American foreign policy « Previous Entries Next Entries »

Suddenly, the two-state chorus grows louder, more diverse

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

Something seems to be brewing out there, something new. I’ve been doing Middle East peace work, on and off, since the mid-1980s. I have never heard so many people from so many different corners of America defying right-wingers (and ultra-left-wingers) on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and saying the same things at the same time.
What do a […]

The peace process, Iran and the law of unintended consequences

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

At a luncheon panel on Israel and Iran at the Century Foundation yesterday, I was taken aback by some thoughts shared by Trita Parsi, author of the new and highly regarded Dangerous Alliance -The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the United States, and Daniel Levy, the former Israeli negotiator who is now Director […]

Heartwarming holiday surprise: Philip Weiss praises liberal Zionists and Israel Policy Forum

Saturday, December 8th, 2007

In a post that recounts an Israel Policy Forum dinner that I also attended (hat tip to Richard Witty), Philip Weiss describes his joy at discovering what has been available for years, waiting for him to encounter it: a community of American Jews who care about Israel, who consider themselves part of the Israel […]

A diplomatic tool: the “freyer” factor

Monday, December 3rd, 2007

So just how much pressure can and should the U.S. apply to both Israelis and Palestinians after the Annapolis conference? The “P word” -pressure– still sends chills down the spines of too many mainstream American Jewish leaders, including those who know full well that, at times, Israeli Prime Ministers have desparately needed American pressure […]

Rally for peace in Annapolis on Nov. 27th…

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

A number of Jewiish peace groups are trying to cobble together a rally in Annapolis next week (11/27). As of now, they include Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, Meretz USA, Union of Progressive Zionists, Kesher ARZA, Habonim Dror and Hashomer Hatzair. One of the problems that haunts peace-seeking people is that, […]

Are pro-Israel doves part of the “lobby?”

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

Apologies for the recent lack of blogging activity. Too many work and family obligations, not enough hours in the day.
Last week, there was a dyspeptic attack on Americans for Peace Now by my friend Philip Weiss on his blog, MondoWeiss. (Check it out at http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2007/11/foreign-affairs.html). It deserves a belated response.
In taking on a […]

Weiss exonerates people who are obsessed with dual loyalty…

Friday, October 12th, 2007

Philip Weiss reacted to my HuffPo piece (see previous post) on the neocons with a little essay entitled Fleshler Exonerates the Neocons of Dual Loyalties. Why He’s Wrong.
Take a look at it. Take a look at the comments. There are a number of people, including Richard Witty, who disagree with Phil and make some […]

“Jewish Neocons Are Dead Wrong, Not Disloyal” –My piece in the Huffington Post

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

Please check out my new screed in Huffington Post, in which I find myself objecting to one (just one, I promise) of the accusations that are commonly hurled at Doug Feith and his fellow preemptive war fetishists. I spent a long time trying to figure out how to say what needed to be said, […]

Whom should we trust on Syria? The Bushies…or the experts?

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

Ameinu’s web site has some informative pieces on Syria that stand in stark contrast to the don’t-trust-Assad-under-any-circumstances pablum that is available from most American Jewish groups.
What follows is a tidbit from Gershon Baskin, a very wise Israeli Jew who for decades has carried out “Track 2″ dialogue on the toughest issues with Arab counterparts, […]

Mearsheimer, Walt and what didn’t really happen at Camp David

Friday, September 14th, 2007

There is a sentence towards the end of Walt and Mearsheimer’s new book that undercuts some of what they have tried to accomplish with their critique of the “Israel Lobby.” Having rejected the binational, single-state solution as well as Israel’s permanent occupation, they assert: “The United States will have to put significant pressure on […]

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