Israeli Elections Come and Go, But Israel Remains an Outlaw State
A Palestinian family reacts after Israeli bulldozers demolished their home in the Arab East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, Feb. 5, 2013. (AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
Two Views: Israel’s Parliamentary Elections
Newly elected Israeli Knesset member Yair Lapid (l), leader of the Yesh Atid party, speaks to Naftali Bennett, head of the hard-line national religious party the Jewish Home, during a Feb. 5 reception in Jerusalem marking the opening of the 19th Knesset. (URIEL SINAI/GETTY IMAGES)
Richard H. Curtiss (1927-2013) Devoted His Life to Telling People Stories
Richard Curtiss at work in his Washington Report office. (STAFF PHOTO D. HANLEY)
Israeli License to Cheney-Linked Energy Firm on Golan Heights Raises Eyebrows
Then-Vice President Dick Cheney (l) and Likud chairman Benyamin Netanyahu, out of office at the time and serving as the official Israeli opposition leader, at a March 23, 2008 breakfast meeting at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
Peace at Last in the Southern Philippines?
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III (r) shares candies with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Murad Ebrahim during a Feb. 11 visit to the rebels’ stronghold in Sultan Kudarat on the island of Mindanao. (KARLOS MANLUPIG/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
Two Palestinian, Israeli Documentaries Depict Evils of Military Occupation
Emad Burnat views his five broken cameras in his documentary of the same name. (PHOTO COURTESY KINO LORBER)
May 2012 Postcard
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DEAR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Countless polls conducted in recent months have clearly shown that Americans are tired of war. Nevertheless, indications remain that your administration has taken little action to ease tensions with Iran.
As the drumbeat for war on Iran grows louder, I urge you to separate yourself from the unregulated hyperbole that underlies the push toward war. Upon analyzing the facts—that the U.S. has occupied countries along two of Iran’s borders as recently as a few months ago, and that Israel is in possession of at least 100 nuclear weapons—it will become clear that we need to take Iran’s security concerns seriously.
In the wake of years of war, it is now truly time to resurrect the power of diplomacy. Americans want peace—what better policy could you adopt in an election year?
DEAR SENATOR:
Countless polls conducted in recent months have clearly shown that Americans are tired of war. Nevertheless, indications remain that the U.S. has taken little action to ease tensions with Iran.
As the drumbeat for war on Iran grows louder, I urge you to separate yourself from the unregulated hyperbole that underlies the push toward war. Upon analyzing the facts—that the U.S. has occupied countries along two of Iran’s borders as recently as a few months ago, and that Israel is in possession of at least 100 nuclear weapons—it will become clear that we need to take Iran’s security concerns seriously.
In the wake of years of war, now is truly time to resurrect the power of diplomacy. Americans want peace—what better policy could you adopt in an election year? Please urge President Barack Obama and your fellow policymakers to oppose war and promote genuine diplomacy with Iran.
DEAR REPRESENTATIVE:
Countless polls conducted in recent months have clearly shown that Americans are tired of war. Nevertheless, indications remain that the U.S. has taken little action to ease tensions with Iran.
As the drumbeat for war on Iran grows louder, I urge you to separate yourself from the unregulated hyperbole that underlies the push toward war. Upon analyzing the facts—that the U.S. has occupied countries along two of Iran’s borders as recently as a few months ago, and that Israel is in possession of at least 100 nuclear weapons—it will become clear that we need to take Iran’s security concerns seriously.
In the wake of years of war, now is truly time to resurrect the power of diplomacy. Americans want peace—what better policy could you adopt in an election year? Please urge President Barack Obama and your fellow policymakers to oppose war and promote genuine diplomacy with Iran.
FROM:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
 (Produced by The Washington Report, P.O. Box 53062, Wash. DC 20009) |
 |
For the past 10 years, the United States has waged two wars—resulting in the deaths of an estimated 6,200 Americans and 145,000 Iraqi and Afghan citizens. Despite the horrors caused by both wars, strong elements within the Israeli and American governments seem determined to begin a third war—this time on Iran.
Alireza Nader, senior international policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, recently noted that Iran’s nuclear program is largely “motivated by fear,” and that American military threats only serve to “feed the regime’s anxiety.” Such statements from countless informed observers seem to be falling on deaf ears in Washington.
In order to avoid war, the U.S. must cool its hostile rhetoric toward Tehran and instead attempt to ease the legitimate concerns of the Iranians. Given the long U.S. history of intervening in Iran’s affairs—from installing the shah to supporting former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s war against Iran—it is important that Washington enter diplomatic negotiations with Iran in a humble, honest and sincere manner.
