangings, the repression and murder of reformers? Does she think she can disarm the mullahs with a screening of The Grifters. This is embarrassing. And very dangerous. More

Netanyahu: Palestinians should have the ability to govern their lives but not to threaten ours

Prime minister-designate tells Washington Post he intends to 'advance Palestinian economic development while continuing political talks'. Adds: Syria talking peace but enabled Hizbullah to arm itself with tens of thousands of rockets. More

U.S. pulling out of ‘Durban II’ conference

The Obama administration has decided to boycott the so-called Durban II conference out of concerns for anti-Semitism.

Multiple sources on a conference call with the White House on Friday told JTA that the Obama administration had opted not to attend any further preparatory meetings ahead of the planned U.N. conference against racism in Geneva in April. More

Livni Rejects Netanyahu's Final Offer

(IsraelNN.com) Likud Party Chairman Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu met with Kadima party head Tzipi Livni on Friday morning to make a final effort to convince her to join a Likud-led coalition. Livni rejected his offer, leaving Likud with no option but to turn to the nationalist parties and attempt to form a more narrow coalition.

Livni had rejected previous coalition offers, including an offer that would have given Kadima veto power over goverment decisions and several senior ministries. More

Entrapping Netanyahu

Negotiations between Likud and its coalition partners towards the formation of Israel's next government have only just begun. But the campaign to undermine the government-in-formation's ability to determine Israel's future course is already well underway. Incoming Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu must understand the traps being set for him and their sources. And as he builds his government, he must appoint ministers capable of working with him to extricate Israel from those traps and discredit their sources. More

Nationalists Blast Lieberman’s ‘Palestinian State’ Article

(IsraelNN.com) Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman’s article supporting the creation of a ‘Palestinian state’ was ill-received in the nationalist camp, with some accusing Lieberman of deserting his former positions on the subject and carrying out an about-face.

Mattot Arim clainmed that before elections were held, Yisrael Beiteinu gave them a written, clear-cut statement that opposes the establishment of a ‘Palestinian’ state. More

Rise of the 'Iran Lobby': Teheran's front groups move on-- and into-- the Obama Administration

This report-- documenting the rise of what can accurately be described as the “Iran Lobby” in Washington, D.C.--is derived entirely from unclassified open sources and describes in detail the activities, linkages, and objectives of this alarming alliance between NIAC, CAIR and others that is aimed at co-opting America’s foreign policy in the Middle East and specifically with Iran.

As these organizations expand, multiply and, in the process, intensify their efforts to promote a shared and minous agenda, it is imperative to recognize the role being played by what amount to their interlocking (or at least overlapping) boards of directors, donations from the same foundations and growing access to some key members of Congress and top levels of US policymaking circles. Of special concern is the growing penetration of the Obama Administration by a number of individuals with such associations. More

Pardon for former Gaza pullout objectors

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, Public Defender's Office agree to have 40 non-violent dissidence cases opened during 2005 Gaza pullout closed. 'Acts were prompted by an unusual event.'

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann submitted a brief to President Shimon Peres Thursday, recommending some 40 cases involving men and women convicted, or facing charges, for various acts of dissidence committed during the 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip, be closed.  More