IMRA Middle East News Updates

Weekly Commentary: Woodward Reveals Biden Can't Concede Bibi Correct

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 03:01:43 -0400

Weekly Commentary: Woodward Reveals Biden Can't Concede Bibi Correct
Dr. Aaron Lerner 9 October 2024

While critics of Israel in general and prime minister Netanyahu in
particular, welcomed with glee excerpts from Bob Woodward's book "War," of
President Biden cursing Mr. Netanyahu, the excerpts actually reveal the
disturbing inability of Mr. Biden to concede that he and his team have been
consistently wrong in their assessments and advice.

Since the October 7, 2023 debacle, Israel has been constantly reassessing
the situation and revising its planning and operations accordingly.

This while the Biden team remains stuck on the same messianic fantasy that
creating a sovereign Palestinian state will magically put an end to the
existential threat of those committed to a "no Jewish state" solution.

The New York Times report on the book relates that:

+++
In April, for instance, the president questioned Mr. Netanyahu's conduct in
the war in a phone call, asking, according to the book, "What's your
strategy, man?"

When Mr. Netanyahu insisted that the Israeli military needed to push deeper
into southern Gaza and invade the southern city of Rafah, a key border
crossing with Egypt, the president, using Mr. Netanyahu's nickname,
dismissed this response.

"Bibi, you've got no strategy," Mr. Biden replied, according to Mr.
Woodward.

In May, Mr. Biden halted a shipment of 3,500 bombs to Israel out of concern
that they would be used in the Rafah operation and cause excessive civilian
casualties. After Mr. Netanyahu proceeded with the invasion of Rafah anyway,
Mr. Biden told advisers that Mr. Netanyahu was a liar, using an obscenity,
and added that "18 out of 19 people who work for him" were also liars, the
book says.

He questioned Mr. Netanyahu's motivations, saying that "he doesn't give" a
damn about Hamas but gives a damn "only about himself," although he used an
earthier term than "damn."
+++

The outcome of the Rafah operation was completely at odds with the warnings
of the Biden team.

It took a fraction of the projected time with a bare minimum of civilian
losses.

But instead of adapting to this reality, Mr. Biden remains angry.

And his team remains doggedly driven to impose its two-state solution
fantasy.

This while another self-serving fantasy regarding Iran drives American
policy.

That Iran, whose theology is committed to the destruction of the Jewish
State, world dominance and sees an apocalypse which would also destroy Iran
as a welcome path to Paradise, can also somehow be placated by the creation
of a sovereign Palestinian state.

The Woodward book reveal a dark hour in American leadership as a desperate
world seeks light.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Text: Naftali Bennett calls to destroy the Iranian Nuclear Program Now

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:41:31 -0400

Translation: Naftali Bennett calls to destroy the Iranian Nuclear Program
Now
Dr. Aaron Lerner 8 October 2024
For the original video:
https://twitter.com/naftalibennett/status/1843535376448692374
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/64516QXgtoVxvbKn/

Now that the arms of the Iranian terrorist octopus, Hezbollah and Hamas, the
strongest arms, are really weakened.

For the first time, we have the ability to act against Iran without fearing
a terrible and intolerable reaction.

We can seriously damage the Iranian nuclear program which casts a heavy
shadow over our future.

It is in our hands to ensure the future of our children, our grandchildren.

The Iranian regime of terror and murder stands exposed and vulnerable for
the first time.

The Iranian people also long for it to be overthrown.

This is a one-time window of opportunity in which we have both the
legitimacy and the ability to severely damage the Iranian regime and its
nuclear program.

There will always be constraints and reasons why not.

There will always be pressures.

But you have to remember: the arms of the octopus, Hezbollah, Hamas, can
grow again as long as the head is working, but if you cut off the Iranian
head, then the entire octopus will die.

That is why the Iranian nuclear program needs to be attacked in addition to
mortally wounding its leadership and economy.

We must not be content with attacking Iranian military bases or noisy but
inconsequential actions that were only intended to convey a message.

The time for messages is over.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Pres. Biden: Israel has the right to defend itself (fighting back may be another story?)

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:49:13 -0400

[IMRA: Take note that there never was - nor apparently never will be - a
word from the Biden Administration condemning Palestinian "civilians" who
actively decided to act as human shields, thus sacrificing themselves and
their families for Hamas, rather than heeding calls from the IDF to evacuate
to safety.]

Pres. Biden: Israel has the right to defend itself (fighting back may be
another story?)
October 07, 2024
Readout of President Biden's Call with President Herzog of Israel
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/07/read
out-of-president-bidens-call-with-president-herzog-of-israel/
Statements and Releases
This morning President Biden spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on
the solemn occasion of the one-year anniversary of the horrific Hamas
October 7 terrorist attacks.

President Biden expressed his deepest condolences to the people of Israel
and to the families of the 1,200 innocent people - including 46 Americans -
massacred by the terrorist group Hamas on a day of unspeakable brutality. He
stressed that the United States will never give up until we bring all of the
remaining hostages home safely.

President Biden conveyed his commitment to the safety of the Jewish people,
the security of Israel, and its right to exist, and reaffirmed his support
for Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Iran and all
Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the
Houthis.

The President also expressed deep sadness for the loss of innocent life in
Gaza and the ongoing suffering of Palestinian civilians as a result of the
war that Hamas unleashed. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to
achieving a deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, secures Israel,
alleviates the suffering of Palestinian civilians, and paves the way for a
lasting peace with Hamas never again able to control Gaza or reconstitute
its military capabilities.

###
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Weekly Commentary: Finance Minister Smotrich Does Know Better

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:34:05 -0400

Weekly Commentary: Finance Minister Smotrich Does Know Better
Dr. Aaron Lerner 1 October 2024

Israeli critics of the Netanyahu's government's handling of the economy
often slam finance minister Bezalel Smotrich for being clueless.

These critics are letting Smotrich off too easy.

Smotrich is an incredibly fast learner.

He first demonstrated this skill when, as minister of transportation after
"Herod" Katz, Smotrich set records in advancing projects.

This wasn't luck. Smotrich intensively studied the situation, often asking
his team questions no one ever raised. It wasn't long before projects were
accelerated far beyond anyone's expectations.

Smotrich was the same fast study at the Ministry of Finance.

So Smotrich isn't clueless.

Instead, like Prime Minister Netanyahu, Smotrich is fully aware of the heavy
cost we pay today and the disaster we will face in our future, if the
current arrangements for Haredi society continue.

Literally billions of shekels towards unsupervised educational institutions
which intentionally fail to provide their students with the skills needed to
be highly productive members of society as adults.

Economic arrangements to encourage men to choose poverty over gainful
employment.

And that's not even mentioning the profoundly financially mismanaged
institutions not subject to any serious oversight.

"Do not place a stumbling block before the blind" (Leviticus 19:14).

These days leading up to the Jewish New Year we have been privileged to
witness what happens when our leaders make courageous decisions to ensure
our physical security.

We urgently need the same courage to address the financial challenges our
society faces.

Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich is well equipped, in coordination with PM
Netanyahu, to lead his team to design and implement the measures and
policies necessary to ensure our financial future.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

President Herzog Says Hostage Families In Echo Chamber

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:10:42 -0400

President Herzog Says Hostage Families In Echo Chamber
Dr. Aaron Lerner 30 September 2024

In an interview on Chanel 12 on Sunday night, President Herzog declined to
endorse the position of some of the hostage families that a deal must be
made at any cost.

Herzog observed that both those pushing for a deal at any cost and those
rejecting any possible deal are in "echo chambers" preventing them from
considering arguments supporting any position other than their own.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

YNET: (Repeat of Peretz) Netanyahu Behind Decision To Destroy Long-range Missiles and Cruise Missiles

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 18:20:20 -0400

YNET: (Repeat of Peretz) Netanyahu Behind Decision To Destroy Long-range
Missiles and Cruise Missiles
Dr. Aaron Lerner 30 September 2024

The brass and ex-brass PM Netanyahu faced weren't as hostile as the ones
then DM Peretz did when he, as Peretz did, said to make the destruction of
the missiles a priority.

For a recording in which MK Peretz describes how he bucked the brass and
insisted that the IAF first destroy long range missiles at start of 2nd
Lebanon War.
http://youtu.be/SM_LMb10qsQ

Translated excerpt from "This is how the decisions that led to Nasrallah's
elimination were made | A look from the inside, step by step"
Ron Ben-Yishai YNET 00:11 30 September 2024
https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hk51pxvar

...While the Air Force delivered the first strikes according to the plan it
had trained for years, the Prime Minister urgently convened a security
discussion on the 21st of the month, on Saturday night.

The IDF presented Netanyahu and the small security forum with three courses
of action for the northern front.

The first was to continue the campaign as it was

The second was to carry out targeted and destructive strikes on dual-use
Lebanese infrastructure

The third, proposed by the IDF, was a version of a full-scale war, including
fire strikes and ground maneuvering, depending on developments.

Then the Prime Minister said: "I want to put a fourth option on the table -
to target military infrastructure, senior leaders, and strategic assets -
that is, the heavy and long-range missiles and cruise missiles in
Hezbollah's possession."

After a long discussion in the security forum, and after Galant and the
Chief of Staff raised the possible risks, foremost among them a regional war
without informing the Americans, the decision was made to act according to
the plan proposed by Netanyahu....
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il