Posted on 12/27/2007 6:51:51 AM PST by Nachum
(IsraelNN.com) Haaretz’s Chief Editor asked US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to “rape” Israel, using other unsavory terminology as well in his request for American pressure.
The comments were made during a confidential briefing by Rice on September 10, during one of many visits to the Jewish state. The meeting was attended by about 20 heads of the most senior Israeli think tanks and media leaders, including Landau, at the residence of US Ambassador Richard Jones.
Following the briefing, those present at the dinner offered their views and comments on the state of affairs in the Middle East.
Landau, who was seated next to Rice, referred to Israel as a “failed state” politically, and said that a US-imposed settlement is the only thing that can save it. He asked Rice to intervene, going so far as to say that the Israeli government wanted “to be raped” and that it would be like a “wet dream” for him to see this happen.
The comments were first revealed by Channel 2’s Arab-affairs expert Ehud Ya’ari, who refrained from naming who spoke them, but confirmed them with colleagues who were present and termed them “embarrassing” in his report. Former World Jewish Congress leader Isi Leibler then went public, saying it was Landau and was joined by New York Jewish Week Editor Gary Rosenblatt, who criticized Landau in his weekly column.
“What is contested is not the raw language Landau used but the context of his impassioned comments,” Rosenblatt wrote.
Contacted by the Jewish Week, Laundau confirmed the statements, but said his views had been delivered “with much more sophistication.” He admitted: “I did say that in general, Israel wants to be raped — I did use that word — by the U.S., and I myself have long felt Israel needed more vigorous U.S. intervention in the affairs of the Middle East.”
Landau acknowledged his other crass remark as well, though said it was aimed at the experience of influencing US policy and not at seeing Israel be pressured to make concessions. “I told [Rice] that it had always been my wet dream to address the secretary of state [on these vital matters –added by Jewish Week],” Landau said.
According to Landau, Rice’s response was “fantastic [in that she was] completely unfazed” by his remarks, and remained “urbane and diplomatic.” Others present said Rice proceeded to say the US has no intention of imposing a settlement on Israel. Landau told Rosenblatt that he had been congratulated by several professors at the dinner who felt he “articulated what many Israelis feel.”
“By any benchmark, Landau’s behavior as an Israeli citizen would be deemed unacceptable,” wrote Leibler of the affair. “But it is surely unconscionable that the editor of one of Israel's most influential newspapers, which also appears in an English and global Internet version, could urge an American Secretary of State to ‘rape’ his own government. If ever there was a crossing of every red line in terms of propriety, national integrity, and civic responsibility, this extraordinary intervention tops the bill. This is surely not behavior befitting the editor of a major newspaper.”
The former World Jewish Congress official who made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from Australia, continued: “For the US Secretary of State to partake in such an exchange with the editor of a major Israeli newspaper is mind boggling. Whilst Ms. Rice rejected Landau's entreaties for the United States to force Israel to act in what he perceived to be Israel's best interest, there is little doubt that his remarks would have subsequently been widely aired in US State Department circles.”
“Of course, Landau is entitled to his personal opinions. But it is surely a staggering act of reckless arrogance and a reflection of utter contempt for the democratic process when the editor of Haaretz newspaper at such a venue to have passionately conveyed such views to the American Secretary of State at this most sensitive diplomatic juncture. I have no doubt that the vast majority of Israelis across the entire political spectrum would condemn his action as irresponsible and immoral. Mr. Landau should apologize or resign.”
What a scumbag.
There will come a time when Landau and all of his liberal elves will leave Israel. It is ironic that he works for Haaretz, which means, “the Land.” Perhaps his land should be New Jersey.
israel is being destroyed from within. then you have state department officials who are pro-palestinian.
israel doesnt have much hope.
its a great country. been there many times.
Sounds like any number of U.S. media personalities, from “Pinch” to Dan to Chrissy to Maher.
The Chief Editor of Ha’aretz is lower than a snake’s butt - ping!
Let me be Prime Minister of Israel for one day, just one day.........
It's Israel, with a capital I
Israel is where Gods chosen people live, they have more of a chance than anyone else. America should hang it's head in shame for how we are handling this.
FReepMail to be added or removed from this pro-Israel/Judaic/Russian Jewry ping list.
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FReepMail to be added or removed from this pro-Israel/Judaic/Russian Jewry ping list.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Landau should be dragged from his house this very moment and tarred, feathered and violated on the street. Get Deuteronomy on his ass.
Speaking of which, what is the Jewish equivalent of the Washington Times?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
First she condones discrimination against Jews at Annapolis, now a rape analogy. Condaleeza Rice is a disgrace.
I read that they rely on the Torah to make their claim to the land, and on the other hand I read that Israel was founded by agnostic/atheists, liberals and socialists.
I read that they are 75% Jewish, and I read elsewhere that they are 75% secular. I've even read "the majority are atheist."
I read that the Orthodox rabbis run the place, and I read that the Orthodox rabbis are marginal.
I've heard Israel called "the only thriving democracy in the Middle Eastr" and "a failed state."
I read that they're all concerned about being democraphically overwhelmed by Muslims, and at the same time that the Jews are refusing to have families, reproducing a just-about-replacement, or below.
I read that their will to thrive is so important, and I read that they have 50,000 abortions a year, from a population of 6 1/2 million. In other words, their abortion rate is about double that of the abortion-crazy USA.
Every political perspective I've heard called "antisemitic" and "antizionist" also (apparently) has its Israeli-born Jewish proponents.
What's going on? I am an honestly confused Christian hoping to understand and to do right. Can somebody suggest a (relatively) short, simple reading that'll give me an accurate summary view of what Israel is all about?
Condoleeza didn’t make the rape analogy, so why is she a disgrace?
“Israel is where Gods chosen people live, they have more of a chance than anyone else. America should hang it’s head in shame for how we are handling this.”
Are you being sarcastic?
Mrs. Don-o,
There are many books on Israel from many perspectives. Try checking out the books noted at this link for a start:
http://www.standwithus.com/books.asp
www.standwithus.com, www.ifcj.org, www.afsi.org are some web sites you can look at.
Alouette, Nachum, Yehuda, JewishRigher - would you all be able to provide some recommendations for Mrs. Don-o. She’s a fine lady. Thanks for any help you can provide.
C from E
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
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