Like most successful politicians, Lederman worked to develop friendly relationships with voters. JTA reports that these are useful in promoting Israel: “Such first-name-basis relationships in a state with only 800,000 people help Lederman advance a pro-Israel agenda, one that he prominently displays on his website’s home page, where he touts his leadership on the Iran sanctions legislation as well as a pro-Israel resolution in the wake of Israel’s 2008-2009 Gaza military campaign…”
Analysts discuss neocons apparent growing influence on Trump policies on Russia and Iran, and the possible appointment of neocon Elliott Abrams. Eric Alterman writes: “An Actual American War Criminal May Become Our Second-Ranking Diplomat”…
Suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days while vetting procedures are revamped. Suspends admissions of people from “countries of particular concern” for 90 days. Bans Syrians until vetting is determined to be sufficient. Limits total refugees admitted in 2017 to 50,000. Some refugees may be admitted on a case-by-case basis.
The US played both sides in Syria; completely took over Iraq, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands; helped stage a coup in Iran; invaded Libya and overthrew its leader; sent drones to Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen; and its buddy Saudi Arabia is currently bombing and starving the Yemeni population.
The ZOA said that Mattis’ remarks were “hostile to Israel.” Mattis also said he “paid a military-security price every day as CentCom commander because the Americans were seen as biased in support of Israel.” Mattis opposes torture, and President Trump says he will allow Mattis’ view to override him on this.
Presidential, congressional, and state legislation. LATEST: Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.720 and H.R.1697), introduced last week by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA).
Michelle Flournoy, who was expected to be Hillary Clinton’s Defense Secretary, said that her worry was that Donald Trump would not consider Israel’s interests in forging a deal with Russia over Syria.
Philip Giraldi reports that the Israel-first, pro-war neocons and their affiliated think tanks aren’t having the power under Trump that they expected under Hillary. “That the defeat of Hillary was also a defeat of the neoconservatives and their alphabet soup of institutes and think tanks is sometimes overlooked.” Giraldi writes: Many of the Trump dissidents like…
Israeli police claim they shot al-Qiyan dead after he committed a “car-ramming attack,” but witnesses, including Israeli Jewish activists who were in the village of a thousand inhabitants to protest the demolitions of their homes, say he lost control of his car after Israeli police shot at him. A police video appears to confirm the witnesses’ accounts.
The fervently Pro-Israel billionaire poured massive amounts of cash into Trump’s campaign [reportedly, $125 million]. He is already seeing his investment pay off. Those in the Jewish community who supported Bannon received massive Adelson money. The ZOA $1 million, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach $1.5 million, David Horowitz $50,000, the Republican Jewish Coalition is the biggest beneficiary.
