The EU, US and other bodies have given Iran until this weekend to suspend their nuclear activities or face....wait for it....SANCTIONS! (for the FOURTH time)

Iran seems set to miss the deadline for a reply.

The US swallowed a very very large and bitter pill to sit with the EU in talks with Iran (it was a very clear shift in Bush doctrine) - and how does Iran reply? It ignores anything the international community suggests and completely rebukes the EU and the States.

It is rather clear that Iran is buying time with talk. In one swoop - a nuclear armed Iran could wipe out millions of Israeli's. If Kadima cant form a coalition when Olmert goes and elections are called in Israel - of which, Netanyahu is sure to win - war with Iran is on the cards....

(I would imagine the Israelis paying very close attention to the US elections. If McCain gains a lead in the polls - Israel will wait, but if Obama still leads - i think Israel might act before the election in November in order to sway things in McCains favour.)

McCain is a hawk, Obama is not.  

They [Iran] cannot be reasoned with. Talking to them is nearing appeasement and they have offered absolutely no concession.

Does the International community get involved? Our soldiers in Iraq will be targets. Iran will fund terrorist activities in the UK - It is in OUR interest for Israel to succeed in a Iranian War.

The Iranian people must be liberated from their psychotic and war mongering government. 

 

Seriously... who does?

Andrew Gwynne MP kindly interviewed Israel's Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog for Labourhome and Labour Friends of Israel

Relieved to see that Bill Ramell, the universities minister, has tried to talk some sense to delegates to the University and College Union (UCU) conference over their boycott of Israeli academics. He told them: “I profoundly disagree with cutting links with Israeli academics,” and added: “Boycotting academics is something I find deeply disturbing. I can find no evidence that such a strategy will further peace in the Middle East.”

With the news that 100 Palestinians have been killed in the last few days in Gaza, by Israeli attacks in an area with a greater population density than Calcutta; and the threat to carry out a holocaust on Palestine unless they back down; I wonder just how far the Israelis can go before an end is put to this horrific situation.

It may surprise many that Israel has never signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Despite this many leading pro-Israeli politicians and commentators believe that Israel is entitled to 'punish' Iran for its non-compliance with the treaty. According to today's Sunday Times Israel is preparing to 'punish' Iran sooner rather than later. Many leading Israeli politicians are growing increasingly concerned over what they describe as Iran's 'backdoor' influence over Washington via the Iraqi Shia. The same is true of the Saudi Arabia - a largely Shiite country. Both Israel and Saudi Arabia are telling President Bush that he needs to pull the plug on Iraq's Shia Government, ignore the findings of the Iraq Study Group (whose most important advice was to open diplomatic channels to Tehran) and prepare to attack Iran, either directly or using the Israelis as a proxy.

Last year, the Pentagon delivered 500 "bunker-busting" bombs to Israel. In 2007 will we see the first use of a nuclear weapon since 1945? What should the policy of a Brown led government be?

Chatham House has released a report that suggest Iran has benefited from Western policies in the Mid East.

An Amnesty report accuses Israel of 'war crimes'

AS. Heath on how this new Middle East crisis is like manna from heaven for a lame-duck President and a struggling Republican Party.

What's Britain's real position on Lebanon?

We are a medium European power, we haven't controlled the world since Empire collapsed some forty years ago.

According to the respected commentator Charles Glass experience shows that, by pounding Lebanon, Israel will achieve the opposite of its aim. A stronger Hezbollah will emerge.

Compass has issued a statement criticising the Government for not calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Such a call is an understandable response to the continued media coverage and particularly to incidents like the reported attack on UN observers yesterday. But it is not enough.

Are Israel playing a game of chance in Lebanon?

The left should not ignore this collective punishment.