The Jewish Chronicle

At last week's Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert politely asked his colleagues to shut their mouths about the recently released U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran.

Olmert's gag order followed two weeks of unhelpful, knee-jerk reaction by some Israeli politicians caught off guard by the reports' conclusions, which found that Iran suspended its covert nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that it acts as an essentially rational player pursuing traditional national interests of "security, prestige and… more

Having lived in Israel for the past 15 years and now being on a brief sabbatical in Washington DC, the name Melanie Phillips, apparently known in London, is unfamiliar to me. That lack of familiarity is, it seems, not mutual, as Ms Phillips saw fit to attack me on these pages last week as being "dangerous", "naive", and an "idiot". Her style is not mine and my response will address substance, rather than ugly personal slurs.

My apparent "crime"… more

...To clarify; neither myself, nor I imagine other advocates of engagement, are Hamas enthusiasts or sympathisers. Let’s call it the realist school of Zionism and contrast it with say, apocalyptic Zionism — characterised by scare-mongering, paranoia, and “gewalt-style” hysteria.

Zionist realism accepted the 1948-9 ceasefire lines, preferred Begin’s peace with Egypt over settlements in the Sinai, and today recognises the need for agreed secure borders for Israel that end the occupation of about four million Palestinians. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recognises… more