Iran deal isn’t Netanyahu’s worst defeat, it’s proof of his greatest triumph

[geek tragedy]

http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/1.666776

Conventional wisdom has it that Netanyahu suffered a crushing blow last week. Conventional wisdom has it wrong. What looks like the moment of Netanyahu's greatest failure is, in fact, proof of his greatest triumph, a true - and frightening - measure of the way the man and his views have taken over Israel’s political sphere.

...

Ironically enough, Netanyahu’s defeat looks like it might ensure his continued rule for years to come. But Netanyahu’s victory, the utter triumph that his bungled Iran effort represents, is bigger than his own political survival. It’s not just Bibi the man that was victorious this week. More than Bibi the man, in fact, it was Bibism - Netanyahu’s worldview, his stubborn rejectionism - that truly won.

You could see it clearly in the homogeneity of Israeli responses to the Iran deal, in the way both sides of the political spectrum rushed to Netanyahu’s side. Even dovish politicians like Labor MK Shelly Yachimovich denounced the Iran deal in very similar terms to Netanyahu’s. In fact, not one MK outside of the Arab parties - not one - dared to present a view that’s opposite, or even significantly different, than Netanyahu’s. Most of them made extensive use of the Netanyahu lexicon. Even when being critical of Netanyahu the man, they adopted his basic stance - and almost immediately rejected the deal, so quickly that it’s hard to imagine they had any time to seriously study it. Their fast reaction and almost hysterically harsh tones made it seem they were competing in a Netanyahu impersonation contest.


...

So far, it has worked beautifully. According to a poll published by Israeli newspaper Maariv this weekend, almost half of Israelis (47%) would support a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran. Netanyahu’s biggest rivals inadvertently channel him even when attacking him, thereby proving he was right all along, essentially postponing any possibility that he might be replaced.

This lack of discussion, of opposition, of dissent, is Netanyahu’s true victory. In Netanyahu’s Israel, there is only one way to react to a deal that the rest of the West greeted with at least some measure of cautious optimism: fear and paranoia. And when it comes to fear and paranoia, Netanyahu is equal to none.

He is today's Israel.

[azurnoir]

1. Today's unanimous passage of the Iran deal at the UNSC must really be a feather in Bibi's cap then

"see they're all against us" but not to worry Boehner's got Bibi's back

Boehner: UN Iran vote ‘bad start for a bad deal’

http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/248510-boehner-un-vote-on-iran-is-bad-start-for-a-bad-deal

[geek tragedy]

3. Israelis have bought into the notion that the entire world is biased against them

and that they shouldn't care what anyone thinks.

This is part of Netanyahuism.

The US will eventually find itself on the enemies' list.

[Mosby]

8. The BBC did an internal investigation of anti-Israel bias

The results were so bad they buried the report.

Photojournalists stage scenes in order to make the IDF look bad, with the help of Palestinians.

A large number of websites have sprung up with the sole purpose of smearing Israel.

Incidents that occur in Israel that make Jews and or Israelis look bad make world news. One example is that jerk off who spit on the 8 year old, the story made world news (see link below, nbc, cnn, nyt, dailymail, bbc, guardian, csmonitor, wapo and of course stormfront are just a few).

More recently a couple Arab kids were denied entry into an Israeli mall, made world news.

Maybe you don't see it or don't want to, but the major media around the world disproportionately focuses on Israel, to the exclusion of other, more worthy stories. Further they show a profound amount of bias against Israel by stripping away context and framing the conflict in such a way that takes all responsibility away from the Palestinians.


https://www.google.com/search?q=orthodox+jew+spitts+on+8+year+old&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#safe=off&q=orthodox+jew+spits+on+8+year+old


If you want to learn more about the media bias towards Israel I would suggest this book to start with:

http://www.amazon.com/David-Goliath-explosive-Mideast-conflict/dp/0984039813

eta Oh, I forgot to mention the story about the cute red cow. Now that's quality reporting, it might just be the most important story to come out of Israel in 2015. Sure gets my vote.

[Little Tich]

9. Yes, the Beeb has a definite anti-Israel bias.

I don't agree with you on the rest, though.

[Mosby]

16. This is an example of the dishonest photojournalism

This girl harasses, pushes and kicks various IDF soldiers while screaming. Look at all the photojournalists waiting, taking pictures.

THE MONEY SHOT:



See how it works?



Staged riots in Silwan:

[6chars]

17. fascinating read

and illuminating. thanks for providing links.

see also http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/11/how-the-media-makes-the-israel-story/383262/

which details the phenomenon.

[oberliner]

10. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards head opposes nuclear deal

A top Iranian general from the country’s hard-line Revolutionary Guards rejected Monday the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and six world powers, saying the pact was unacceptable and “clearly in contradiction” of the Islamic Republic’s red lines.

The statement by Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, came hours before the UN unanimously voted to endorse the deal paving the way to lift crippling international sanctions in exchange for curbs on nuclear enrichment.

“Some parts of the draft have clearly crossed the Islamic republic’s red lines, especially in Iran’s military capabilities. We will never accept it,” Jafari told Iranian news agency Tasnim.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/revolutionary-guard-head-opposes-un-backing-for-iran-deal/

[azurnoir]

12. well the UNSC passed it, it's a done deal no matter who whines

about it

[oberliner]

13. Not true

Both the US Congress and the Iranian Parliament can reject the deal.

[azurnoir]

14. yes but Iran wants the sanctions lifted so that rejection is unlikely and if the US

was the only signatory there might be some impact however the US is only 1 of 15 at the UNSC and not the only signatory to the P5+1 deal, but those who wish to see this deal trashed can always hold out hope

[BillZBubb]

2. It is really sad what Israel has become.

Are Netanyahu and Likud the cause of this or just the symptom?

Certainly Israelies in general have a lot to answer for.

[BillZBubb]

5. How it should play out:

All countries boycott Israel until:

Israel returns to the pre-1967 borders. All settlers leave the land they occupy and not destroy anything while doing so. Israel pays generous reparations in exchange for the waiver of "right of return". Israel recognizes a fully sovereign Palestinian state.

BTW, one cannot explain how one arrived at a certain opinion without discussing the events that led to that opinion. My first real questioning of Israel started with the murders of the American sailors on the USS Liberty. It has been pretty much downhill from there.

[BillZBubb]

7. I agree, the concept was/is wonderful.

I also understand circumstances did require the Israelis to become tough and a little paranoid, but now they've gone far beyond that.

[oberliner]

11. "... the murders of the American sailors on the USS Liberty."

So it's not really Netanyahu that is the problem, is it?

[BillZBubb]

15. Of course Netanyahu is a problem. He alone is not "the" problem.

He is a symptom of a much deeper societal problem in Israel. Netanyahu simply plays to that problem for personal advantage. There is a long list of Israeli leaders who did the same. Netanyahu is just the latest of the bad lot.

As I explained, the murders of the sailors on the Liberty started the process of my more closely examining the actions of Israel. Prior to that, I was unquestioning in my support.