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Sheldon Adelson’s shmate, Yisrael HaYom, reports that several senior Israeli cabinet ministers including Bogie Yaalon, Benny Begin, Danny Ayalon, Alon Pinkas, and Dan Meridor are taking the pro-war dog and pony show on the road to the U.S. in the crucial September-October period. Which one of us will have the pleasure of seeing their shining faces and hearing their golden words?
The emissaries will address university students, public leaders and public opinion formers, including senators, Members of Congress, administration officials, governors, mayors, journalists, members of influential organizations and Jewish communities, church leaders and other community leaders. The lectures will be given in Washington, New York, Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, among other locations.
The idea is the brain-child of that master of international diplomacy, Avigdor Lieberman. Though the tour is being presented as standard hasbara (e.g. refuting prejudices against Israel, etc.) the real purpose of the visit is not mentioned: get Iran.
The September-October period is seen as crucial by Israel. Dennis Ross and Pres. Obama have each talked about September as the date by which the U.S. would review the success of its diplomatic engagement strategy (which has had no palpable success at all). October is the month in which the General Assembly meets and world leaders (including Ahmadinejad) tell the world their political priorities. There is no question that Israel wants a radical toughening of U.S. policy toward Iran by then. There are already legislative proposals for draconian sanctions which would undermine Obama administration policy. Israel and its domestic agent, Aipac, are certainly behind these measures.
What Israel appears to want is the softening of U.S. opinion towards an Israeli attack on Iran. Hasbara initiatives like the one announced by Yisrael HaYom are part of the perception management campaign here to stiffen the backbone of American Jews and Americans in general against Iran. When you start seeing your Jewish federation of local Israel lobby organization hosting events like this in your local community (or even ones more specifically targeting Iran) you’ll know that this is probably not a locally generated initiative. But rather one dreamed up in Tel Aviv (or the Israeli embassy in D.C. or the consulates in your region) by Israeli diplomats and politicians and implemented here by Aipac, Stand With Us, The Israel Project, and Middle East Forum.
We must fight back against such orchestrated pro-war propaganda and uncover the hidden agenda of these events, including their funding and sponsorship (hidden or public). View the motives and independence of any speaker participating in such events with suspicion. If you read your local Jewish newspaper please send me announcements of such anti-Iran events along with any agenda, speaker list, etc.
