I suspect most of my readers will understand where I am coming from, in selecting today’s subject title. How can any thoughtful person consider the state of the world and not feel exhausted to the very bone?
Nothing, but nothing makes for more exhaustion than the Iran issue.
According to the Fars News Agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jarad Zarif on Sunday said that Iran’s nuclear program is its “source of power” in the region: “…if we see the JCPOA [the nuclear deal] as an opportunity, it will…pave the ground for us in the region.” (emphasis added)
This follows an earlier quote by head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi (emphasis added):
“Recognition of Iran’s enrichment right and acquisition of the nuclear technology was imposed on the other side. The JCPOA will disrupt the power balance in the region.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199841#.VdsoQJsVjIV
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How does anyone who cares about Israel – I mean really care, not “care” as Congressman Nadler talks about it – deal with this information without a wrenching in the gut?
It’s not the Iranians. They are following their agenda.
It’s Obama, who, of course is endorsing the Iranian agenda. And Kerry, his “loyal” assistant.
And all of the members of Congress who – because of pressure from Obama or concern about being re-elected, or worry about being accused of not being a loyal Democrat, or anxiety about losing prime funding – will endorse the plan.
And then all of the members of the electorate – including, Heaven help us, many Jews – who think what Obama is doing is just fine. Who will not, choose not to, stand up and yell bloody murder.
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Let me share just a small portion of what columnist and author Ruthie Blum had to say today (emphasis added):
“But as the debate heats up over whether the deal furthers or hinders Iran’s nuclear weapons’ capabilities, an equally serious issue keeps getting marginalized. This is the more immediate and tangible danger posed by Iran’s terrorist proxies, and the sudden financial and ideological boost the deal is providing them.”
“The reason it is crucial to keep an eye on their activities is that they constitute Iran’s global army – the boots on the ground, so to speak – who perform the legwork necessary for the ultimate aim of regional and global jihadist hegemony. Their role is to set the stage for that time in the not-so-far future when Iran’s power and reach is so extensive that its leaders won’t need to waste their nuclear warheads by firing them…
“Last month, the General Assembly of Islamic Resistance Ulema (scholars) held a weekend conference titled ‘Unity for Palestine.’
“At the gathering, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said, ‘We believe with certainty that Israel, this cancerous tumor, is headed for extinction…”
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Right-from-wrong-Jihad-Iranian-style-413033
Credit: Yisrael Hayom
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Please, let us be very clear about this: The sanctions relief that the deal would provide to Iran makes it possible for Iran to infuse large sums of money into Hezbollah, and facilitates the acquisition of further weaponry. The deal also legitimizes Iran in a manner that emboldens them.
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A good many people in America may have a great deal to answer for.
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Last Thursday afternoon, four rockets were fired from Syria into the Israeli Golan and the northern Galilee.
In swift retaliation, Israel launched two attacks over Syrian territory, hitting over 15 different Syrian military sites, and in the end taking out the Islamic Jihad cell, consisting of at least four people, that had launched the attack. One of the dead was a high ranking Syrian officer, Mohsan Issa, who was at one of the military sites that was hit.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made a statement after the attacks were completed (emphasis added):
“The countries that rush to embrace Iran need to know that an Iranian commander is the one who gave the cover and direction to the cell that fired on Israel.
“This is further clear indication of Iran’s increasing involvement in attacks against Israel in particular and against regional targets in general…this attack shows clearly how Iran plans to act the moment after the international sanctions are removed.”
Netanyahu instructed the Foreign Ministry to send letters to Western governments saying that:
Israel has “reliable information that this attack was carried out by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, ordered directly by the Iranian terrorist Said Izadhi of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199748#.VdtcU5sVjIV
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Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon added that:
“Representatives of the Revolutionary Guards are, in fact, waiting for the implementation of this bad deal with world powers, in order to bring more money to Hezbollah, more to other terror groups – in both the Golan Heights and the Palestinian arena.
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As to “the Palestinian arena” (emphasis added):
“Hezbollah is reportedly upping its attempts to recruit Palestinians living in Judea and Samaria to carry out attacks on its behalf…
“The Lebanon-based terrorist group is reportedly attempting to revive its terrorist network in the region by reaching out to disgruntled members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a terrorist group that functions as the armed wing of Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction.
During the Second Intifada Hezbollah, under instruction from Iran, recruited extensively among Fatah members, training and arming them to attack Israeli targets. Those efforts reached their height in 2004-2005, with tens of thousands of dollars being doled-out to recruits as an incentive to carry out attacks.
“Since then the efforts largely petered out for a number of reasons..However, a PA security source told the Arabic Al-Masdar site Hezbollah recruitment attempts ‘never really disappeared,’ and in recent months had escalated significantly.
“With Iran emboldened by the prospect of billions of dollars of sanctions relief…it is widely acknowledged even by supporters of the deal that Tehran will use some of these funds to increase support for its numerous terrorist proxies.
“…Hezbollah…is attempting to reestablish an operations base in Judea and Samaria, and recruit local Arabs carry out attacks against Israelis.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199842#.Vdth4ZsVjIV
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We have been dealing with a good number of terrorist attacks in recent days – throwing of rocks (and boulders) and even firebombs at passing cars, knifing attempts, etc. I want to return to this subject to deal with it in greater detail soon. Here, I share one article: “Highway 443, Outside Jerusalem, the New Terror Hotpoint,” which marks four new victims of attacks last Thursday night alone.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199741#.VdtsSJsVjIV
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My readers will remember the arson in the Arab village in Duma, which resulted in the death of one baby, and, subsequently, his father. Because Hebrew graffiti was found at the site, there was a “rush to judgment” with regard to “Jewish extremists” having committed the crime. I was one of those who at the time documented the evidence mitigating against the likelihood that Jews did it – including the fact that the house that was set aflame was in the center of the village, while terrorists typically hit a house at the periphery of a village, so that quick escape is possible.
The location of the house suggested that the crime was committed by an Arab inside the village. And, as it happens, there were reports of a clan feud in that village. What I noted was that a second house, which was empty, was also set on fire that night – and it belonged to cousins of those hit in the lethal arson attack.
I deplored then, and continue to deplore, those Jewish apologists who – in a pathetic effort to show the world how “fair” they are – immediately began speaking about apprehending the Jews who committed the crime, when in fact the identity of the perpetrators was actually unknown.
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In the interim of the last three weeks, no Jewish suspects have been apprehended. And now we have a sequel to the original arson, as another home in the village has burned. This time the PA is saying it was an electrical short that caused the fire. This explanation is exceedingly dubious, however, as it was the house of the brother of the man who perished in the first attack. Three fires in three homes in the village within a month, and all homes were owned by members of the Dawabshe family. No one can truly believe this is a coincidence.
MK Oren Hazan is absolutely on the mark in calling for an immediate investigation by Shabak (Israel Security Services) of the original arson, with quick answers provided. Hazan says there is information about a conflict between hamulot (clans) in the village of Duma.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199851#.VdtxDpsVjIU
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Let me close by citing two polls.
The first, by Gallup, indicates that only one in three Americans approves of the way Obama is handling the situation with Iran.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/184604/obama-gets-low-marks-handling-iran.aspx
The second, by Anderson Robbins Research / Shaw & Company Research reflected very similar numbers. Only 31% would approve the Iran deal, and 58% would reject it.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2015/08/14/fox-news-poll-iran-deal-and-clinton-emails/
So, I ask, why the disconnect between these figures and the attitude of significant numbers of Democrats in Congress? Do they take the pulse of their constituents – or act in self-serving fashion with regard to expectations of party loyalty?
And that 2/3 of the electorate that allegedly is opposed to the deal – what are they doing to ensure that it is defeated?
Are they, as I suspect, registering opinions on a telephone poll and then hanging up and going about their business without taking the responsibility that should be expected of them as members of a democracy? Have they internalized the importance of what is going on?
I seriously doubt it. And it is terribly, terribly sad.
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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
If it is reproduced and emphasis is added, the fact that it has been added must be noted.
