Why so silent?

Netanyahu is also racing the electoral opposition. “If they reach the point that they are 90% prepared to with their weapons, then we are all in danger.”

And, of course, the left is not preparing anything, so there is nothing for Netanyahu to be afraid of.

So long as there are states and large movements (or even small movements with aspirations to remove Israel from the map), then Zionism remains relevant.

Its another example of “Hamas electing likud” or the prospect for next election of “Iran/Hezbollah electing likud”.

All of this fits Bibi’s first and present terms: show the US that you will not move, so they stop trying, then inch the settlements and final bantu solution forward, expunging those you can from the land as you go. I actually think this White House sees all this. But then, I have my perceptions…

How would you go about convincing them of that?

Even out in middle America, where republicanism is a way of life and conservatism reigns, they don’t like the Bibi creature, they don’t like the aggressiveness, they hate the disrespect towards the US country they hold dear. And though they may not care for Obama much, they care for the establishment elites even less. Ordinary Americans are often too polite to say what they mean by “elites”. But what’s left unsaid is plenty. And that’s before we get to the democrats – the rank and file – not the movers and shakers who need to raise money to survive in the lime light.

Yahoo et al may be counting on Christian zionists and whipped up muslim hatred. But there really aren’t so many of the former (though they make much noise), and the latter, what there is of it, is superficial. Of course, netanyahu cannot process just how superficial dislike of islam and muslims is in America. There is some, to be sure, but it’s like a fog, it can evaporate in a jiffy when more important issues come up. Israelis may dislike muslims intensely. Well, they – the especially the right wing ones – should not make the mistake of projecting their gut feelings on others elsewhere..

There is a rumble just under the surface in America and Bibi just made sure it got just a bit more intense. It is still underground, but for those who tune in, it is loud enough to hear. And one group that hears it quite well are the Jewish people of America. I expect that we’ll hear more and more voices singing tunes we are not accustomed to hearing from that corner. Israel is basically threatening to make charges of dual loyalty manifest. That can only happen because the israel of now, as represented by its hapless government cares not a hoot about the Jews of the world in general, and those who are American in particular.

Of course, Larry is right about democrats needing money, and whthe fact 9which he didn’t bring up) that well over 60% of democrat funding comes from jewish donors. . But that’s all it is – jewish money, not Jewish voters. One of these days, not long from now, the latter may just make it clear where they really stand. I believe that when that happens, the monied class – Jewish and not – that infamous 1% – will take heed, and make just a little room for Obama and others to walk through.

Of course, if I – and others – didn’t believe that, then all would be truly lost, and we don’t want that, do we?

Bibi will disappear from political relevance. He is not prime minister for life.

But, unless something changes, there is likely to be Muslim world animosity for life, which will compel Israelis to remain risk-averse.

Likud tries to present itself as the “risk-averse” party, in contrast to its plausible opponents, but its internal cadre and coalition bridge to the opportunistic expansionistas and the neo-fascist.

Likud has three vulnerabilities.

One is the association with the neo-fascists within and between parties.

The second is the breakdown in relations that Netanyahu presided over relative to Turkey, PA, Egypt, and Jordan during his tenure. If it weren’t for Iran and Hezbollah’s actual threats, the US would be on that list.

I believe that in 2009, Hamas elected likud, and in 2013 it could be Iran that elects likud, by making their logic the most relevant in the time. Even if Netanyahu succeeds in inducing the US to present a hard enough stance to achieve the victory over Iran, proving his mettle, the conditions in the world will have changed (reduced threat), and looking into the future, his negatives (increased Israeli regional isolation, in unnecessary ways) will be more relevant.

The third is on the Israeli economy. Its doing well for the upper middle class and elite, but unemployment is still high, the cost of living is high, and there is a backlog of irritations building.

If noone rises to the challenge to articulate an alternative approach for Israel, or if the indirect (not political) social movements don’t begin to articulate even utopian social alternatives that monkey wrench the likud/free market ism, then the economic/social leaking will hasten.

The support Israel has among the American people and in Congress isn’t going to change with the election of 2012. So, even presuming that Obama is in fact lying about his current pro-Israel credentials whatever Obama wants to do in his second term will face the exact same constraints as during his first administration. And suppose that Obama sends his flying monkeys to campaign against Bibi in the next Israeli election and Bibi is pushed out of office or the Americans find some way to topple Bibi. What then? How different would Israeli policy be towards the Palestinians or Iran under a Labor coalition? Any of you want to point me to a major difference in the approaches on either of these issues among the leading Israeli politicians? Come on. Get real.