[Hannah Senesh]

The notion of a "double-standard" about Israel is constantly brought up in the UK whenever questions about Iraq obtaining nuclear weapons are raised. The fact that Israel is a democratic state and has threatened no one is always overlooked. Of course, no one ever suggests that India or Pakistan should get rid of their nukes, and that's despite the fact they nearly came to nuclear blows only a few years back.

Let Britain and France disarm first and then Israel will think about it.

[MCRD]

It would sure be ironic if Jack Straw's mouth got the UK nuked from Israel instead of Iran.

[MplsSteve]

Exactly.

Israel has threatened no one with their nukes. No one.

Israel needs those weapons as a deterrance (sp?), not an offensive weapon.

[yellowdoghunter]

Stick with Iran, Britain, stick with Iran. They are your biggest threat, not Israel.

[tomahawk]

Israel is the only nation with nukes that's never used them, even for testing.

40 years of no use.

Only a Jihadist butt kisser would try to make them given theirs up.

[davisfh]

Well, Jack the Straw Man, I believe that Israel's nukes are there to stay. Get used to it Jackie and try not to wet your pants.

[Centurion2000]

British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said Thursday that Britain wants to see a “nuclear-free Middle East,” saying now that action has been taken against Iraq and Libya, Iran and Israel remain the only two nations posing “potential threat.”

Israel will nuke Britain before allowing itself to be disarmed.

[processing please hold]

Straw might wanna rethink that statement. If he thinks he can bow up his chest and act all bad concerning Israel, he better think again.

[usurper]

The fact that Israel is a democratic state and has threatened no one is always overlooked.

What is also overlooked is that Iran is signatory to the non-proliferation treaty and thus subject to IAEA inspection. I believe Israel is not.

[HawaiianGecko]

 

Israel like India have shown themselves to be proper nuclear citizens of the world.  A nuke in the hands of sane people poses very little threat to civilization.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking the keyword or topic Israel.

---------------------------

[ivyleaguebrat]

That quote is totally out of context, and probably doesn't mean what the headline says. "get back to work on respect to Israel," grammar notwithstanding, probably just means resuming/advancing the peace process in Israel.

[dennisw]

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who has Jewish ancestry, the Daily Telegraph reported.


http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:sI1nR17-RDIJ:news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2999219.stm+%22Jack+Straw%22++jewish++tony+blair%27s+cabinet&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[bill1952]

Oh, thats okay.

I can think of a certain EU country whose capital is governed by an unabashed Communist anti-Semite that has a few nukes that we could start talking about.

[CyberAnt]

Israel is not a threat to anyone but the radical muslims who want to kill them .. the same as they want to kill us.

Are we the next nation who has to get rid of their nukes.

Israel could probably kick the UK's behind - so Straw better keep his opinion to himself.

[rbg81]

I think I see. Iran won't listen to them, so they want to beat up on Israel. Can't fix the real threat, then go after the imaginary one.

[exit82]

After Iran's nuclear sites are destroyed by Israel, there won't be any Israeli nukes left to worry about.

Sounds like a win-win to me.

[goldstategop]

Jack Straw is an idiot. Israel has no intention of disarming to make him look good in the Muslim World.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Alexander Rubin]

Well, Jack's head seems to be full of his cognomen.

[familyop]

"Straw: Israel's nukes will be dealt with after Iran"

Before Israel has to give up nuclear weapons, we'd better take all of our short/medium range missiles (and anything that Britain might have built) out of Britain. More of Israel's population (not counting Palestinians) is more pro-American. And as for British opinion on terrorism,...

ICM (Poll of British people)
"ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 20-21st April, 2002. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
. . .
"Q3. In the dispute in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians, from what you have seen and heard about the conflict which of the two do you sympathise with more, Israel or the Palestinians?"

Israel           14%
Palestine      28%
Both            14%
Neither         23%
Don't know   20%
"

[abu afak]

Let's see. 300,000,000 Arabs 5,000,000 Jews Yeah- Let's Disarm completely and make it hand-to-hand combat. if EVER a country needed a nuclear deterrent... it's Israel .