Jewish settlements in the West Bank may be one of the issues Israel and the US disagree over
BBC NEWS
By Katya Adler
BBC News, JerusalemIt is Israel’s Independence Day – traditionally time for leading Israeli politicians to give big interviews about their country’s past and future.
Israel’s new Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has remained conspicuously tight-lipped.
Israeli voters went to the polls in February.
Mr Netanyahu knows their number one priority is personal and national security.
This would have been an ideal moment for him to set the scene as regards foreign policy, but it looks like Israelis – and the impatiently expectant international community – will have to wait a little while longer.
In a region where sparks can fly and wars can start without too much warning, Mr Netanyahu’s spokesmen have announced the world view of this new Israeli government will only be revealed around 18 May.
This is when Mr Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington.
In the meantime, the Israeli leader’s defence and foreign ministers have dropped some heavy hints (though, not unusually for tumultuous Israeli government politics, the declarations were not always harmonious).
They, as well as Washington’s statements and comments made by Arab leaders, are being closely monitored.
Israelis and Middle East-watchers are keen to know if there will be an ugly clash at the White House next month.
In the end, it is unlikely, but the players’ stated positions make it perfectly possible.
Mr Netanyahu has a track record of difficult relations with his country’s closest ally, dating back to his previous term as Israel’s premier back in the late 1990s. …
Israel has demonstrated some winning ways in its war making activities. But the victims of its wars have not been strong enough to give Israel the “respect” it may soon be demanding. Perhaps, a world “shocker” might add to the huge RESPECT that Israel might want. What-if Israel admitted to owning nuclear weapons?
Would the shock of admitting to owning, in access of 150 nuclear weapons get Israel the RESPECT it wants and a high standing in the nuclear club?
If Israel did not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but somehow wound up with the knowledge, materials and money to build 150 – 200 nuclear weapons would the United Nations’ IAEA be able to “SQUARE” that with its “conscious” and its behavior(possibly mis-behavior)?.
If Israel decided to reveal to the world that its nuclear stockpile is significant, would the United Nations’ IAEA show interest, embarrassment, puzzlement or something?
Would the World – perhaps, minus the West, be interested in discovering how a tiny country in the Middle East was able to amass the resources needed to build a significant nuclear arsenal right under the nose of the IAEA?
Would Israel, if it has them, need 150 – 200 nuclear weapons to “fend off” the Arabs who may want Israel to reconsider the theft, in 1948, of their land.
The West has already demonstrated that one nuclear bomb per major city and two major cities per country are enough to get a message across to opposing armies. With an arsenal of, say… 200 nuclear bombs – one could, at two nukes per country, cover 100 countries. Are there 100 countries in the Middle East that would qualify for a nuke from Israel? Not likely.
Would Israel send a symbolic “ENOLA GAY – II” toward the West? That question would be difficult to answer but one might start with a basic question – are there GENTILES in the West?
Apparently Jewish religious leaders, during the recent Holocaust against Hamas, reminded the world that there is a natural division between Jews and Gentiles. And…
“Holocausting” by the Jews is ok. “Holocausting” against the Jews is not ok – UNDERSTAND?
