Benjamin Netanyahu Had to Tell John Kerry "This is Not Vietnam"

Reason ^ | July 21 2014 | Ed Krayewski

[PoloSec]

The New Republic has a longish piece on how John Kerry got the latest iteration of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process restarted and how it fell apart around him. It involved a lot of talking and self-importance on all sides. The article includes a lot of reporting on the details of conversations between John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and other Israeli and Palestinian officials. Among the reported conversations is this one that started about Palestinian incitement:

Kerry pressed on: "When I fought in Vietnam, I used to look at the faces of the local population and the looks they gave us. I'll never forget it. It gave me clarity that we saw the situation in completely different ways."

"This isn't Vietnam!" Netanyahu shouted. "No one understands Israel but Israel."

Kerry tried explaining himself again: "No one is saying it's Vietnam. But I've been coming here for thirty years, and I'm telling you, what's building up in the Palestinians has only gotten worse. I've seen it. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong; it just is. It can't be solved if you can't see it how they see it."

[Longbow1969]

You will note how quiet Official Russia has been about the Palestinians, this time around? Other than a few statements calling for “Peace”, nothing major at all, no UN resolutions, etc...

We fundamentally disagree on this Ukraine/Russia issue along with the downing of the Malaysian jet, but I do believe you are correct about this point (and it is a very important one with long term ramifications). As I recall Israel didn't really back the US position (at least not strongly) in the Ukraine, and Russia seems to have gone very quiet on the Gaza conflict instead of typically demanding Israel accept pretty much any cease fire on the table.

Now I am not 100% sure about this, and it's also possible Russia is a little busy at the moment - but my sense is your assessment may be correct here. I do think Russia is trying to pick off some of our allies - at a minimum so they can break our monopoly at selling these countries weapons.

[captmar-vell]

Israel will never be moved again from the land, but they do they have dark times coming because of men like these,

in 10 years time its much more likely he wont still exist, how old is he anyway now, past ninety?

its as if the buffets and soros’ of the world somehow think they’ll live forever, their driving lust for more power and authority seems to be the only thing that keeps their evil carcases animated,

[huldah1776]

Netanyahu does see what the Muslims want. Kerry is blind.

[maine-iac7]

. It can't be solved if you can't see it how they see it."

Hard to believe the man could increase his stupidity - but it's the only think he's good at.

The PLO see it only one way - blast Israel off the face of the earth.

Now why can't Netanyahu sign on to that?

[Balding_Eagle]

Since it evidently matters to you:

” that showed most of the dead were combatant age males, not women or children. “

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3183287/posts

Sorry to shatter your hopes. Not really.

[Buggman]

"Can you point me to something from the New Covenant?"

Why would that matter?

[onedoug]

I suspect strongly that he was kicked out of the Navy. Thus the discharge review processes under Carter.