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Michael Several

Basic Info

Member since:
05/09/2006
Last Logged In:
10/05/2009

Posted in: Op-Ed: Act to stop a nuclear-armed Iran

How much precious little time do we have left before the nuclear threshold is crossed? I hope Mr. Raffel knows that nuclear weapons cannot be made from low-enriched uranium. Iran, from what I have read from credible sources, neither has any highly enriched uranium (which can be used for nuclear weapons) nor the capacity to make it. And if it did have the HE uranium and capacity to make it, there are other technical problems that have to be overcome before Iran will have the capacity to engage in a nuclear exchange with Israel. This is not to say that Iran is not a threat to the region. In order to strengthen our country's credibility and influence in dealing with this threat, it will be necessary for Israel vigorously pursue resolution of its conflict with the Palestinians. And Israel can make a strong move in that direction by adhering to its obligations under the Road Map by freezing all settlement activity, including natural growth, and dismantling illegal outposts. I do hope people in my congregation take up Mr. Raffel's call for people in synagogues to convene a forum on Iran, because I'm ready to participate.

Posted in: Obama, Netanyahu, and thank goodness for the French guy

Is Mr. Kampeas serious? We, the United States of America have to reconcile our differences with Israel? Give me a break. Israel needs us far more than we need them. My answer to the question is, we will hopefully pursue our interests in the region. Israel will have to make its own determination as to what its interest is, and act accordingly.

Posted in: Op-Ed: Hillary Clinton's troubling transformation

I'm not sure Mr. Klein gets it. Hillary Clinton is the Secretary of State of the United States of America and not the Foreign Minister of Israel, who parathetically appears will be Avigdor Lieberman who wants to bomb Aswan and kill Arabs. Perhaps Mr. Klein doesn't know that it is in my country's national interest and presumably his if he is an American, to have a viable Palestinian state, living at peace with its neighbors. To accomplish that, Israel must adhere to its obligations under the Road Map to freeze all settlement activity, dismantle illegal settlements, remove restrictions on the movement of goods and persons, and open the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce in East Jerusalem. It is necessary for Israel to do this in order for Israel to fullfill its acknowledgement of the impermissibility of acquiring territory by war as set forth in SC Resolution 242.

Posted in: Cohen misses the point -- again

I just want to make one comment, which pertains to the firing of rockets by Hamas into Israel. This could end today if Israel opened the border to Gaza and allowed goods, such as pasta, in at the same level it was three years ago. It is unfortunate that an Egyptian brokered agreement concerning the border and the firing of rockets was just about to be accepted when Israel threw in an issue, though important, is irrelevant to the matter at hand. Tieing the freeing of Gilad Shalit to the situation at hand was misguided. I'm afraid that since it is obvious to all how the rockets fire can end, which is by opening the border, Israel ceases to have my sympathy.

Posted in: Israel critic reportedly named to top intel post

The headline for this article is very misleading. From reading the article, it appears that Ambassador Freeman is a critic of United States policy and an objective observer of Israeli behavior.

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Updated 11/20/09 @ 11:30AM EDT

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