http://972mag.com/netanyahus-empty-gun-war-with-iran-seems-less-and-less-likely/53177/ Independent commentary and news from Israel & Palestine Thu, 23 May 2013 19:08:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 http://972mag.com/netanyahus-empty-gun-war-with-iran-seems-less-and-less-likely/53177/comment-page-1/#comment-72582 Greg Pollock Sat, 18 Aug 2012 04:50:04 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=53177#comment-72582 "the more catastrophic and trigger happy their rhetoric gets, the greater the need to eventually go into war, if only than to save the Israeli (and their own) credibility." . I think, instead, that Peres' public support for US control over the decision tilts the problem not to Israeli face saving but the possible expunging of Bibi and Barak. Bibi, probably not. But Barak has whittled his Knesset base almost into oblivion and one can hope he will vanish in the next election. I would like to think Likud will be damaged by this, possibly to Kadima's advantage, but do not comprehend Israeli electoral politics. . Bibi has gone from being "King Bibi" in Time to chicken little in a remarkably short period. Perhaps a lesson for Time magazine. As Larry Derfner says, this time the Israeli establishment worked. “the more catastrophic and trigger happy their rhetoric gets, the greater the need to eventually go into war, if only than to save the Israeli (and their own) credibility.”
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I think, instead, that Peres’ public support for US control over the decision tilts the problem not to Israeli face saving but the possible expunging of Bibi and Barak. Bibi, probably not. But Barak has whittled his Knesset base almost into oblivion and one can hope he will vanish in the next election. I would like to think Likud will be damaged by this, possibly to Kadima’s advantage, but do not comprehend Israeli electoral politics.
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Bibi has gone from being “King Bibi” in Time to chicken little in a remarkably short period. Perhaps a lesson for Time magazine. As Larry Derfner says, this time the Israeli establishment worked.

]]> http://972mag.com/netanyahus-empty-gun-war-with-iran-seems-less-and-less-likely/53177/comment-page-1/#comment-72556 Aviva Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:04:58 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=53177#comment-72556 Ironically, (although I agree with this article's assessment of the situation) it will be articles with this viewpoint that will encourage Netanyahu and Barak to show they aren't bluffing and actually go to war (if public opinion adopts this take). On the other hand, articles that profess extreme fear over potential war will make it easier for them to eventually back down. Ironically, (although I agree with this article’s assessment of the situation) it will be articles with this viewpoint that will encourage Netanyahu and Barak to show they aren’t bluffing and actually go to war (if public opinion adopts this take). On the other hand, articles that profess extreme fear over potential war will make it easier for them to eventually back down.

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