Israel has chosen to hoodwink the world, US over this war

• There are many tiny countries who don't try to steal other's land

Obama will find the going rougher because he will have people in key positions in his Administration such as VP-designate Joe Biden and Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton who hold extreme positions on the question of Israeli security.

I SUSPECT OBAMA’S TRUE INSTINCTS about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are quite different. Still, the fawning address he gave at AIPAC’s conference last year was a pointer he will be no different.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is supposed to be at centre of the Middle East peace-making process as the envoy of the so-called ‘Quartet:’ the UN, the EU, Russia and the US. Yet who hears of him anywhere? He has been thoroughly eclipsed by the Americans.

Israel is gearing for elections next month. There is every indication that it launched its barrage against Gaza with this in mind, to make its leaders appear “tough” to the voters. This habit of starting wars for cynical electoral purposes is inexcusable.

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Could it be that somebody simply can’t decide, after all these months, to fill the vacant cabinet portfolios, starting with Finance? I am sure it is not the prime minister who has been dragging his feet.