Martin Kramer on Facebook

This leaves me speechless: “I think that, in Israel, the majority of the Israelis would have supported my plan, had it come for elections. But I had to fight against superior powers, including millions and millions of dollars that were transferred from the US by figures which were from the extreme right wing that were aimed to topple me.”


Olmert: Right-wing U.S. cash derailed Israeli peace plan | CNN
www.cnn.com
“Pressed to name names, Olmert replied: ‘Next time.’”

Report of last night’s Beinart-Gordis debate: “Both men were equally informed on their subjects and capable of going toe-to-toe. Gordis, however, who is also a rabbi, was from the start the more comfortable speaker and turned out some well received rhetorical flourishes.” Other reports confirm this, but you can view the debate and decide for yourself: http://on.fb.me/IFZXAi


Beinart, Gordis Debate In Front of Packed House by Dan Klein | Tablet
www.tabletmag.com
“The debate held last night at Columbia Hillel had all the makings of, as was advertised, a ‘heavyweight fight on Zionism.’”

Peter Beinart’s tale of epiphany is dubious enough. He said he was moved to write his book by a clip showing a poor Palestinian being hauled away for stealing water. So here’s another Youtube, featuring members of the Palestinian’s family. (Beinart, the armchair expert, never followed up on the story.) They wish Israel to be blown away altogether. Beinart says it doesn’t matter to him. Guess they were just props.


The Palestinian family that sparked Jewish debate | Jerusalem Post
Full story: http://bit.ly/Io7NjA

I wonder how Amb. Nick Burns feels about the headline the Boston Globe put on his op-ed. He doesn’t say Turkey is a “superpower.” He writes: “Turkey may even now be more powerful in the Middle East than Germany, France, and the UK.” Well, none of those three countries is a superpower, and Turkey is in the region, so you would expect it to have as much weight. The headline is just more Turkey hyperbole.


The rise of Turkey as a superpower By Nicholas Burns | Boston Globe
articles.boston.com
“Turkey has become the rising power in Europe, arguably the world’s most influential Muslim country and a dynamic inspiration for young Arab reformers.”

A few readers were put off by words I used to describe Paul Krugman the other day, and I’m not so obtuse that I don’t see why. So here are two items that delivered the jab more eloquently:
• The bravery of Beinart, and Krugman by Shmuel Rosner http://t.co/cvTM7RXy
• The “As-a-Jews” of the New York Times by Elder of Ziyon http://t.co/7ejgI02R
Beinart, to his credit, dismisses Krugman’s labeling him “brave.”


US-Jewish activist discusses Israel | ABC (Australia)
www.abc.net.au
“All I have to deal with is the occasional friend or even sometimes family member who thinks I’ve got it completely wrong and want to give me a piece of my mind. That doesn’t require bravery.”