The Logic of Colonialism

Israel continues to expand settlements on the West Bank, making any kind of two-state solution even less possible. Even though Olmert has admitted the need for territorial concessions, he can't defy the dynamic of what Marxists call a 'colonial-settler state.'

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/16/world/AP-ML-Israel-Palestinians.html

They Can't Hear: Can Obama Listen?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08aswany.html

The New York Times takes a tiny step forward.

The Charms of Realpolitik

From today's NYTimes on the recent tension between Israel and Turkey, its closest Muslim ally.

"Jewish groups [in the U.S.] have helped Turkey block a resolution that condemns the genocide of a more than a million Ottoman Empire Armenians from being discussed in Congress.

Abraham H. Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that Mr. Erdogan’s criticism was “like a shock to the system,” but added that the league had not changed its opposition to the genocide bill in Congress. “It’s not a question of punishment,” he said. “There’s too much at stake in the relationship.”

So right-wing members of an ethnic group that suffered genocide support genocide-deniers in the name of political expediency. Nice.